Associate Executive Director

Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) is seeking qualified candidates for the Associate Executive Director position.

Position Description: The Associate Executive Director serves as KNEA’s chief strategist for the UniServ field program and organizing work. This position provides direct leadership and supervision to UniServ staff, aligning UniServ fieldwork with KNEA’s organization-wide strategies, under the direction of the Executive Director, to build strong, member-led local associations across Kansas.

This position reports directly to the Executive Director and is based at KNEA Headquarters in Topeka, Kansas. The successful candidate is expected to maintain a primary residence within 40 miles of Headquarters.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree in education, labor relations, public policy, or a related field is preferred. Significant, directly related union or organizing leadership experience may be considered in lieu of formal academic credentials.
• HR experience preferred, including coaching, corrective action, investigations, and consistent application of policy in a unionized environment.
• Familiarity with public education issues (e.g., school funding, teacher contracts, district operations, and the daily realities of K–12 staff); direct experience in public schools is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising unionized staff, including applying collective bargaining agreements, complying with grievance procedures, and working within labor law.
• Experience with collective bargaining as management in a union context (e.g., preparing proposals, participating at the table, implementing CBAs, and resolving disputes through contractual processes).
• Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and evaluating professional staff, including setting clear expectations and fostering growth.
• Experience developing and leading comprehensive union or community organizing campaigns (issue, contract, electoral, or new organizing).
• Experience working within or alongside UniServ, regional field, or organizing structures.
• Demonstrated experience with collective bargaining and member advocacy strategies; familiarity with both traditional and interest-based approaches.
• Proven ability to integrate organizing practices, such as one-on-one conversations, leadership identification and development, structure tests, and campaign planning, into daily work.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals and groups holding diverse perspectives, including facilitating challenging conversations and navigating periods of change.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience using data, adult learning principles, and program or project budgeting to align resources and training with strategic goals.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently and work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, as the work requires.
• Valid driver’s license and insurability.

Position Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise UniServ Directors with clear expectations that they function as lead organizers while continuing to provide strong member rights advocacy, including contract enforcement, grievances, and support in employment-related matters, with a focus on membership growth, leadership development, bargaining support, and issue campaigns.
• Supervise UniServ Administrative Assistants, ensuring they provide strong support to the UniServ program.
• Provide strategic direction for KNEA’s field and organizing work by applying planning, coaching, and relevant data to support strong local programs and campaigns.
• Collaborate with program and field staff to ensure UniServ strategies, bargaining support, professional learning, and advocacy campaigns are integrated, mutually reinforcing, and responsive to local needs.
• Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Director on UniServ structure, field deployment, organizing priorities, and allocation of field resources, ensuring field perspectives and experience inform decision-making.
• Ensure UniServ operations align with KNEA policies, UniServ guidelines, and applicable collective bargaining agreements in a transparent and consistent manner.
• Serve as an active member of the management team, modeling a collaborative, solutions-focused, and healthy internal culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Values and Commitment:

KNEA is committed to racial, social, and economic justice and to improving the lives of educators, students, and communities. The Associate Executive Director is expected to:

• Champion an organizing-centered, member-led union culture.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to equity and justice in organizing, bargaining, and program implementation.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful internal environment.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary range: $130,000-$145,000, commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including employer-provided health and dental insurance; life and long-term disability insurance; outstanding employer contributions to defined contribution retirement plan; generous vacation, sick, and holiday leaves; and company vehicle.
• This is an exempt management position.

About KNEA: KNEA’s mission is to advocate for education professionals and unite our members, Kansans, and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. Our vision is a great public school for every student. Our members include pre-K-12 classroom teachers, higher education employees, support professionals, college students, and retired educators.

How to Apply: Qualified candidates should email a cover letter, resume, and five (5) references to: Sarah Meyer, Executive Assistant - sarah.meyer@knea.org. Applications must be received by March 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST.

KNEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, and others who strengthen and expand our perspectives and experiences.