Job Opportunities

POSTED: January 23rd, 2012

Intern Opening: Workers Rights Advocate in Austin, TX

Workers Defense Project/Proyecto Defensa Laboral (WDP) is a membership-based organization that empowers low-income workers to ensure fair employment through education, direct services, community organizing, and strategic partnerships.
Internship Period: June 13, 2012 to August 10, 2012 Last day to apply: April 6, 2012 The Intern will work with WDP staff and volunteers to protect the rights of low-wage Latina/o workers who face workplace violations. The intern will learn important skills in community organizing, policy advocacy, non-profit administration, and case management. Requirements:

→     3.0 GPA

→     Strong written and verbal communication skills

→     Fluent in Spanish

→     Computer literate: Word, Internet, and e-mail

→     Ability to work independently

→     Commitment to social justice

→     Able to work 30 to 40 hours a week including some nights and weekends.

Responsibilities: Intern will work with WDP staff and volunteers to:

→     Assist in planning and carrying out public pressure campaigns to protect workers rights

→     Help Coordinate immigrant worker committees to address issues of workplace abuse

→     Assist with weekly intake of wage claim cases

→     Negotiate with employers who violate workers rights

→     Individual cases of workplace abuse

→     Create “know your rights materials” in Spanish and English

→     Inform Latina/o immigrant workers of their rights

→     General Office Admin support, answering phones, data entry, writing e-mail alerts, mailings, etc.

Compensation:

→     Life-long experience and skills

→     Weekly stipend of $100 a week

→     Referrals for future employment

→     Possible class credit

WDP is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ individuals to apply.

How to apply: Send letter of interest and one reference to Patricia Zavala, at patricia@workersdefense.org. For questions please call 512-391-2305

POSTED: January 20th, 2012
Part Time Lead Researchers in Houston, El Paso, San Antonio and Dallas
WDP seeks a qualified Lead Researcher to coordinate survey and interview completion and data management in Houston, El Paso, San Antonio and Dallas.  Workers Defense Project is a membership-based organization in Austin, TX that empowers low-income workers to achieve fair employment opportunities through education, direct services, organizing, and strategic partnerships.  In 2012, WDP will undertake a comprehensive study of Texas construction working conditions in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin. This research study will provide detailed data about one of Texas’ fastest expanding labor markets, which employs nearly 600,000 workers statewide. WDP’s statewide research study will build off of the organization’s previous study entitledBuilding Austin, Building Injustice: Working Conditions in Austin’s Construction Industry. WDP will be conducting surveys and in-depth interviews with construction workers in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso. Join our team of experienced researchers and get first hand experience as a Research Coordinator or a Surveyor Intern. The study will provide detailed data on construction working conditions that will support WDP’s efforts to win safe and dignified working conditions for Texas construction workers.
Job Requirements:
→     Ability to work independently and supervise a team of surveyors
→     Strong written and verbal communication skills
→     Excellent time management and organization skills
→     Detail oriented and able to multi-task effectively
→     Ability to work well with diverse groups of people
→     Proficient with Windows-based program interfaces (Word, Excel), email, and internet research required.
→     Experience with web-based survey tools (such as SurveyMonkey or similar) preferred.
→     Previous experience conducting primary research and data collection preferred
→     Previous work experience in public policy, sociology, anthropology or relevant coursework
→     Commitment to racial and economic justice
→     Must have a vehicle.
→     Spanish/English bilingual required
Responsibilities:
The Lead Researcher will oversee a research team in the collection of primary survey data in their city as part of Workers Defense’s statewide study of the construction industry.
→   Availability to work 20 hours per week during May, June, July
→   Work with WDP Research Coordinator to identify viable construction sites
→   Supervise a team of surveyors in completing surveys and interviews in your city.
→   Participate in a two-day training in Austin, TX on April 21 and 22, 2012.
→   Enter paper survey data into a web-based data collection program
→   Coordinate and oversee surveyor team (some local travel required)
→   Complete and transcribe a select number of in-depth interviews
→   Participate in regular meetings with other members of research team
→   Perform routine data management and tracking using Microsoft Excel and web-based survey tools
Compensation:
→     Competitive salary
→     Mileage reimbursement for local travel
→     Training, experience, and participation in the most in-depth study of the Texas construction industry to date
WDP is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, immigrants, female, and LGBTQ individuals to apply.
How to apply:
Send resume, cover letter, and three professional references to jobs@workersdefense.org by March 9, 2012. PLEASE SPECIFY WHICH CITY YOU ARE APPLYING FOR:  HOUSTON, EL PASO, SAN ANTONIO, OR DALLAS.

POSTED: January 20th, 2012
Internship Opportunity: Research Interns in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and El Paso
WDP seeks qualified Surveyor Interns to conduct surveys and interviews with construction workers and construction employers in 5 Texas cities.
Job Requirements:
→     Ability to work independently and on teams
→     Strong written and verbal communication skills
→     Excellent time management and organization skills
→     Ability to work well with diverse groups of people
→     Commitment to racial and economic justice
→     Spanish required, English/Spanish bilingual preferred
→     Vehicle required for local city travel to survey sites (mileage reimbursement will be provided)
Responsibilities:
The Research Intern will conduct a 15-20 minutes survey with English and Spanish speaking construction workers at construction sites in their city between May 1 and July 31st.  The Intern will work as part of a team to identify survey participants and conduct surveys with a total of 200-300 workers in their city.  Additionally, the Intern will:
→     Work with Lead Researcher to identify viable construction sites and conduct surveys of workers
→     Attend a MANDADTORY surveyor training in Austin on April 22nd prior to beginning work (El Paso surveyors may participate in an El Paso training session).
Compensation:
→     Competitive performance-based stipend
→     Gas mileage reimbursement for local travel
→     Travel to and from Austin for April 22nd training will be reimbursed
→     Valuable experience in data collection methodology
→     Possible class credit
WDP is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, immigrants, female, and LGBTQ individuals to apply.
How to Apply
Send resume, cover letter, and three professional references to jobs@workersdefense.org by March 9, 2012. PLEASE SPECIFY WHICH CITY YOU ARE APPLYING FOR:  HOUSTON, EL PASO, SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN OR DALLAS.