Assistant Director, Support for Bargaining and Collective Agreement Melding
Field Service Division
Full-time, term position, starting on September 1, 2024, and ending on August 31, 2026

The British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) is located on the unceded ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlil̓w̓ətaɬ nations since 1917. The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation is a union of professionals representing over 50,000 public school teachers in the province of BC. As an organization, we are dedicated to advancing learning conditions for students concurrently with advocating for BC's public school teachers and the teaching profession. We are also deeply committed to democratic decision-making and supporting the engagement of the teachers who make up our member base. Equally, we act on our belief in social justice in schools and the broader community, and actively support our members in striving to achieve equity, inclusion, and a more just society for their students today and into the future.

The BCTF office building is situated in close proximity to the Canada Line and other major transit routes in a central Vancouver location. The BCTF provides an exceptional working environment where respect, learning, and professional growth are championed and valued. Please note, this is a full-time, in-person position based out of the head office in Vancouver.

Function and purpose
Reporting to the Director, Field Service Division (FSD), the Assistant Director, Support for Bargaining and Collective Agreement Melding is responsible for the project-based work of administration, co-ordination, and completion of melding and other related activities resulting from, and in preparation for, collective bargaining. Works in collaboration and consultation with other BCTF staff to support bargaining and collective agreement melding.

Principal duties and responsibilities

• Melding
  • Establishes workflow processes which include Support Staff, local officers, colleagues, and British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) staff as required.
  • Develops working melded draft documents for multi-party review and approvals.
  • Co-ordinates, schedules, and ensures readiness for meetings with the Employer, FSD contacts, provincial and/or local parties as needed for the production and/or review of melded working drafts.
  • Maintains detailed and accurate records of contacts, emails, and document version control of working drafts, and co-ordinates these records between the Employer, the Federation, and all individual locals with multiple local officers.
  • In consultation and collaboration with other divisional staff, provides advice and supports the escalation of outstanding issues in working drafts, where agreement has not occurred, towards any available resolution processes that may be available.
  • Assists in keeping the Executive Committee and locals informed of progress through regular reporting.

• Preparation for bargaining
  • Prepares reports on collective bargaining, working conditions, and other matters to inform future bargaining efforts.
  • Develops opportunities, communications, and materials and/or events that raise member awareness and engagement in preparation for the next round of bargaining.
  • Working with the Communications and Campaigns Division and other staff, assists with the content of bargaining communications to locals and members.
  • As required, working with the FSD Director and Legal Services Division staff, provides advice and assistance related to bargaining structures, legislation, and other bargaining-related government actions.
  • As required, working with the FSD Director and the Assistant Director—Support for Bargaining and Collective Agreement Implementation, undertakes activities that support local bargaining, including training, support, and/or development of guidance and supporting materials.

• Training
  • Develops and contributes to training on topics related to bargaining processes and collective agreement implementation for local contacts, including Federation training events, online training modules, and workshops.
  • Delivers training at Federation events such as Summer Leadership Conference, Federation Leadership Institute, and regional meetings and others.

Other duties and responsibilities

• Support Field Service Division contacts.
  • As required, and in consultation with the FSD Director, provides back-up support to FSD contacts in working with locals.
• Bargaining and collective agreement records and history.
  • Maintains detailed and accurate records of communications, meetings, and versions of working documents.
  • Maintains knowledge of Federation bargaining records and bargaining history, both generally and on specific issues and events.
• Maintains current awareness of labour relations issues and trends likely to be relevant in upcoming rounds of provincial bargaining.
• Responsible for other duties and Federation initiatives as assigned.

Required qualifications

• Education
  • successful completion of a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a university degree and completion of a teacher education program
  • training, education and experience in labour relations and dispute resolution.

• Experience and competencies
  • experience as a public school teacher, preferably in British Columbia .
  • recent and relevant experience with collective agreement bargaining and/or melding negotiation, administration, and dispute resolution
  • comprehensive knowledge of Federation bargaining history
  • extensive voluntary and/or elected service in teacher organization work including the area of collective agreement negotiation and administration
  • excellent organizational, and administrative skills, including a high level of computer literacy
  • strong verbal, written, and facilitation communication skills
  • ability to function effectively both independently and within a team.
• Other desired qualifications, skills, and abilities
  
  • flexibility ro work evenings and weekends
  • flexibility to travel
  • ability to communicate in French would be an asset

Compensation
A competitive compensation package will be provided including a starting salary of $108,382.84 per annum (however, may differ if applicant has previous BCTF staff experience), a Special Allowance of $3,232.43 per annum, and excellent benefits including:

• extended health and dental (employer paid)
• long-term disability
• life insurance (employer paid)
• Teachers’ Pension Plan (shared contribution)
• seven (7) weeks of vacation per year plus paid time off between December 26 and January 1
• thirty-five (35) hours weekly schedule Monday to Friday with flexible work hours
• generous professional development allowance
• ·on-site parking available
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• a supportive team environment.

Only applications received in writing by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 5, 2024, will be considered. Please submit a letter of application and résumé, including reference contact information, via the link A0354-2024-01.

Appointment date
September 1, 2024, or a mutually agreed upon date, and ending on August 31, 2026.

Diversity and accessibility
The BC Teachers’ Federation is committed to furthering social justice, diversity, decolonization, equity, and inclusion within our community. Applicants are encouraged to disclose, on a voluntary basis, whether they self-identify as a member of an equity-deserving group, which includes female, 2SLGBTQIA+ person, a person of colour, a person who has experienced racism, Aboriginal (Indigenous) person, and/or a person with a disability.

The BCTF strives for compliance with the Accessible British Columbia Act and ensuring our communities are as barrier-free as possible. Applicants requiring an accommodation are encouraged to contact the hiring manager at 604-871-2200.