Details
Posted: 10-May-22
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Type: Full Time
Salary: up to 47,500
Public Schools Member Relations Representative
General Statement of Duties
Performs professional work in support of services for the public school members of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC). Enhances SEANC’s strength by recruiting non-members and retaining current SEANC members. Empowers SEANC members to recruit state employees to become SEANC members and encourage participation within the districts and all levels of SEANC. Spends some time as a lobbyist to build relationships with legislators to strengthen advocacy for public school members.
An employee in this class serves as the primary SEANC Member Relations Representative (MRR) to school districts across the state. The employee is responsible for membership recruitment/retention programs, member services, training, promoting the member discount program, and marketing SEANC and its insurance and benefits programs. The employee provides consultation and information to district officials, members, and non-members on pay, state health plan, and retirement issues along with personnel, performance evaluation, and public school policies and programs. The employee also provides information on SEANC’s legislative agenda and actions during the legislative sessions affecting public school employees. The employee in this class may serve as a trainer when needed. Work includes planning strategies and program development for member recruitment and retention. Work involves extensive public contact, responsibilities with district chairs and members as well as school district officials. The job requires extensive travel within the state. Work requires planning, organizational and scheduling skills to cover school district needs. The person in this position should possess independent judgment and initiative. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Director of Member Relations and is evaluated based on conferences, reports, feedback from presentations, visits with members and training evaluations.
Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Duties and Tasks
Serves as the primary SEANC MRR to the public school districts on all matters involving association activities. Works in consultation with District Chairpersons regarding public schools in their district.
Plans long and short term strategies with districts for continuous membership recruitment and retention; analyzes membership reports, identifies trends in area membership, and takes action to address; develops innovative and creative membership recruitment/retention programs and provides materials and technical assistance to districts in implementation of membership recruitment and retention programs.
Serves as staff liaison to regional membership chair, district chairpersons, district membership chairpersons, and other district chairpersons. Meets with chairpersons and members providing technical advice on various SEANC and public school activities and issues.
Provides information, speaks on and replies to SEANC members concerns and complaints as they arise; provides information and responds on personnel, retirement, pay, state health plan, association platform and legislative issues and positions, and interprets the status of pending legislation.
Makes presentations at public school work sites to promote and inform public school employees of the benefits and advantages of SEANC membership, including structure and organization, dues, legislative accomplishments and membership insurance programs and provisions. Stresses the importance of member building a strong political action committee (EMPAC) and encourages SEANC members to contribute to EMPAC through payroll deduction.
Organizes and schedules travel to regularly visit all school districts; makes planned and impromptu visits; attends public school employee orientations and other meetings pertaining to public schools.
Organizes, coordinates, and conducts training for committee chairs and members on public education topics such as membership recruitment/retention, insurances, etc. Ability to develop and present training programs as needed.
Plans, coordinates, and implements all aspects of “blitz” membership enrollments; coordinates with public school superintendents, directors and principals, personnel directors, department heads, college presidents, university chancellors, etc. along with district members as applicable. Makes visits and presentations to school districts in SEANC regions; may involve other MRRs to adequately cover the area; assists other MRRs in conducting respective blitzes.
Reviews membership data and reports and provides input to supervisors on trends, problems, and progress of district efforts.
Markets all SEANC insurance policies and programs to members.
Attends and may assist in planning special legislative events and programs, dinners, fundraiser, etc. within assigned districts and at regional and state levels.
Assists in and attends the SEANC Annual Convention, Board of Governors Meetings, state, regional, and district meetings, including district annual meetings.
Attends scheduled state meetings and conferences as needed such as North Carolina Pupil Transportation Association, North Carolina Teachers Assistants Association, and any other related events pertaining to public education.
Maintains related records and correspondence; creates, generates, and distributes correspondence with school superintendents, agency heads, personnel directors, SEANC staff, SEANC district chairpersons and membership chairpersons, and youth and retiree council chairpersons; distributes approved information and materials.
Complies with all applicable state campaign finance and insurance laws.
Additional Job Duties
Assists with setting up special events; picks up and delivers materials when traveling around the state.
Maintains SEANC vehicle; assures vehicle is washed, oil changed, tires rotated, and regular service and repairs are scheduled.
Maintains accurate time sheets in electronic payroll system, expense reports, and vehicle travel logs and submits them in a timely manner.
Maintains an online activity calendar.
Performs related duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Individuals should have at least three years experience in state government and a minimum of one-year experience participating in SEANC training activities, or three years equivalent outside experience.
Must have a working knowledge of public schools.
Considerable knowledge of marketing and publicity techniques used in effective and successful membership services delivery.
Considerable knowledge of state government structure and General Assembly operations.
Time-management skills to include organizing, planning, and scheduling multiple work priorities and travel/meeting requirements throughout an assigned geographical region or wherever needed as prioritized by the Director of Member Action.
Skill in organizing, planning, communicating, and working with volunteer groups and leaders.
Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
Ability to organize presentations to effectively meet the needs of specialized groups of employees.
Demonstrated ability to speak comfortably to large groups of state employees.
Ability to analyze and interpret recruitment and retention data, identify trends, and make recommendations to higher level for necessary action to correct problems.
Must possess basic computer skills and ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.
Ability to maintain accurate and timely records of member services visits and activities.
Ability to exercise sound judgment in scheduling, decision-making, and problem resolution.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels and groups of state employees.
Ability and initiative to monitor, review, and build knowledge of SEANC activities, legislative actions, and agency rules and policies; to report those positively and/or interpret/explain complex information in the field and district visits.
Willingness and ability to travel extensively for SEANC, sometimes with little notice, and participate in a variety of meetings, conference, and sessions across the state.
Maintains familiarity with SEANC Bylaws and Policy Platform objectives.
Coordinates and performs research in connection with proposed legislation.
Provides information to legislators and General Assembly staff.
Testifies in legislative hearings if needed.
Develops professional relationships with legislators, legislative staff, other lobbyists, state agencies, associations, and research groups.
Analyzes any legislation affecting SEANC public school members and reports on legislation to SEANC.
Participates in developing legislative strategies with internal legislative team, agency liaisons and other lobbyists.
Participates in coalitions that advance SEANC objectives.
Attends legislative, social, and political functions.
Physical Requirements
Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of balancing, kneeling, crouching, standing, walking, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
Must be able to perform medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to life or move objects.
Must possess the visual acuity to work with data and figures, operate a computer, do extensive reading, operate a motor vehicle, and operate modular and automated devices from the car or the home.
Desirable Education and Experience
Graduation from a four-year college or university preferably with a major in mass communications or related field and three years of professional level experience preferably in marketing, public relations, or public information and preferably related to state employment that provides knowledge of the state’s laws, rules, and policies. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Special Requirements
Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license. Clean driving record.
Willingness and ability to successfully complete Insurance Agent Certification by the North Carolina State Insurance Department for Life, Accident, and Health. The employee must also maintain this license by completing the 24 continuing education units required by the Department of Insurance annually.
State Employees Association of North Carolina
October 2019