AFL-CIO

Chief Economist
Advocacy

At-Large Position
(willing to travel to DC frequently)

 

Are you passionate about economic fairness and social justice? Do you want to improve the lives of working people and strengthen the labor movement? If you answered, “Yes!” then the AFL-CIO may be the right place for you. We are the largest federation of labor unions in the United States, and our team of dynamic professionals is dedicated to growing worker power and ensuring every working person has a voice on the job. When you work at the AFL-CIO, you’re more than just an individual employee—you’re helping to lead a movement with a proud history and a bright future ahead.

The AFL-CIO Advocacy Hub unifies the labor movement around the policy agenda that serves America’s working people. The Advocacy Hub convenes and coordinates the policy agendas of the 60 affiliate unions, and often non-affiliate unions and allied organizations as well, prioritizes and then advances a clear and coherent labor movement agenda to the halls of power.

The Chief Economist is responsible for, in coordination with the Director of Policy, developing and advocating for policy positions on a wide range of issues that build a progressive agenda for the economic security of all working people and their families, including the principles and goals of unionism and social justice, and intersectionality of race-based, gender bias, anti-immigrant, and anti-LGBTQ constructs; The Chief Economist will work with the Director of Policy across the Federation to develop the economic policy priorities for the AFL-CIO and work to integrate them into interdepartmental initiatives and campaigns, legislation and regulatory issues. Economists with faculty appointments who are interested in joint appointments with the AFL-CIO are encouraged to apply.

This position reports the Director of Policy.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

• Support the development of AFL-CIO’s economic policy positions on a variety of issues both domestic and global;
• Review and develop analysis of economic data, key economic events and economic literature relevant to the work and mission of the AFL-CIO and the labor movement
• Generally represent the AFL-CIO in circumstances where expert economic analysis is called for including Congressional hearings, academic conferences and meetings sponsored by think tanks.
• Write Congressional testimony, AFL-CIO economic policy statements, correspondence and comments to proposed regulations and implementation guidance;
• Develop materials explaining AFL-CIO economic policy positions for Federation, affiliates, and state and local bodies;
• Regularly brief the AFL-CIO’s Leadership, and senior staff on economic policy issues;
• Represent the AFL-CIO’s economic positions in public through writing, speaking, and interviews in traditional media and new media;
• Represent the AFL-CIO at meetings of the economic profession such as American Economics Association (AEA), Labor Employment Research Association (LERA), National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and Federal Reserve System;
• Identify research needs to further the work of the AFL-CIO and conduct in-house research as needed.
• Build relationships and develop areas of collaboration with external partners and academic institutions that focus on labor economics;
• Work with Advocacy Hub, and other staff to develop and execute strategies on legislative and regulatory issues including promoting unionization and developing economic policy initiatives that promote full employment, raise wages, provide access to quality health care, ensure fair taxation and budgets, and other economic issues affecting workers.
• Work with organizing, communications, politics and other departments to ensure AFL-CIO communications and messages accurately reflect economic trends and developments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• PhD in Economics, preferably in Labor Economics with a deep understanding of macroeconomic data and trends
• Demonstrated experience in the labor movement with a union or community organization with a minimum of two years of union/federation experience
• At least 3-5 years of relevant work experience (post-doctoral) and demonstrated success in relevant areas;
• Excellent communication and writing skills, including ability to write policy documents, testimony, and research reports, suggest changes to legislation, successful ability to speak to large and diverse groups of professionals, youth, leaders and peers;
• Demonstrated experience and highly proficient in use of research tools, databases, and computer mobilization tools and new media in a professional context. (e.g., social networks, texting, X, other digital platforms);
• Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks;
• Knowledge and experience with both national and local structures of labor movement;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently within the context of a plan as part of a larger team;
• Ability to handle multiple high priority projects;
• Ability to travel as required.

1-year renewable contract starting at: $175,000.00

This position is contractual and not benefits eligible.

Apply here: http://aflcio.hirecentric.com/jobs/

Equal Opportunity Employer