Job Description

SEIU Local 221

Organizing Director

Based in San Diego, CA

Title: Organizing Director
Location: San Diego, CA

The Organizing Director is a responsible for coordinating internal organizing and collective bargaining. As a management-level employee, the Organizing Director is responsible for supervising, training, and evaluating assigned staff, including designated Leads.

They are responsible for driving 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.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Plan and lead industrial actions of all types and sizes, including leafleting, unity breaks, worksite rallies, informational pickets, and strikes at multiple worksites simultaneously.
4. Supervise the work of Organizer-Representatives, Senior-Organizer Representatives, and designated Leads to carry out programs, reach benchmarks, and achieve goals.
5. 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.
6. Assist the Chief of Staff in recruiting and hiring staff, conducting annual performance evaluations, and developing individualized professional development plans for assigned staff.
7. Issue non-disciplinary Corrective Action when necessary to improve staff performance, as well as Disciplinary Action when Corrective Action is not successful or appropriate.
8. Recommend higher levels of Disciplinary Action to the Chief of Staff and assist with the disciplinary process up to and including termination of staff when necessary.
9. Support and innovate programs to recruit and develop new member-leaders, including the Power Builder Program, Stewards Council, Worksite Committees, and Contract Action Teams.
10. 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.
11. Develop strategies and tactics that promote class-consciousness and advance anti-racist, anti-sexist, and other anti-oppressive struggles of working people.
12. Forge and maintain strong working relationships with community organizations, political allies, and other unions, and work collaboratively to identify “common good” bargaining demands.
13. Represent SEIU Local 221 in meetings with SEIU International, SEIU State Council, community organizations, elected officials, and elsewhere as deemed necessary by the Chief of Staff.
14. Represent workers collectively and individually, including formal communications with employer representatives, filing charges, grievances, and other enforcement actions as needed.
15. Competently perform all organizing and representational duties necessary to work a route, cover for staff absences, and trouble-shoot challenges.

Scope and Nature of Supervision:
Organizing Director reports directly to of the Chief of Staff. They must be capable of working with or without specific direction, including identifying programmatic needs and proactively bringing proposals forward to address them. Depending on the needs of the Local, the Organizing Director is responsible for leading planning and implementation collaboratively and independently. Analytical abilities, organizational commitment, and sound political judgement are necessary.

Key Qualifications:

1. Prior experience managing/supervising a staff of 5 or more within a labor organization and running campaigns for more than 5 years.
2. Knowledge of internal organizing methods and practices, including campaign planning, leadership, messaging, and actions.
3. Knowledge of representation methods and practices, such as drafting contract language, engaging with management, filing information requests, and filing charges.
4. 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.
5. Demonstrated commitment to economic and social justice, including class-conscious, anti-racist, and anti-sexist organizing strategies and tactics.
6. Knowledge of and/or ability to quickly learn principles and best practices of employee supervision, training, performance evaluation, corrective action, and discipline.
7. 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.
8. Proven ability to establish and maintain rapport and credibility with diverse demographic groups and professional, technical, administrative, and service workers.

Additional Requirements:

1. Extended day and occasional overnight travel.
2. Willingness to work long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends.
3. Must possess a valid California driver's license, auto insurance, and automobile for work use.
4. Must provide and maintain a cell phone with a data plan and internet access, and a home internet connection for work use.
5. Bilingual/multilingual preferred.

Conditions of Employment:
This is an unrepresented, at-will position. At-will employment in California means that the employer or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason.

Compensation for this position is competitive and will be based on the experience and skills of the employee. Salary range is: $110,000 – $120,000. Benefits include a car allowance, health care, dental, prescription, vision, and retirement plans, and vacation/time off policy.

Submission Instructions
Use the email below to send us information about who you are in a cover letter and résumé. **Cover letters should describe your qualifications, experience, and career goals, as well as a brief description of why you want to work to realize SEIU Local 221’s vision for building a strong union.

Submit cover letter and résumé via email with subject ‘ Organizing Director ’ to: jobs@seiu221.org

Local 221 is an affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, or disability.

WHEN APPLYING: Be sure to indicate that you saw this information at .

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