California State Employees Association
CSUEU/SEIU Local 2579

Field Director

Based in California

 

Job # CSUEU.2025.04

California State University Employees Union (CSUEU), an affiliate of California State Employees Association (CSEA), has an opening for a Field Director ($7,916/mo - $11,161/mo). The position will be based in California.

California State University Employees Union/SEIU Local 2579 represents approximately 16,000 represented employees across California. CSUEU’s members are the backbone of the California State University system.

Working under the direction of the Executive Director and President, the Field Director is responsible for achieving CSUEU’s internal organizing goals & program for members throughout the state. The Field Director position requires a high level of critical thinking, judgment, leadership, and commitment. The Field Director must be able to collaborate with the Vice President of Organizing, Director of Representation, and elected leaders and have substantial experience creating, implementing, and supervising organizing campaigns while empowering union staff and members.

In this role, the Field Director oversees a team of union staff as they support members in building relationships with new members, new leaders, and leveraging the organizing opportunities present in any contract fight. The Field Director will lead a team of union staff as they organize and develop strong member leaders who advocate for themselves, their students, and public education. The Field Director will ensure that staff are supporting member leaders to build power in their worksites and campuses, waking up every day hungry for results.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead with purpose, cultivate organizational culture, and build systems with impact across higher education in California.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and oversee a coherent statewide internal organizing agenda, including measurable goals and metrics for membership density, for building and maintaining a strong and engaged membership.
• In collaboration with leadership, support the design, facilitation, and completion of all training(s) pertinent to organizing staff and member development.
• Create, develop and manage winning mobilizations and campaigns in coordination with the senior leadership team.
• Manage and supervise teams of staff to support members leaders in representation, legislative and organizing work on their campuses.
• Lead staff by example, set high standards of performance, and hold assigned staff accountable for results.
• Write staff evaluations and implement support plans for performance improvement.
• Coach and mentor assigned staff, create opportunities for development through debrief, modeling, shadowing, etc.
• Hold 1:1s and team meetings to review staff priorities, plans, provide support, and assess progress.
• Periodically review programmatic structure and operational policies for efficiency and lead organizational change when appropriate, including staff’s professional development and assignments/workplans.
• Articulate a positive vision of the union and its work.

Qualifications: At least five (5) years of related work experience that would provide for the following knowledge of, skills and abilities:

• Demonstrated full-time experience in union organizing including representation elections, strikes, chapter building, contract and issue campaigns.
• Experience in planning and running comprehensive organizing campaigns.
• Ability to quickly assess an assignment situation and to develop, implement and modify a plan of action in concert with leadership .
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining a professional and collegial demeanor.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a fast-paced and diverse team environment.
• Excellent ability to listen to, motivate, and nurture the leadership of others.
• Ability to support, model and coach staff through honest, clear and timely feedback; able to facilitate the learning of others, both formally and informally.
• Demonstrated ability to hold others accountable while building respect, trust and a positive work environment.
• Inclusive leader who encourages initiative and innovation and is able to effectively involve the team in planning and decision-making.
• Appropriately manages conflict, disagreements and adversarial situations among staff and member leaders.
• Ability to drive work independently, manage assignments, stay organized, and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to clearly convey information and ideas both verbally and in writing across audiences.
• Effective public speaking skills.
• Ability to critically evaluate one’s own performance and incorporate feedback into improving performance.
• Willingness to respect governance decisions and prioritize their strategic plan and other goals.
• Commitment to improving the lives of working people.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and organizing databases (e.g. Unionware, VAN). Knowledge of emerging technologies a plus.
• Technologically proficient with Google products such as Gmail and Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drive); willingness to learn new technology to make hybrid organizing work effective.

Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of current higher education and public sector issues in the state of California.
• A strong commitment to organized labor and the role of staff in public higher education.
• Use of social media as an organizing tool.

Requirements

• Salaried position; requires nonstandard work hours and/or weekend and holiday work.
• Weekly travel required.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, must have auto insurance that covers business driving, and must possess an automobile for business use.

In addition to a résumé, we require a compelling cover letter that gives us a clear picture of who you are, how you demonstrated success in a similar position, and why you want to apply for this position at CSUEU.

To Apply:
If you are interested in this position please send your cover letter and résumé to careers@calcsea.org. Please list the job number, Job # CSUEU.2025.03 in your subject line. No phone calls.