Application Guide

How to Apply for Strategic Campaigns Director

at American Association of University Professors

🏢 About American Association of University Professors

The AAUP is a dynamic union of 55,000 higher education workers, uniquely positioned at the intersection of academic freedom and labor rights. As a fast-growing organization, it offers the chance to shape the future of higher education while working remotely with a dedicated team.

About This Role

As Strategic Campaigns Director, you'll lead power-building campaigns for higher education workers, leveraging capital strategies to escalate pressure on employers. This role is impactful because it directly strengthens the labor movement in academia, protecting academic freedom and democracy.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a virtual check-in with field staff to align on campaign priorities, followed by researching a university's endowment investments for a capital strategy. Afternoon could involve leading a workshop for chapter leaders on escalation tactics, ending with a coalition call to coordinate a joint action.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who American Association of University Professors Is Looking For

  • Experienced campaign strategist with 5+ years designing and implementing successful strategic campaigns, preferably in labor or advocacy settings.
  • Skilled in digital research tools (e.g., social media monitoring, data analytics) to identify campaign opportunities and track emerging developments.
  • Strong communicator who can conduct workshops, brief field staff, and build relationships with coalition partners and other unions.
  • Committed to racial equity and willing to travel domestically several times per year for meetings and actions.

📝 Tips for Applying to American Association of University Professors

1

Highlight specific campaigns you've led that included capital strategies (e.g., shareholder activism, divestment) and quantify their impact.

2

Demonstrate your familiarity with higher education labor issues by referencing recent AAUP campaigns or statements in your cover letter.

3

Showcase your digital research skills by mentioning tools like Google Alerts, Meltwater, or CrowdTangle and how you've used them to inform strategy.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize workshop facilitation and coalition-building experience, as these are key responsibilities.

5

Address your commitment to racial equity explicitly, with examples of how you've integrated equity into campaign work.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience designing and executing strategic campaigns with measurable outcomes.', 'Specific examples of using capital strategies (e.g., corporate engagement, financial pressure) to achieve labor or advocacy goals.', 'Your ability to train and mobilize members through workshops and briefings.', "Your alignment with AAUP's mission to defend academic freedom and build worker power."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review AAUP's recent campaigns (e.g., for adjunct faculty rights, tenure protection) and their use of capital strategies.
  • → Understand AAUP's organizational structure, including its chapters and membership demographics.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the current landscape of higher education labor, including key issues like contingent faculty and budget cuts.
  • → Learn about AAUP's coalition partners, such as AFL-CIO or other academic unions.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a campaign you led that involved capital strategies; what was the outcome?
2 How do you stay informed about emerging developments relevant to labor campaigns?
3 Give an example of a successful coalition partnership you built and how you maintained it.
4 How would you design a workshop for chapter leaders on campaign escalation?
5 What does racial equity mean in the context of higher education organizing?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention AAUP or higher education specifically.
  • Failing to provide concrete examples of campaign metrics (e.g., membership growth, policy changes).
  • Overlooking the remote nature of the role—mention your experience working effectively in a distributed team.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to American Association of University Professors!

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