Arena Careers

SEIU (Service Employees International Union)

Job Title: Assistant Director, Organizing Capacity Program
Grade: MGT F
Annual Salary: $135,609.02
Location: Washington, DC (HQ) or Remote, USA

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a union of more than 2 million diverse members in healthcare, the public sector, and property services. SEIU envisions a Just Society: where all workers are valued and all people respected—no matter where they come from or what color they are; where all families and communities can thrive; and where the Union can leave a better and more equitable world for generations to come. SEIU is anti-racist union determined to check corporate power and uproot structural racism by harnessing worker power and collective action, including legislative and political action. SEIU fights for Unions for All and a government that works for all so that everyone, across race and place, can have power together in unions and participate fully in the country’s democracy.

Purpose:

The Assistant Director of the Organizing Capacity Center is responsible for the development, execution and coordination of training programs and other learning opportunities designed to build the organizing capacity of SEIU for the International Union and Local Union staff. The Assistant Director must be able to assess the organizing capacity gaps and identify strategies, opportunities and learning spaces to address them.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Assistant Director will be responsible for:

• Developing and executing new organizing capacity building programs working with senior organizing leadership
• Assessing organizing capacity gaps and identifying programmatic solutions; training, learning spaces and developmental opportunities.
• Collaboration and coordination with campaigns, IU Organizing Hub and locals unions in developing and implementing capacity building strategies and programs.
• Assist the Organizing Capacity Center Director in developing and implementing strategies to strengthen and build the organizing community at the IU and Local Unions.
• Building capacity through mentoring and coaching of senior local leadership
• Developing and executing training programs for organizing staff that align with new (external) organizing campaign goals and strategies and SEIU's overall goals.
• Creating and writing relevant and effective training materials, including curricula, hand-outs, PowerPoint presentations, and interactive exercises.
• Learning and utilizing creative training techniques and approaches to teach concepts, skills, and best practices of union organizing, campaign execution and staff development.
• Adapting teaching strategies according to the training audience and applying the best approaches to maximize the learning opportunities of trainees.
• Work in coordination with IU Organizing Hub, other IU Hubs and depts and/or local union leadership to develop and implement strategic trainings, programs and other components for building organizing capacity.
• Provides leadership in upholding SEIU’s overall organizing, campaigning and staff development
• Facilitating and providing feedback in large and small group training discussions, exercises and practice labs to support participants development and enhance their understanding of and ability to utilize training information and materials in the classroom and field.
• Additional responsibilities, as may be required, including but not limited to:

Maintaining and updating organizing capacity program materials and records and budget. Coordinate and work with the operations on logistics.

Contacts:

Includes all levels of SEIU IU Organizing Hub staff, local union leaders and staff, and SEIU Executive Officers, and other SEIU supporting Hubs and departments and outside organizations (vendors).

Direction and Decision Making:

The Assistant Director is a member of the Organizing Capacity Program (within the SEIU National Organizing Hub) and reports directly to the Organizing Capacity Director.

Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum ten (10) years of new (external) labor organizing experience; or a combination of a minimum of seven (7) years external labor organizing and three (3) years of internal (member) organizing or relevant issue-based community organizing. A minimum of seven (7) years of campaign management experience, including supervising, leading and developing organizing staff or teams. Three (3) years of experience in developing curriculum and training and demonstrated experience with adult education or training a plus. Graduation from a two- or four-year college is not necessary but helpful. Bilingual fluency in English/Spanish is preferred.

A combination of relevant educational and work experiences that would provide for the following knowledge, skills and abilities.

Specialized Knowledge and Skills Needed:

• Proven leadership skills
• Extensive experience in developing and executing union and/or community organizing issue campaigns.
• Extensive experience in developing and mentoring organizing staff
• Extensive experience in developing training curricula that is learner-centered, participatory, and incorporates popular education approaches.
• Demonstrated commitment to progressive racial, social and economic justice.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, writing, conducting and facilitating classroom and field-based trainings.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to exercise good judgment, working independently in complex political situations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to train and manage effective organizing teams, and to incorporate effective staff development best practices, tools and techniques in their work managing teams.
• Ability to work with diverse people and teams.
• Ability to understand and analyze organizational, campaign training and staff development needs to effectively align with training curricula, materials and practice labs.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Ability to effectively utilize Microsoft Word, Power Point, Zoom, Canva and other computer software in order to produce effective training materials.
• Ability to handle multiple “priority” projects and meet established timelines.
• A self-starter with proven ability to work independently.
• Ability to work effectively within a team environment.
• Driver’s License and the ability and willingness to travel by airplane.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work long and extended hours. The job involves regular travel, away from home, for days at a time.

Physical Requirements:

Work is generally performed in an office or training/conference room setting, but may be required to work in other settings conducive to performing the tasks required to complete assignments. Long and extended hours are sometimes required as well as regular travel.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENT:

Candidates will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon commencing employment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for either a) a certain medical condition(s); or b) on the basis of sincerely held strong religious beliefs and practices; c) as otherwise required by law.

Application Requirements:

A resume and cover letter are required for all applications. Your cover letter should explain your reason for wanting to work for SEIU, an example of how you demonstrated success in a similar position and a description of how this position fits into your long-term career plan.

SEIU staff enjoy top notch benefits including comprehensive health benefits, major medical, dental and vision for employee and eligible dependents, domestic partner benefits, competitive salaries, generous holidays and vacation policies, and both a pension plan and a 401(K) Plan.