Department: Labor Education & Research Center
Rank: Instructor
Annual Basis: 12 Month

Review of Applications Begins

January 15, 2025; Position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include: a CV; a letter explaining your interest in the position; the names of three references.

Department Summary

The Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) is a state-wide program that combines teaching, research, and public service to improve the lives of Oregon’s workers, their families, and their communities. Since its creation in 1977, LERC has provided teaching, research, strategic planning and technical assistance services to unions, other worker’s organizations, and working adults in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Throughout its history LERC has served as a catalyst for critical analysis, strategic thinking, and concerted action aimed at strengthening labor organizations and improving the lives of working Oregonians.

With offices on the Eugene Campus and at UO Portland, LERC faculty have strong roots in the union movement and expertise in a variety of academic disciplines. In addition to teaching working adults, LERC faculty members conduct research on relevant work, employment, and public policy issues. They also work extensively with policy makers, university faculty, labor relations professionals, and community leaders on issues of concern to Oregon workers. LERC is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusive workplaces. We practice this internally and also incorporate these concepts in our teaching and public presentations.

A thirty-member advisory board provides LERC with support, guidance, and strategic advice. The program enjoys an excellent reputation at both the state and national levels as a valued resource that works diligently to meet the multiple needs of its constituents. For more information about LERC, please visit our website: http://lerc.uoregon.edu/

Position Summary

The Career Instructor is a labor educator who will design and teach non-credit classes for working adults, union members, and community partners. These classes include subjects related to:

• Effective union representation (e.g. collective bargaining, labor law, grievance handling and arbitration);
• The social, economic and political context in which workers’ organizations operate (e.g. labor history, electoral politics, the domestic and global economy, community outreach and coalition building);
• Skills needed for effective union leadership (e.g. strategic planning, member recruitment, organizational development, interpersonal communications, internal and external organizing; and strategies for embedding equity & inclusion in workers’ organizations), and;
• Strategies for facing emergent conditions for unions and other workers’ organizations in Oregon, the region, and the United States including organizational changes in union structure, density, and funding.
• Creating inclusive unions that serve the needs of workers who are diverse in terms of their race, ethnicity, age, gender and sexual identity, socioeconomic background, physical ability, and enabling unions to advance equity in the broader society.

In addition the instructor may have the opportunity to teach credit courses on campus or online, in collaboration with other university departments and faculty.

An important part of this position is outreach and building relationships with labor, community, and university partners. The Career Instructor also will be responsible for curriculum development and implementation in response to contract requests from client organizations for tailored training. In addition, the Career Instructor will be responsible for coordinating occasional full-day and multi-day open enrollment conferences or institutes on relevant topics that present opportunities for more intensive exploration of timely topics. These conference duties are typically conducted as part of a team with other LERC faculty and staff. While individual faculty have significant autonomy to set priorities and directions for their work, decisions about program priorities are made collectively by the faculty.

While instruction is the main focus of this position, the successful candidate may have the opportunity to pursue applied research projects on labor and employment issues.

This Career Instructor reports to LERC’s Director and may be based in either the Portland or Eugene LERC office. They work collaboratively with fellow faculty at LERC, University and community partners, and labor constituents. They do not officially supervise other staff, but will work collaboratively with support staff on program planning and implementation.

The Career Instructor is a core faculty member and will participate in departmental and program decisions with an equal vote to other faculty members, as provided under LERC’s internal governance policy. This position is a public employee of the state of Oregon and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between the university and United Academics of the University of Oregon (AFT Local 3209), which can be found here: https://www.uauoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CBA-2021.pdf

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in social sciences, education, or other relevant fields. In exceptional circumstances a bachelor’s degree with extensive (min. 5yrs) relevant experience will be considered.
• Two years of relevant teaching and facilitation experience in adult education (e.g., classroom teaching, workshop training, popular education, strategic planning and facilitation).
• Two years of experience with labor unions or other workers’ organizations

Professional Competencies

• Understanding of the complex leadership and membership structure of labor unions and related organizations.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills.
• Competency using Microsoft Office programs or their Mac equivalent.
• Demonstrated cultural competency and ability to work effectively with a diverse range of constituents on work and employment issues; a commitment to supporting and enhancing an inclusive learning and working environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching, or developing curriculum for, on-line education.
• Fluency in a language other than English that could be used for teaching classes for Oregon workers.
• Experience with technologies that can be used to create or disseminate LERC programs and projects, e.g, videography, web design, use of on-line learning tools, etc.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit https://hr.uoregon.edu/about-benefits.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here.

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report.