Political Director

Political Director

SEIU Local 521 was founded in 2007 when 5 local unions came together in the Bay Area, Central Coast and Central Valley to form one larger, more powerful union. Together our members are building a true 21st century union fighting to empower and improve the lives of our members. We represent over 50,000 public service workers in cities, counties, courts, schools, private non‑profits, special districts, and public health care.

Our mission is to provide our members with a voice in the workplace, in their union and in the larger community. Through our actions, we intend to create a more just and humane society. We are committed to protecting and improving the lives of workers and their families. We will work to improve and protect the services we provide to our communities.

We believe that by working together as a united front, we can win better contracts and build industry power in our region.

Political Director works under direction of the Chief of Organizing. The ideal candidate for the position will have senior level leadership experience in legislative or political organizing campaigns with a labor union or association, non‑profit community organization or progressive elective official. She/he will be an experienced manager with the ability to effectively manage a group of staff and will possess the capacity to work collaboratively with a diverse staff and stakeholders.

• Build political support for strategic organizing and bargaining campaigns of the local.
• Oversee all aspects of the union's political program, including GOTV, voter registration, candidate interviews, endorsements, legal reporting, internal communications and political reporting requirements.
• Create and oversee the Local's political plan and budget.
• Coordinate the Committee on Political Education so that the union's members lead the Local's political program.
• Participate in the staff leadership team in guiding the Local's direction in accordance with the plan set by the elected Executive Board.
• Coordinate the union's political program with those of the area labor councils and the SEIU International and State Council.
• Lobby elected officials to gain their support for our issues.
• Work with Local leadership to develop and implement public policy and political advocacy strategies in various counties and municipalities where Local 521 represents members.
• Work with the International Union to coordinate the Local's political activities and plans with those of the International Union at the Federal, State and Local levels.
• Work with the Local leadership, directors, and field staff to coordinate political field activities, lobby visits, phone banking and events for our public policy campaigns at the city, county, state and federal level.
• Coordinate political messaging and engagement strategies with the union's member communications staff.
• Identify and develop members for potential elected and appointed political or community positions.
• Provide support to representational staff for recruitment, training, leadership development and coordination of member political activists for political fundraising and mobilization for electoral and issue campaigns.
• Plan and implement the electoral program for local, state and federal elections.
• Support contracts and organizing campaigns by integrating political strategy into the campaign planning, including rallies, press events, legislative opportunities and other targeted political activity.
• Build the union's capacity through support of the Local and SEIU's COPE program and other grassroots political fundraising drives.
• Coordinate the union's political work with the SEIU State Council and other labor and community allies.
• Work with Local leadership to identify community, political and civic organizations with whom the Local shares values and interests and develop and implement outreach and engagement with those allies.

• At least five years' experience in political and/or advocacy work with progressive experience and willingness and ability to travel including overnight travel and assignments.
• Computer literacy and a willingness and ability to…