Community Organizer (Full-Time)

SEIU Local 521; Indiana; On-site; USD 87,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

SEIU Local 521 based in San Jose, CA, seeks an External Organizer to recruit and organize non-union workers, primarily in the public sector and related services. This role requires frequent travel within the local district and often includes nights and weekends.

You will cultivate leadership, design organizing campaigns, and advance efforts toward union elections while engaging diverse communities and maintaining strong communication and collaboration with team members.

Qualifications

• Willingness to travel frequently and/or for extended periods within the local jurisdiction.
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours, often including nights and weekends.
• Strong commitment to social and economic justice and organizing the unorganized.
• At least one year of experience as an external organizer or equivalent organizing work.
• Strong written and verbal communication; good listening.
• Ability to create and execute detailed organizing plans.
• Ability to establish rapport with diverse worker groups.
• Good judgment and prioritization in multiple tasks.
• Ability to think strategically and respond to changing situations.
• Basic computer literacy and willingness to use technology.
• Team player mindset.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Organize non-union workers into SEIU Local 521.
• Build relationships, recruit, develop, and mobilize worker organizing committees.
• Identify, recruit, and develop leaders; train and supervise organizers.
• Plan and execute actions, events, marches at worksites and beyond.
• Support union elections, negotiate election agreements, file charges through NLRB and PERB.
• Develop and execute organizing campaign plans; contribute to community outreach, campaign communications, lead development, and research.
• Support other local union priorities as needed.

Skills

Willingness to travel

Irregular hours

Social justice commitment

External organizer experience

Strong communication

Organizing plans

Rapport across diverse groups

Judgment & prioritization

Strategic thinking

Basic computer literacy

Team player

Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred)

Job description

SEIU Local 521

Based in San Jose, CA

SEIU Local 521 was founded in 2007 when 5 local unions came together in the Bay Area, Central Coast and Central Valley to form one larger, more powerful union. Together our members are building a true 21st century union fighting to empower and improve the lives of our members. We represent over 50,000 public service workers in cities, counties, courts, schools, private non‑profits, special districts, and public health care.

External Organizer

Based in San Jose, CA

SEIU Local 521 was founded in 2007 when 5 local unions came together in the Bay Area, Central Coast and Central Valley to form one larger, more powerful union. Together our members are building a true 21st century union fighting to empower and improve the lives of our members. We represent over 50,000 public service workers in cities, counties, courts, schools, private non‑profits, special districts, and public health care.

AT SEIU LOCAL 521:

Our mission is to provide our members with a voice in the workplace, in their union and in the larger community. Through our actions, we intend to create a more just and humane society. We are committed to protecting and improving the lives of workers and their families. We will work to improve and protect the services we provide to our communities. We believe that by working together as a united front, we can win better contracts and build industry power in our region.

External Organizer will organize new bargaining units into SEIU Local 521. Organizing is focused on the public sector, privatized public services, and public healthcare.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

All duties listed are required and not limited to but may or may not be continuously performed or ongoing at any specific time.

• Organizing non-union workers to make change and to organize into SEIU Local 521.
• Assessing, building relationships with motivating and agitating workers through individual and group meetings. Recruiting, developing, and mobilizing worker organizing committees.
• Identifying, recruiting, and developing leaders. Training and supervising member organizers.
• Planning and executing actions, events, marches, etc. at worksites and beyond.
• Building toward union elections, negotiating election agreements, and filing charges through NLRB and PERB.
• Developing and executing organizing campaign plans. Understanding and contributing to community and political outreach, campaign communications, targeting, lead development, and research.
• Working to support other key local union priorities, as needed

Minimum Qualifications

• Willingness to travel frequently and/or for extended period of time within the local’s jurisdiction, based on work assignments.
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours, often including nights and weekends.
• A strong commitment to social and economic justice and the commitment to organize the unorganized through the labor movement
• At least one year of experience as a full-time external organizer or equivalent community or rank and file member organizing experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Good listening skills are a necessity.
• Ability to create and execute detailed organizing plans.
• Ability to establish rapport with and organize workers across diverse ethnic, social, economic, and occupational groups.
• Good judgment and ability to discern priorities when faced with many important tasks.
• Ability to think strategically and respond to rapidly changing situations.
• Basic computer literacy and a willingness to use technology where needed.
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously as part of a team.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred but not required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess a valid California driver’s license; must pass a DMV check and have a good driving record; must have auto insurance that covers business driving (minimum of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per incident bodily injury liability/$100,000 property coverage); and must possess an automobile for business use.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Salary commensurate with experience ($86,649.69 – $110,620.48 Annual) SEIU Local 521 employees enjoy top notch benefits including fully employer‑paid family health, dental and vision insurance; a generous leave package; fully employer‑paid defined benefit pension plan; 401(K); flexible savings accounts for annual health and childcare expenses; and other benefits outlined in the policies of SEIU 521.

This position is open until filled; however, the posting/acceptance of applications may close at any time.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Local 521 is an affirmative action employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. Local 521 works to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforces policies against discrimination and sexual harassment.