Senior Campaign Researcher

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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, childcare, 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.

• Guides/teaches more junior researchers about campaign strategy and tactics, research strategies, the relevant industry data, and articulate/teach information about key industries; reviews and is able to provide useful feedback on their work.
• Assists in planning agendas and takes a role in leading pieces of meetings. Leads small team meetings with minimal guidance and support.
• Help others on team to brainstorm around research challenges. Ability to develop new creative solutions to complicated research problems.
• Independently lead the research component in a campaign by working collaboratively with the campaign team to implement research strategies and tactics in a coordinated manner.
• Lead policy research and development for the Local and represent the Local at work groups or coalition settings.
• Develops new creative solutions to complicated research problems arising in different campaigns.
• Collaborate with Regional Director/Coordinator in the overall strategic planning for the region/team.
• Develop training for junior researchers and other department’s staff on strategic campaign research strategies centered around a deep understanding of industry/political power dynamics.

• Ability to independently plan and manage research projects, including breaking down the larger projects into a group work plan, in support of campaigns.
• Ability to independently develop an understanding of employers’ strategic interests and of the other governmental entities, organizations and individuals which can influence an employer’s decisions.
• Ability to understand employer practices and the issues faced by workers and based on that understanding, identify how regulations; social, media, and policy trends; academic and advocacy interests; etc may impact the interests of SEIU 521 members and advise SEIU 521 as to possible courses of action.
• Deep understanding of employer budget and other financial statements; ability to independently summarize findings from employer budget and other financial documents for the rest of the union and provide strategic guidance based on the information.
• Can train others on using industry sources and sources of information available through the research department.
• Deep understanding of the employers and relevant industries to be able to interact with union leadership and other stakeholders within and outside labor movement.
• Strong technical research skills and ability to apply research to the development of strategic campaigns.
• Independently conduct employer research and financial analysis.
• Proficiency in Excel and other MS office suites; knowledge of data manipulation or programming skills a plus.
• Strong emotional intelligence and ability to quickly gain and maintain trust with staff and members.
• Experience leading and delegating work.
• Ability to work in an unpredictable and ever‑evolving environment with little oversight.
• Ability to identify and develop appropriate research material for contract negotiations, Media persuasion, member education, and presentations before public board and commissions on behalf of the members and the union.
• Makes relevant and helpful connections between his or her findings…