Arena Careers

SEIU (Service Employees International Union)

Job Title: Director of Strategic Partnerships

Grade: MGT I

Annual Salary: $162,520.47

Location: Washington, DC HQ

Organization Overview: We are the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a union of about 2 million diverse members in healthcare, the public sector, and property services. We believe in and fight for our Vision for a Just Society: where all workers are valued and all people respected, no matter where we come from or what color we are; where all families and communities can thrive; and where we leave a better and more equitable world for generations to come. We are an anti-racist union determined to check corporate power and uproot structural racism through unions, worker power, collective action, and government, legislative, and political action. We fight for Unions for All and a Government that Works for All so that all of us, across race and place, can have power together in unions and participate fully in our democracy.

Purpose: The Director of Strategic Partnerships is responsible for assisting the Senior Advisor to the President of the Politics and Government Hub in overseeing the partnerships and alliances for the Service Employees International Union. The work aims to build a more just society, including efforts to raise wages and build power for working people, to win racial justice, to reform our immigration system, and to take on the impact of excessive corporate power on our democracy, economy, and environment.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Work with the Politics and Government Hub Director and SEIU leadership to develop and drive the union’s agenda at all levels with a broad set of organizational partners.
• Coordinate with key strategic partners on campaigns and state/local infrastructure, including other labor unions, advocacy organizations, and community organizing networks.
• Support strategic campaigns led by external partner organizations, build new formations based on campaign needs, and develop long-term partnership plans with core allies.
• Develop power-building campaign strategies with core partners that lead to long-term structural change
• Create a framework for assessing current relationships with partners, developing criteria for relationship building, and supporting staff at all levels in managing partner relationships
• Act as spokesperson and representative for SEIU with allied partner organizations.
• Manage and plan the development of strategic partners, staff, and organizational equity work, including planning staff meetings, training, and leadership
  Development opportunities.
• Manage and oversee budgeted funds allocated for strategic partnerships, ensuring resources are aligned with organizational priorities
• Manage or represent the Department on union-wide projects at annual member and staff conferences or conventions.
• Executes other duties and special projects as assigned in support of the work of the department and/or SEIU.
• Ensure all partner strategies are developed with an explicit racial justice lens.

Contacts: All SEIU Staff and Departments, state council and local union political directors and leaders, federal and state political leaders, policy analysts, and other coalition partners and allies.

Direction and Decision Making: This position reports to the Politics and Government Hub Director and works independently to complete work on behalf of the Department and/or SEIU.

Education & Experience:

• 8-10 years of work in union leadership, organizing, campaign, politics, legislative, government relations, public policy work, public relations, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of the labor movement and its partners and allied movements.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain a variety of relationships on a variety of levels.
• Experience with issue organizing or political campaigns.
• Excellent organizational, strategic planning, and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities promptly and keep track of a variety of projects.
• Ability to analyze issues, define problems, and propose creative solutions in political and legislative environments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and ability to make presentations, plan and develop materials and conferences (including leadership and staff training).
• Ability to inspire confidence in others with personal authority, leadership skills, and a collegial work style.
• Demonstrated experience developing, managing, or overseeing budgets to ensure resources are allocated effectively and aligned with organizational priorities.

Physical Requirements: Work is generally performed in an office setting, but may be required to work in other settings conducive to performing the tasks required to complete assignments. Overnight travel and extended hours required.

Benefits: SEIU staff enjoy excellent employer-sponsored benefits to include comprehensive health benefits (major medical, dental, and vision coverage) for employees and eligible dependents; domestic partner benefits; competitive compensation; generous holiday and vacation leave policies; and both a pension retirement plan and a 401(k)retirement savings plan.