Senior Campaign Researcher

SEIU Local 521 was founded in 2007 when five 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.

AT SEIU LOCAL 521: Our mission is to provide our members with a voice in the workplace, in our 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.

Within SEIU 521 a Senior Researcher must possess a high level of expertise and skills in the field of strategic research and operate with a high degree of independence. This position is the advanced journey‑level class of the Researcher series. A Senior Researcher will perform at a higher level of expertise with a more comprehensive skillset than a Researcher. A Senior Researcher will understand and help campaign teams identify the strategic outcomes to be achieved through campaign research program and then conduct or lead that research, demonstrating a high level of sophistication in identifying potential sources of information including methodologies for developing information from original sources including workers, clients, etc.

The senior researcher will analyze complex information, including information about political and economic relationships, and will demonstrate the ability to analyze the power dynamics in a way that will help SEIU 521 make the most strategic decisions about possible courses of action. The Senior Researcher’s work will include, but not be limited to, developing an understanding of employer operations, regulatory oversight, and finances.

In addition, the Senior Researcher will identify other governmental entities, organizations and individuals who may bring power to bear on situations affecting SEIU 521 whether as potential allies or as adversaries and will develop strategies for SEIU 521 to consider based on the information developed. This position will not be eligible for a lead differential. The Senior Researcher will be assigned to work with members in one or multiple regions of SEIU 521.

• 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.
• Develop 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.
• Ab…