SEIU Local 521

Senior Internal Organizer

Based in Bakersfield, CA

 

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.

AT SEIU LOCAL 521: 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.

Senior Internal Organizer works under the direction of the Regional Director and/or Coordinator. A Senior Internal Organizer must possess a high level of expertise and skills in the field of internal organizing and operate with a high degree of independence. This position is the advanced journey level class of the Internal Organizer series. The Senior Internal Organizer is expected to bring a strategic vision to all their work always thinking of the desired organizational outcome of building worker power and applying that lens to determine the best course of action in each situation including how best to respond to emergent actions, challenges, and questions where the best response may require re-framing the question or conversation with worker leaders so that they can arrive at the most strategic decision about how to move forward on a path that leads to greater power for the workers and their union. This position will not be eligible for a lead differential. The Senior Internal Organizer will be assigned to work with members in one or multiple regions of SEIU 521.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
All duties listed are required but not limited to and may or may not be continuously performed or ongoing at any specific time. Examples provide a general summary of the work required and should not be treated as a total and complete list of expected duties to be performed by employees in the classification. The Senior Internal Organizer performs a wide range of duties, which may vary according to the needs of the overall union program or a specific campaign. Examples of those duties and responsibilities are:

• Acting as Chief Bargainer for one or more contracts with responsibility to oversee table, manage the union’s responses, develop, implement, and oversee the field campaign.
• Leading several member leaders on Lost Time/Member Organizers including training, mentoring and ongoing support as they complete their assignment.
• Facilitating and guiding members and other staff in complex labor relations issues such as but not limited to meet and confers and unfair labor practices that impact multiple members. This includes developing and implementing a field organizing campaign connected to the labor relations issue.
• Identifying, recruiting, training, and developing officers and leaders within the turf to build capacity and organize member power including developing a short term and long-term visions for their respective chapters.
• Leading and assisting in developing plans for worksite campaigns for specific issues including public budget issues, contract negotiations, safety, etc.
• Assisting in holding one on one meetings with staff and member leaders on Union leave.
• Creating or assisting members in creating communication systems; writing and editing leaflets, proposals, newsletters, etc. in coordination with communications staff.
• Collaborate with Director/Coordinator in strategic planning for the region/team.
• Developing and coaching of Lead Internal Organizers that may be assigned within the region.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A qualified candidate must have consistently demonstrated the following:

• Ability to perform all responsibilities of the Internal Organizer at or near an expert level.
• Ability to independently plan, develop, implement, and oversee campaigns such as, but not limited to: issue organizing, contract bargaining, and strategic campaigns.
• Ability to increase overall membership density within their assigned areas by working with member leaders.
• Ability to mentor staff and members in all aspects of internal organizing work rooted in the understanding of worker power and the vision and mission of SEIU.
• Ability to build strong positive relationships with members that are rooted in the understanding of worker power and the vision and mission of SEIU.
• High degree of understanding of the organizing conversation, ability to have an organizing conversation with ease and teach members and staff to gain this skill.
• Ability to consistently have organizing conversations that lead to a member gaining a deeper understanding about the importance of political power to win on the issues that matter to them. Additionally, these conversations consistently lead to member joining COPE and participating in GOTV efforts.
• Consistently meet goals for membership, COPE, GOTV shifts, leader recruitment and other goals as established by the local.
• Commitment to racial justice rooted in the understanding that we cannot achieve economic justice without racial justice. 
• Ability to have conversations with members and staff about race and ability to apply a racial justice lens to daily work.
• Candidate demonstrates high proficiency in the understanding and application of complex bargaining strategies that lead to strong contracts and increased union power by increasing membership and COPE as main component of the contract campaign.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with staff from other teams in a campaign team setting and demonstrate understanding of program departments’ role/contribution in a strategic campaign.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead large projects and/or campaigns responsible for implementing a plan and guiding other staff.
• Ability to assess a worksite, identify leaders, build an organizing committee, organize around worksite issue and win, and lead to increased membership density and members joining COPE.
• Ability to work in an unpredictable and ever-evolving environment with little oversight.
• Ability to consistently meet timelines and follow procedures related to labor contracts, union bylaws, and related protocols.
• Ability to quickly distinguish between an individual and a group grievance and consistently follow related protocols/policies by working collaboratively with Stewards, other impacted members, Member Resource Center and Contract Enforcement Departments.
• Possess strong emotional intelligence and ability to quickly gain and maintain trust with staff and members.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must possess a valid California driver’s license; must pass a DMV check and have a good driving record. 
• Must have auto insurance that covers business driving (minimum of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per incident bodily injury liability/$100,000 property coverage); and must possess an automobile for business use. 
• Minimum of three (3) years demonstrated experience at higher level as described in the
• position description within SEIU 521 or equivalent.
• Must be an exemplary employee with satisfactory or higher than average rated evaluations.
• Excellent judgment and ability to discern priorities when faced with many important tasks.
• Extensive knowledge of labor rights and contract language and ability to learn these quickly.
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours, often including nights and weekends.
• Ability to communicate well in writing and orally.
• Ability to maintain work files and comply with administrative reporting.
• Bilingual/biliterate in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese is a plus.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Salary commensurate with experience ($112,768.45 – $124,327.22). SEIU Local 521 employees enjoy top notch benefits including fully employer-paid family health, dental and vision insurance; a generous leave package; fully employer-paid defined benefit pension plan; 401(K); flexible savings accounts for annual health and childcare expenses; $200,000 life insurance plan; and other benefits outlined in the policies of SEIU 521.

APPLY: https://www.seiu521.org/who-we-are/work-with-us/

This position is open until filled; however, the posting/acceptance of applications may close at any time.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Local 521 is an affirmative action employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. Local 521 works to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforces policies against discrimination and sexual harassment.