Organizing Director - SEIU Local 221

Service Employees International Union • Washington, DC

233d • $110,000 - $120,000

About The Position

The Organizing Director is responsible for coordinating internal organizing and collective bargaining. As a management-level employee, the Organizing Director supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned staff, including designated Leads. They drive membership recruitment, leadership development, worksite campaigns, and negotiations for the local in the designated bargaining units assigned. This position serves on SEIU Local 221's Senior Staff Team and is expected to work with other Team members on a multidisciplinary basis to successfully execute the vision of the President and executive board in all programs of the local, including internal organizing, representation, communications, external organizing, and politics.

Requirements

• Five years prior experience working full-time as a union organizer and/or community organizer responsible for running campaigns and recruiting members, leading bargaining with employers and/or supervising multiple staff, assignments, and projects.
• Knowledge of internal organizing methods and practices, including campaign planning, leadership, messaging, and actions.
• Knowledge of representation methods and practices, such as drafting contract language, engaging with management, filing information requests, and filing charges.
• Working knowledge of Labor Laws, such as the Meyers-Milias Brown Act and the National Labor Relations Act, as well as the agencies that administer them, including PERB and the NLRB.
• Demonstrated commitment to economic and social justice, including class-conscious, anti-racist, and anti-sexist organizing strategies and tactics.
• Knowledge of and/or ability to quickly learn principles and best practices of employee supervision, training, performance evaluation, corrective action, and discipline.
• Knowledge of and/or ability to quickly learn principles and best practices of plan development and implementation, project management, goal setting, tracking progress, and reporting.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain rapport and credibility with diverse demographic groups and professional, technical, administrative, and service workers.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual/multilingual preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage internal organizing campaigns - including membership and COPE drives, issue campaigns, and contract fights - that support the overall vision and priorities of the Local.
• Serve as lead Negotiator and campaign strategist for multiple contracts and 'meet and confer' processes, while training assigned staff to bargain and lead contract campaigns.
• Plan and lead industrial actions of all types and sizes, including leafleting, unity breaks, worksite rallies, informational pickets, and strikes at multiple worksites simultaneously.
• Supervise the work of Organizer-Representatives, Senior-Organizer Representatives, and designated Leads to carry out programs, reach benchmarks, and achieve goals.
• Conduct frequent Organizing Team meetings and one-on-one meetings with staff to review and plan their work assignments, including the use of work plans.
• Assist the Staff Director in recruiting and hiring staff, conducting annual performance evaluations, and developing individualized professional development plans for assigned staff.
• Issue non-disciplinary Corrective Action when necessary to improve staff performance, as well as Disciplinary Action when Corrective Action is not successful or appropriate.
• Recommend higher levels of Disciplinary Action to the Staff Director and assist with the disciplinary process up to and including termination of staff when necessary.
• Support and innovate programs to recruit and develop new member-leaders, including the Power Builder Program, Stewards Council, Worksite Committees, and Contract Action Teams.
• Include rank-and-file members and workplace leaders in development of organizing strategies and tactics, always ensuring maximum buy-in, commitment, and participation in campaigns.
• Develop strategies and tactics that promote class-consciousness and advance anti-racist, anti-sexist, and other anti-oppressive struggles of working people.
• Forge and maintain strong working relationships with community organizations, political allies, and other unions, and work collaboratively to identify 'common good' bargaining demands.
• Represent SEIU Local 221 in meetings with SEIU International, SEIU State Council, community organizations, elected officials, and elsewhere as deemed necessary by the Staff Director.
• Represent workers collectively and individually, including formal communications with employer representatives, filing charges, grievances, and other enforcement actions as needed.
• Competently perform all organizing and representational duties necessary to work a route, cover for staff absences, and trouble-shoot challenges.

Benefits

• Car allowance
• Health care
• Dental
• Prescription
• Vision
• Retirement plans
• Vacation/time off policy

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees