NI Local Organiser

UNISON NI Local Organiser (BSOF Black & Migrant Workers Project)

12-month, fixed-term (secondments welcome)

UNISON is looking for a UNISON activist to work for a 12-month period as a fixed-term Local Organiser on a project to recruit and organise black and migrant workers across Northern Ireland.  Secondments are welcome.

JOB BRIEF

1. UNISON is the UK’s leading public sector trade union, with over 1.3 million members. We employ 1200 staff, approximately 370 at our centre in London and the remainder in our twelve UNISON regions. In Northern Ireland our members work in health & social services, education and housing, the private sector delivering public services and in the community & voluntary sector. Successful applicants will be required to meet the relevant job criteria and demonstrate a commitment to trade unionism and our union’s values.
2. This is an opportunity for existing UNISON activists. If successful you will be required to step down from any elected UNISON roles for the duration of the appointment. The allocation of work to the Local Organiser is the responsibility of the designated manager.
3. If you are considering applying for a secondment you should speak to your employer before applying for this post as, if successful, your appointment will be dependent on you securing a secondment agreement. You will remain employed by the seconding organisation but will be “hosted” by UNISON to work within the BSOF activist team for a fixed term. The secondment will be on the appropriate UNISON Organiser Grade 7.

The Local Organiser Role

4. This post is the first level organising post in UNISON. The successful candidate will bring their experience and skills in one-to-one communications, recruitment, organising and campaigning. As part of the UNISON NI organising team your focus will be on:

• recruiting new black & migrant workers - motivating them to take an active role in our campaigns;
• identifying potential new B&MW activists - supporting them to become active on branch and regional groups;
• engaging in a wide variety of organising, mapping, campaigning and member engagement activities to help develop B&MW organisation at branch level – including helping to develop and support local branch B&MW groups, anti-racism activities and progressing issues raised by branch groups at local and regional level;
• providing support for the regional B&MW group - including mentoring new activists; developing member communications; organising and supporting attendance at events and conferences.

5. You will demonstrate a commitment to trade unionism and our union’s values, as well as a good understanding of UNISON’s policies and objectives.

The closing date for application is 12noon, Friday 5 December 2025. Completed applications and monitoring form should be sent to Michele Bradford (m.bradford@unison.co.uk).  Interviews will take place on either Thursday 11th or Friday 12th December 2025.

CLICK THE ICONS BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE JOB APPLICATION DOCUMENTS:

• Job brief, Job Description, Person Spec
• Application Form
• Monitoring Form