Organization Summary
The Highlander Research and Education Center is an 85-year-old popular education center that works with grassroots groups across the U.S. South and Appalachia to promote social and economic justice. We are located 25 miles northeast of Knoxville, Tennessee on a 186-acre farm and we also work in local communities throughout our region. Highlander’s long and proud history includes cutting edge work with labor education and organizing, the Civil Rights Movement and racial justice, environmental justice and economic transition in Appalachia, and more. Widely acclaimed as a leadership development center for grassroots activists across race, culture, and generations, Highlander is world-renowned as a beacon for transformative justice organizing and movement accompaniment and support.
Overview of Position
This staff position will provide full-time, administrative support to Highlander’s Education Team, which works together to plan, carry out and evaluate the movement- and capacity-building educational work of the Highlander Center. The work of the team takes place at various times and also on weekends, requires travel, and requires flexibility and adaptability. This is an administrative support position and the responsibilities do not include program management or program implementation. The work will be based at the Highlander Center office.
Primary Responsibilities
This position will provide administrative support to the Education team to support efficient and effective organization and completion of administrative tasks and logistics in carrying out programs. Responsibilities include:
- Maintaining consistent correspondence with program participants, staff and board
- Coordinating registration and communications for programs and workshops on-site and in communities
- Maintaining internal and external communications via administrative email accounts
- Supporting outreach and communications via Highlander website, social media, newsletters, emails, etc.
- Note-taking, documentation, and records management
- Ensuring meetings, workshops, and programming notes are documented, archived, and shared with appropriate staff and participants
- Data entry and database management
- Coordinating logistics for programs and workshops on-site and in communities, including facility rentals, contracts, and payments; vendor relations; and travel and lodging logistics
- Coordinating and tracking Education Team scheduling requests
- Ordering supplies, maintaining vendor memberships and relationships
- Attending Education Team, programmatic, and staff meetings to track administrative needs, staff calendars, and support effective and efficient team functions
- Supporting sales and data entry for Highlander bookstore and Learning Center, online and in-person
Helpful Skills and Experience
- Solid administrative skills
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
- Ability to establish rapport with activists and community members in diverse ethnic, racial, social and economic groups
- Commitment to and analysis of racial, gender, economic, environmental, and social justice and civil and human rights
- Social media expertise
- Graphic design and layout experience
- Tech-savvy, including familiarity with Microsoft Office programs, SquareSpace, Constant Contact, Survey Monkey, WordPress, and database software, with willingness to explore and utilize new technologies and software
- Multi-tasking, organization, and follow-through
- Detail-oriented, big picture understanding
- Time management ability
- Problem-solving, initiative, not afraid to ask questions
- Bilingual (English and Spanish languages) helpful
- Willingness to work long and irregular hours at times
- Willingness to travel (as needed)
Expectations of All Staff Positions at Highlander
- Passionate about and committed to Highlander’s purpose, and able to communicate our work effectively
- Committed to racial, gender, economic, environmental and social justice
- Self-starter as well as a team player
- Organized and ability to balance multiple responsibilities with grace
- Active participation in a democratic participatory organization
- Sense of humor welcome and most helpful
- High degree of honesty and integrity
Salary and Benefits
Highlander has an existing pay scale and excellent benefits package
Start Date
Highlander will review applications on a rolling basis, with in-person interviews for final candidates in mid-April. The position is open until filled and starts as soon as possible, with plans to fill the position by April 12, 2018. Application materials received by April 1 are appreciated.
To Apply
Send letter of interest, resume, and 3 references in 1 PDF document to apply@highlandercenter.org. (Please put your name & “ADMIN SUPPORT-Ed Team” in Subject Line of email) or mail to: Search Committee / Administrative Support Education Team, 1959 Highlander Way, New Market TN 37820.