Senior Political Organizer - Representative SEIU 221

RECRUITMENT ANNOUNCEMENT: SENIOR ORGANIZER-REPRESENTATIVE FOR POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Purpose: The role of the Senior Organizer-Representative for Political and Government Relations is to support the union’s member-driven political program, move progressive pro-labor local and state policy, and engage in coalition work to improve the lives of working families.

In the 2020 elections, SEIU 221 played a leading role in electing a pro-worker majority on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for the first time in over a generation. This Senior Organizer-Representative assigned to Political and Government Relations will play a leading role in working with SEIU members, labor and coalition partners, and elected officials to ensure that this majority is maintained and strengthened. Turning electoral success into real wins that improve the lives of working families is a core responsibility of this role.

The key areas of work will be:

• Strengthen and maintain the union’s member-driven political program: this includes participation in Member Political Organizer Meetings, maximizing participation in the COPE (member PAC) program and member-to-member volunteer programs during election season.

• Support the union’s local and state legislative program: this includes working with SEIU staff, members and community stakeholders and elected officials to identify and develop pro-worker legislation and use the tools of organizing, advocacy and policy and communication strategies to move a successful legislative agenda.

• Coalition building: the unions partner with several community and labor organizations as part of the legislative and political program. This requires productive collaboration with partners and representing SEIU member’s perspective and interests.

Responsibilities of Political and Government Relations Assignment: The Senior Organizer-Representative performs a wide range of duties, which may vary according to the needs of the overall program or a specific campaign. Examples of those duties and responsibilities when assigned to Political and Government Relations are listed below:

• Coordinate electoral activities, including direct mail, phone banks, GOTV, precinct organization, vote-by-mail, etc.
•  Design and conduct political education trainings for staff, member, and allies.
•  Implement internal and external voter registration and signature drives and efforts.
• Coordinate the Local’s political activities with the SEIU State Council, other unions, the Central Labor Council, coalitions, and other allies.
• Assist in the Local’s member driven candidate and ballot initiative endorsement process
• Build and support community/labor coalitions to support the Local’s political agenda.
• Develop, plan, and coordinate a successful membership and/or COPE campaign
• Support cross-organizational data management to strengthen digital communications (including email, text-messaging and social media)
• Carry out fundraising strategies to support candidate campaigns
• Coordinate the activities of member-organizers
• Develop, plan, and coordinate political and community campaigns, including canvassing, phone-banking, and other forms of voter education
• Use strategies and tactics that promote class-consciousness and advance struggles against racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination.
• Duties and responsibilities listed in the Organizer-Representative (Senior and non-Senior) job descriptions.

Assignments: This position is within the Senior Organizer-Representative classification, which includes staff with political, internal, and external organizing assignments. All staff may be assigned other duties not included in this recruitment announcement as required by the organization. Assignments are made by the President or their designee and are subject to change based on the needs of the Local.  

Skills and Abilities Beneficial for Assignment: The Senior Organizer-Representative assigned to Political and Government Relations will be expected to be proficient in the following skills and abilities:

• Experience in planning and executing electoral activities, including phone banks, GOTV, precinct organization, vote-by-mail, signature gathering, direct mail, social media, etc.
• Productive experience in coalition building with successful collaboration, conflict management and multi-organizational campaign work
• Experience in legislative a