SENIOR UK ORGANISER

This is your chance to join an amazing team that works to reform Economics education in the UK. We are excited to launch our search for our Senior UK Organiser.

Role title: Senior UK Organiser

About Rethinking Economics

Rethinking Economics (RE) is an international network working to build a better Economics in society and the classroom. We started as a student movement in 2012 and have since grown to become a registered charity with a 10-person staff team. Through a mixture of campaigning, events and projects, we support over 100 groups in over 30 countries around the world, alongside thousands of supportive members of the public. Our purpose is to reform the university Economics curriculum to make it more pluralist, critical and applicable to the real world.

Rethinking Economics is undertaking an exciting transition process in which we are developing and expanding the future of the organisation.

The UK has about 16 local Rethinking Economics groups at universities. They campaign to reform their economics education through community organising. We have many allies in academia that support us to do this and a dedicated committee to support the growth of the national network, alongside the institutional support of RE International s staff team.

For this role, we will only be accepting candidates who have the right to work in the UK.

What we re looking for

Rethinking Economics International was born out of the UK and we have done a lot of work to grow the network. We have been undertaking research and development into our framing and messaging, alongside a project to investigate the viability of including accountancy students into our network and activity.

We have multiple staff members that manage the UK operations in relation to finance, fundraising, communications, and membership management.

This role is going to focus on supporting our UK local groups to campaign at each university; to support the development of a UK National Network; to maintain and enhance the structures that relate to the UK programme.

What is successful campaigning? For us a successful campaign results in curriculum reform at universities. This means a curriculum that reflects economics in the real world (including the Global South). In particular, the curriculum should include pluralist, critical and real-world economics that leads to a more fair and just world, and one which can respond to the climate crisis. Success also means the growth of a skilled and informed student body who have the tools to campaign now and in their future roles of influence in wider society.

To be successful in this role, you will not require an economics degree, but it is necessary for you to fully understand how to undertake and support others in community organising. You will be able to think strategically, to inspire and facilitate the growth of others, and to see common threads within and between groups to help them achieve their aims. Trade union, tenants union, community union or direct student community organising experience or training is essential.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

We are committed to providing equality and fairness for all and not to discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, racialised identity, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, mental health, religion or age. We encourage and celebrate the different qualities that our colleagues, and others we work with, bring to our work. And we believe that seeing things from a wide range of different perspectives helps us to resolve problems, adapt our approaches and develop as an organisation. We want to bring greater diversity to our team and we re keen to hear what you think you ll bring from your own background and experience (beyond your professional skills and knowledge).

Terms & Conditions

Reporting to: Co-Director

Starting salary: £30,420 - £33,970 pro rata per annum on the basis of an offer by the organisation which cannot be negotiated.

For two days per week this means £12,168-£13,588

For three days per week this means £18,252-£20,382

Start date: September 2022

Contract type: Fixed term (with likely offer of permanent contract after first year, funding dependent)

Benefits: Statutory pension 5% matched, 31 days holiday pro rata (including Bank Holiday Allocation). In addition all staff are given a winter break between Christmas and New Year. We have person-centred training opportunities, and a yearly cost of living increase.

Hours: 2 or 3 days a week (based on 7 hours per day). Evening and weekend work will be sometimes necessary, for which time off in lieu can be claimed. We support flexible working across the whole team.

Location: Remote, UK based. The role could involve regular UK travel. Travel costs will be reimbursed. If renewed COVID-19 pandemic restrictions occur, you will not be expected to travel during this time. There are some in-person staff meetings in the year, often in Manchester or London.

Purpose of the Role:

To lead on supporting local groups in the UK to campaign for curriculum reform at their universities and support the development of a UK National Network.

Responsibilities

Main Areas of Responsibility

UK Organising and Campaigning Strategy
Relationships with UK organisations and networks such as Reteaching Economics, AHE, Promoting Economic Pluralism, Economic Change Unit, Royal Economic Society and various others
UK National Network Facilitation, including supporting the steering committee to identify priorities and develop structures to support your work

Key Skills and Experience

The role profile asks for a wide range of competencies and we recognise that we are unlikely to find a candidate who fits every requirement. If you fit some of the essential and/or desirable criteria and believe you have the potential to learn the other areas of the role, we d like to hear from you. A strong background in organising and movement building within Economics or educational reform would be of great advantage.