External Organizer - SEIU Local 509

SEIU Branding; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 75,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

SEIU Local 509 seeks an External Organizer to drive labor organizing campaigns and build power for workers in Massachusetts. You will conduct broad outreach to non-union workers, develop leaders, and plan campaign activities in coordination with staff. In-person engagement and travel within the state are required.

The role emphasizes independent work with a team, strong communication, and the ability to manage plans and data. Commitment to social and economic justice is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in external organizing with a labor union.
• A demonstrated commitment to social and economic justice is required.
• Capacity to work independently and with a team.
• The ability to make and follow through on a work plan.
• Effective and persuasive communication skills.
• Basic writing and computer skills.
• The ability to work with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Willingness to conduct house visits and site visits.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
• Strong planning, time-management, and problem‑solving skills.
• Possession of a valid U.S. driver’s license, proof of auto insurance, and an automobile for business use.
• Fluency in English and another language such as Hausa, Swahili, or Haitian Creole

Responsibilities

• Conducts broad and intensive outreach efforts to non-union workers.
• Builds one-on-one relationships with workers and establishes trust.
• Identifies and develops leaders to guide and lead their campaign.
• Conducts individual and group meetings with workers to discuss and plan organizing campaigns.
• Motivates workers to take collective public action.
• Engages workers in broader union efforts to influence the industry.
• Applies campaign strategies and implements tactics.
• Identifies, recruits, and maintains organizing committees.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and dependable follow-through.
• Uses data entry and reporting software to store and retrieve information.
• Attends and participates in training and education programs.
• Participates in political campaign work during election cycles.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Skills

External organizing

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Driver's license

Teamwork

Bilingual English

Job description

SEIU Local 509 represents nearly 20,000 human service workers and educators throughout Massachusetts. We are united in our mission to raise living standards for working families while improving the quality and affordability of the services we provide. As part of our mission, we seek to organize and unite all workers eligible for membership in our union, and we are committed to fighting for social equity both in and outside of the workplace.

As an External Organizer, you will be assigned to labor organizing campaigns, execute the fundamentals of union organizing, and have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to help workers build power in the workplace.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducting broad and intensive outreach efforts to non-union workers;
• Building one-on-one relationships with workers and establishing trust;
• Identifying and developing leaders to guide and lead their campaign;
• Conducting individual and group meetings with workers to discuss and plan organizing campaigns;
• Motivating individual workers and groups of workers to take collective public action;
• Engaging workers in broader union efforts to bring pressure to bear on the industry as a whole;
• Apply comprehensive campaign strategies and formulate and implement campaign tactics;
• Identify, recruit, and maintain organizing committees;
• Demonstrate judgment and decision-making that others will trust and follow;
• Use computer database and word processing software for data entry, analysis, and reporting and generally to store, find, and retrieve information;
• Attend and participate in training and education programs as assigned;
• Participate in political campaign work during election cycles;
• And other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: The ideal candidate will bring previous experience in labor union organizing. 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:

• Experience in external organizing with a labor union;
• A demonstrated commitment to social and economic justice is required;
• Capacity to work independently and with a team;
• The ability to make and follow through on a work plan;
• Effective and persuasive communication skills;
• Basic writing and computer skills;
• The ability to work with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds;
• Willingness to conduct house visits and site visits;
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed;
• Strong planning, time-management, and problem‑solving skills;
• Possession of a valid U.S. driver’s license, proof of auto insurance, and an automobile for business use;
• Fluency in English and another language such as Hausa, Swahili, or Haitian Creole

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• This is a full‑time position that often requires long and irregular hours, including some nights, weekends, and holidays;
• This position requires travel to worksites, which may be anywhere in the state of Massachusetts;
• This job requires the ability to work both independently and in collaboration with a diverse team of other staff members;
• A valid driver’s license and a car with insurance are required;
• While some aspects of the job can be performed from home, this is NOT a remote job and in‑person work is mandatory

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to ascend and descend stairs, walk through large work sites/campuses, spend long hours driving, and participate in marches and demonstrations that can be several hours in duration.

SUPERVISION:

Works under the supervision of the organizing director (or their designee), who reviews work for effectiveness, timeliness, scope, and accuracy per the needs of the campaign.

SALARY & BENEFITS:

This is a union bargaining unit position. SEIU Local 509 offers competitive salaries (commensurate with experience) and a generous benefits package. Salary range is $74,935.00 to $92,752.49.

*SEIU Local 509 requires all employees to have at least one full course of the COVID-19 Vaccination or an approved exemption from Local 509 by the time of hire.*

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.