JOB DESCRIPTION
(Tentative – pending approval)

updated 03/15/2005

Assistant Executive Director, Performers’ Contracts (AEDPC)

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists -- affiliated with the AFL-CIO -- is a diverse national union representing nearly 80,000 professional performers, broadcasters and recording artists in 32 Locals throughout the country. AFTRA members work as actors, broadcast journalists, dancers, singers, announcers, hosts, comedians and disc jockeys in all aspects of the media industries including television and radio, sound recordings, commercials, industrial non-broadcast, interactive games and the Internet. More information on AFTRA is available at www.aftra.org.

            The AEDPC is charged with monitoring, protecting, and growing the work of AFTRA’s freelance performers. This mission requires many qualities, including strong verbal and writing skills, keen analytic abilities, knowledge of the business of entertainment and media, organizational planning and goal-setting capabilities, team leadership skills, abilities to persuade and motivate, and sound judgement.

Working as part of a three-person team under the direction of the Executive Director (ED), the AEDPC must be prepared to multi-task among clerical, technical, program-level, and management-level duties.

DUTIES:

-Administer National and Local Freelance Contracts. Achieve and maintain a working knowledge of all freelance performers’ agreements, national and local.  Work closely with appropriate national staff. Assist Executive Director in the negotiation of local freelance agreements or any requested waivers to national contracts. Develop a working knowledge of broadcast contracts, particularly as they relate to freelance performers. Coordinate union response to inquiries regarding contract rates and other terms and conditions.

Review and monitor all talent payments and member work reports. Inform producers of deadlines, and pursue late payment penalties. Investigate and process payment claims against producers. Investigate and process charges against members, producers and agents. Maintain all related records.

Maintain signatory records and documents (paper and computer). Track signatory status and insure that producers have executed documents in a timely fashion.

-Review, revise, and expand the Local’s freelance organizing plan/program. In consultation with the Executive Director, prepare necessary data analysis and research of local work and conduct targeted outreach to non-union performers and producers (advertisers, advertising agencies, production houses, etc.) who work or operate in AFTRA’s jurisdiction. Effectively communicate organizing goals and methods to members. Prepare regular progress reports on organizing objectives.

Maintain and improve relations with signatories and potential signatories. Develop a regular program of outreach and communication to inform producers of their rights and responsibilities under the contracts.

Maintain and improve relations with agents. Develop a regular program of outreach and communication to inform agents of their rights and responsibilities under the AFTRA franchise agreement and to win their assistance in organizing. Build sound relationships with casting directors.

-Coordinate freelance member communications and events. Prepare and distribute freelance member communications. Conduct planning and coordination of meetings, seminars and committee functions (Freelance Steering Committee and Conservatory Committee) in consultation with ED, National Staff, and appropriate members.

Oversee the clearance of freelance members to work under AFTRA contracts. Have a thorough understanding of AFTRA membership policies.  When directed, follow up with freelance members who are delinquent in dues.

-Perform routine office and phone duties (phones, mailings) or other duties as required.  Develop a fundamental understanding of all office staff roles and office protocol and procedures. As team member, fill in for Office Manager or Executive Director as needed.

TERM AND CONDITIONS:

            This is a full-time position, with a normal weekly office schedule of M-F, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. However, this schedule must be adjusted each month to accommodate several weekend and/or evening work sessions for field visits, meetings of committees and/or industry groups, Board meetings, organizing, or national meetings. No overtime is paid.

            This position is accountable to the Executive Director as well as appropriate national staff. The AEDPC works under a personal employment agreement with AFTRA and is evaluated annually.

                                                                                                03/05