Political Organizer, SEIU Local 2015, throughout Califnornia

[Jennifer Root]

Political Organizer

Throughout California
 

Overview:

Political Organizing position. Works independently at the grassroots level to build member political leadership and skill. This position implies a high level of independence—working to accomplish goals with minimal supervision. 

Prerequisites:

• Experience with political campaigns and/or related experience.
• Ability to accomplish goals independently with little supervision
• Ability to develop other staff member’s skills
• Ability to carry a political message, train others on carrying that message on behalf of the union
• Ability to demonstrate the Organization’s Core Values in his/her day-to-day work
• Ability to frame issues and articulate organizational values and priorities
• Ability to lead and work effectively as part of a team
• The ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Basic computer literacy on Windows-based computer programs in order to perform necessary campaign data management and administrative work
• Willingness and ability to work long, irregular hours, including evenings and weekends
• Strong personal planning and time management skills
• The ability to work with people from other cultures and backgrounds
• Having a valid drivers’ license, use of a car for work, and automobile insurance are mandatory conditions of employment in this role.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout state of California

Qualifications include the ability to independently:

• Connect members around vision and political goals of the union
• Identify, train, develop and mentor new member political leaders and activists
• Execute campaign plans with clear goals, strategies and bench marks and report back on progress toward goals
• Develop and maintain a high level of team work, spirit, collaboration and mutual accountability within the department and with other departments
• Balance conflicting demands successfully
• Deliver on quantitative and qualitative goals outlined for that month, quarter, and year
• Plan, recruit for, and execute endorsement processes for candidates
• Lead the development of Political teams in assigned turf
• Monitor and track relationships with Community Partners including elected officials, the staff of elected officials, other local unions, non-profits, and religious leaders
• Represent the organization in coalitions
• Coordinate political field activities, lobby visits, phone banking and events for our policy, legislative and electoral participation campaigns at the city, state and federal level
• Develop strategic plans to support contract and organizing campaigns, including rallies, press events and targeted employer activity with political influence
• Developing  and implementing plans to build the union’s capacity through COPE fundraising;
• Coordinating the union’s work with local labor and community allies, prepping delegates, advising on votes, etc.
• Fluency in a second language is also highly desirable.

Duties and Responsibilities: Any one position may not include all of the specific duties and responsibilities listed. 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.

• COPE Fundraising. Lead in developing COPE strategy and plans and in implementing that strategy and plan. 
• Membership Sign-Up. In addition to COPE sign ups, political organizers are responsible for meeting membership sign-up goals.
• Build, Staff, and Plan Political Teams in assigned turf without direct supervision.
• Assess, identify, recruit, and develop member leaders as they become political activists and leaders via house visits, worksite visits, organizing meetings, political team meetings, phone calls and literature.
• Prepare meeting agendas and other communication tools such as emails, fliers, etc. as needed.
• Develop and execute electoral campaign plans for assigned campaigns.
• Engage in strategic thinking to assess issues, evaluate a campaign and its components, achieve goals and provide reports and analysis to local leadership.
• Staff, plan, and organize the local’s endorsement process and the SEIU One Voice Process.
• Build, Plan, and Track community and electoral relationships without direct supervision.
• Assist leadership and members in building coalitions with community allies and partners that seeks to align our organizational missions and coordinates joint efforts/projects.
• Plan work as assigned; make and execute daily, weekly, and monthly work plans based on assigned goals and objectives.
• Assist in developing member leaders through conducting basic trainings providing appropriate tools to lead.
• Complete all required reporting of data, member outreach, etc.
• Lobby visits—schedule, plan, train member participants, etc.
• Develop plans to mobilize and lead member-volunteers in key union activities including organizing campaigns, labor-to-labor political campaigns, grassroots lobbying, issue campaigns, ballot initiative campaigns, media activity, fundraising, and legislative/issue advocacy in support of the union’s collective bargaining and legislative goals.
• Work independently exercising judgment within the scope of responsibility.
• Other duties as assigned.

Expected Behavior:

The Political Organizer is expected to embrace, promote and demonstrate the organizations’ core values - Excellence, Diversity, Accountability, Transparency, Empowerment, which include but are not limited to:

• High ethical standards
• Train, develop, nurture and mentor members
• Encourage team work and participation by staff and members
• Ensure outstanding representation of the organization to internal and external allies and constituents.

Physical Requirements:

Work is generally performed in the field with members and outside constituents. Long and irregular hours required. Travel required.

Scope and Nature of Supervision:

The Political Organizer reports directly to the Deputy Political Director or the Political Director.

To Apply For This Position
Mail, e-mail or fax a detailed resume, cover letter, a one-page writing sample and the name, job title, address, and phone number of three professional references to: Jenn...@seiu2015.org