Political Organizer

Political Organizer – SEIU Local 521.

SEIU Local 521, founded in 2007 when five local unions joined forces, represents over 50,000 public service workers in cities, counties, courts, schools, private nonprofits, special districts, and public health care. We are committed to empowering members, improving their lives, and building a just and humane society through strong community partnerships.

• Identify potential allies among labor, religious, ethnic, immigrant, advocacy, patient/client, disability, environmental, senior, neighborhood, and other community organizations and leaders.
• Develop relationships with potential allies, educate them on SEIU Local 521 campaigns, and organize them to support those campaigns.
• Coordinate SEIU Local 521’s participation in activities in support of community allies.
• Maintain a database and records on community organizations and leaders.
• Plan, with organizing, research and communications staff, the community component of strategic campaigns, and execute that component.
• Organize community forums, petitions, and press conferences in support of strategic campaigns.
• Attend meetings of allied community organizations to maintain relationships and build support.
• Track membership and activity of Local 521 members in community organizations that may be potential allies.
• Recruit, train and empower Local 521 members to represent the union in community organizations.
• Turnout community organizations to union events.
• Create key constituent organizations required for strategic leverage (e.g., hospital patient organization, local resident organization).
• Participate in Local programs including political campaigns, organizing blitzes and other local-wide efforts; may Join Local-wide committees.

• Two years of full‑time paid experience in community organizing.
• High level of oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport and work in mutually beneficial coalitions with diverse groups.
• Ability to work under pressure and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to plan strategically, follow a plan, and be accountable to a team.
• Dedication to building power for workers and willingness to engage in a wide range of activities toward that goal.
• Availability for irregular and long hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Chinese bilingualism is a plus.
• Established relationships with community organizations in Local 521 areas preferred.

Must possess a valid California driver’s license, pass a DMV check, maintain a good driving record, have auto insurance covering business driving (minimum $100,000 per person/$300,000 per incident bodily injury liability/$100,000 property coverage), and own a car for business use.

Salary commensurate with experience. SEIU Local 521 employees enjoy comprehensive benefits: fully employer‑paid family health, dental and vision insurance; generous leave package; fully employer‑paid defined benefit pension plan; 401(k); flexible savings accounts for health and childcare expenses; $200,000 life insurance; and other benefits as outlined in the SEIU 521 policies.

Local 521 is an affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. Local 521 works to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforces policies against discrimination and sexual harassment.