SEIU Local 32BJ

Political Director

Based in Hartford, CT

 

ABOUT US:
At the forefront of building the nation’s labor movement, 32BJ SEIU is changing the narrative around important social and economic issues facing working families. Founded in 1934, 32BJ is the largest union of property service workers in the nation. We have a powerful and important mission: to build and grow a diverse, effective, politically independent and democratic organization of workers to change our lives for the better, improve our communities, and build a more just society for present and future generations.

With a commitment to building power for low-wage workers, 32BJ is engaged in winning strong contracts for members, organizing workers, supporting progressive candidates for elected office and moving a broad policy agenda, such as immigrant justice, organizing rights, affordable housing, increasing minimum wages, and expanding access to health care.

The Union has approximately 450 staff in sixteen offices from Boston to Miami. 32BJ SEIU represents over 185,000 property service workers including janitors, security officers, airport workers, and food service employees in 11 states and Washington, DC. 32BJ is an affiliate of SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which has 2 million members dedicated to raising industry standards and making life better for all working families and communities.

32BJ SEIU’s headquarters are in New York City.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Connecticut Political Director is responsible for all aspects of the Union’s political program in those states, which includes legislative, electoral, and organizing campaigns as well as member engagement strategies.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work with the 32BJ Deputy Political Director, the Vice President for Connecticut, and the Research and Policy Director to develop and implement union’s political agenda at the state and local level.
• Plan and coordinate campaign field activities, lobby visits, phone banking and events for our public policy and legislative campaigns at the city, state and federal level.
• Plan and supervise electoral program for local, state, and federal elections.
• Mobilize, train, and educate member leaders and activists for legislative and electoral campaign activity; create and lead political trainings for member leaders.
• Support 32BJ contract and organizing campaigns, as well as campaigns to fight back when the union loses a worksite, including supporting rallies, press events, creating legislative opportunities, and targeted owner activity.
• Coordinate the Union’s political work with labor and community allies.
• Provide political, electoral, legislative and movement building campaign updates and reports to Union Officials, Leaders and rank and file members.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
The ideal candidate will be organized, assertive and a self-starter, as well as a strong multi-tasker who is able to pivot easily from issue to issue or from campaign to campaign.

While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional skills and personal attributes:

• 5 years of experience in labor, politics, or community organizing.
• Ability to design and implement powerful and effective campaign plans.
• Comprehensive knowledge of legislative processes, particularly in Connecticut.
• Experience working on electoral campaigns and managing field programs.
• Excellent communications skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with stakeholders across the union and externally.
• A willingness to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends, and travel within the states is a must.
• Fluent written and oral Spanish preferred but not required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• This position is a full-time position that occasionally requires hours outside normal business hours, including some nights, weekends and holidays.
• This position is based in 32BJ’s Hartford, CT office.
• This position requires travel to worksites, meetings and events.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• This position is largely computer/office based, with many in-person and Zoom meetings.
• This position requires traveling to worksites and participating in events, marches and demonstrations.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The salary for this position is $96,491.68 per year. 32BJ offers a full benefits package that includes a fully employer-paid medical, dental and vision plan, for full-time employees and their qualified dependents. We offer a car stipend (for qualified employees), and retirement benefits, including both a defined benefit pension plan and 401K. 32BJ offers paid time off including three weeks’ vacation, eleven holidays, twelve sick days, and four personal days. The Union currently offers a remote work policy of one remote day per week at the discretion of the manager.

APPLICATION:
Please email a résumé and letter of interest to HR@seiu32bj.org. Please use “Political Director - CT” in the Subject line of your email.

32BJ is an inclusive and diverse organization, committed to advocating for social, racial and economic justice. We promote diversity and strongly encourage applications from people who believe in our mission. We strongly encourage women and people of color to apply.

For more information on 32BJ SEIU, visit www.seiu32bj.org.