Governance Specialist

Who we are:

The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) represents over 117,000 members and nearly 400 locals across the state and employs a full-time staff of over 170. Our members are public school teachers, faculty, professional staff, and education support professionals working at public schools, colleges, and universities. As a member-driven organization and the largest union in New England, our collective power makes MTA an influential voice for educators, students, and their communities. We are proud to be an advocate for social, racial, and economic justice and for a public education system that provides one of the cornerstones of a democratic society.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIESThe Governance Specialist leads in the development, administration and coordination of Governance policies, projects and functions, with primary responsibility in the area of coordination/implementation of MTA nomination and election procedures and committee administration processes.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONSSPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Administers the committee appointment and staff assignment process with the Director of Governance, publishes and updates committee directories.
• Edits and publishes the revised MTA Bylaws, Rules and Resolutions and other Governance documents, as assigned.
• Serves as staff assistant to the Electoral Review Committee, the Bylaws and Rules Committee and the Credentials and Ballot Committee (C&B).
• Assists with preparations for major meetings and conferences, as directed.
• Attends meetings of the delegates and leads administrative aspects of the delegate registration processes and electoral processes of the Credentials and Ballot Committee.
• Provides and performs the data entry of codes and roles in the membership database for committee and electoral projects and generates reports.
• Maintains records of operations in areas of responsibility.
• Attends meetings and conferences, as assigned. Prepares notes and meeting minutes.
• Maintains high level of familiarity with established and proposed programs and policies.
• Reports regularly to the Director on the status of activities and projects, and informs the Director of anticipated problem areas.
• Works cooperatively with elected leaders, Governance and other MTA staff, affiliates and the public.
• Coordinates work assignments with other support resources.
• Compiles research and disseminates reports, as directed.
• Prepares correspondence on own initiative.
• Provides input for the Governance budget in areas of responsibility.
• Handles assigned projects with a minimum of supervision.
• Performs other duties, as needed.

Elections:

Annual Meeting:

• Administers online delegate registration system with registration vendor and proprietary software.
• Leads all registration communications with local presidents.
• Leads and coordinates pre-registration activities and registration supplies with the Membership department in Finance and Accounting.
• Prepares MTA election tally sheets, voting receipts, candidate observer sheets, delegate registration tally sheets, and question ballots.
• Collects volunteer tellers? contact information and prepare Annual Meeting tellers memo and instructions, when necessary.
• Prepares C&B Committee for seating delegates at the meeting.
• Works with electronic voting vendors to administer and hold elections.
• Resolves issues on-site at Annual Meeting in delegate registration and voting with C&B and Director.
• Participates in Annual Meeting staff planning sessions.
• Coordinates processing of delegate report forms with Finance & Accounting.
• Produces delegate report forms and mailing lists from IMS for candidates, as requested.
• Manages records for Annual Meeting.
• Manage changes to Annual Meeting delegate handbook annually and prepares timeline.
• Performs other duties, as needed.

NEA-RA:

• Registers all NEA-RA delegates: Statewide, Regional and local into IMS/NEA360 RA database.
• Works with NEA Membership to pull and submit reports to NEA of all Statewide, Regional and local delegates by specified NEA deadline.
• Coordinates and codes stipend payments with F&A, tracks delegate attendance and stipend payments with Director of Governance.
• Performs other duties, as needed.

• • Assists Director in preparing final Governance and Administration Budget chart of accounts.
  • Manages IMS/NEA360 delegate role designations and proofreading. Pull IMS reports, as needed.
  • Amends IMS/NEA360 regarding affiliation/disaffiliation/mergers/new units of locals from actions taken by the Executive Committee.
  • Performs VAN data entry, as needed.
  • Performs other duties, as needed.
  
  

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • College degree strongly preferred.
  • A minimum of five to seven years of recent administrative support experience reporting to an executive-level professional in a lead role.
  • Strong MS office skills; must be able to create and maintain multiple Excel spreadsheets.
  • Previous experience using databases for entering information and running reports.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex policies, bylaws, and procedural rules to manage operational processes, guide decision-making and ensure compliance.
  • Ability to manage a diverse workload, handle multiple tasks simultaneously and be responsive to deadlines.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills, strong attention to detail, superior organization and record-keeping skills and a high-level of dependability.
  • Willingness and ability to work outside of standard business hours, including some nights and weekends.
  • Ability to work with a variety of managerial work styles and communicate with members and the public with confidence.
  • A valid driver?s license is required for frequent travel to offsite meeting locations.
  • Experience with administering elections is strongly preferred.

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    *MTA reserves the right to waive any qualifications at its discretion*

    
    

    The MTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all staff.