Service Employees International Union

JOB TITLE: Director, Department of Strategic Initiatives

GRADE: I

ANNUAL SALARY: $158,556

LOCATION: Remote or Washington, DC

ORGANIZATIONAL 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 and 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 Initiatives oversees the International Union’s research, policy, and capital stewardship functions, leads the union’s planning and execution in these areas, and operates as a partner with other senior staff in informing and executing the union’s overall strategic plan to achieve SEIU’s vision of a just society.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: (Any one position may not include all of the specific duties and responsibilities listed. Examples provide a general summary of the work required and should not be treated as a total and complete list of expected duties to be performed by employees in the classification.)

• Direct and oversee the International Union’s research, policy, and capital stewardship functions, and develop and execute a vision for how the Department, its functional expertise and its staff can most effectively contribute to the Union’s overall program.
• Under the direction of International Union officers and in partnership with other senior staff and Local Union staff, advise and help implement strategic organizing campaigns, issue campaigns, and policy initiatives, and direct research, analysis, writing and strategic support for such projects.
• Participate on the International Union's Senior Leadership Team and oversee the Department's coordination with all other departments, including Organizing, the industrial Divisions, Government Relations, Legal, and Communications.
• Oversee staff development for Strategic Initiatives department staff and ensure that there are opportunities for training, learning, and staff development for local union practitioners. Build a community of learning for local union practitioners.
• Direct and oversee the development of all reports, memoranda, written testimony, correspondence and other relevant external materials related to the International Union’s research work, public policy work, and capital markets engagement to ensure timely and high quality products. Act as a kind, fair, and high-caliber editor of materials across a wide-range of issues. Ensure that the work product of the department is high-quality and has impact.
• Represent the International Union with affiliates, other unions, allies, labor task forces and committees, governmental bodies, pension funds, and other external non-labor organizations and employers, as well as at meetings, conferences and public forums.
• Direct the Department's management team, its annual and long-term planning activities, and the evaluation of Department programs, staff and resources to maximize the Department’s contribution to the Union’s overall program.
• In coordination with Human Resources and other relevant International Union departments, oversee the Department’s staff recruitment, performance appraisal, and other personnel-related activities.
• Oversee development of and monitor compliance with the Department’s annual budget, and approve all department expenditures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Contacts: SEIU International Union and Local Union leaders, officers and staff; state, local and/or federal public officials and/or their staffs; leaders and staff of other unions and allied organizations; academics and other experts; corporate, investment firm and trade association executives.

Direction and Decision Making: This position reports to the Chief of Staff and works independently. 

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelors’ Degree in a relevant field; advanced degree in a relevant field a plus but not a requirement. In addition, at least ten (10) years of work experience in labor, public interest advocacy, economic justice, corporate social responsibility, or related campaign or advocacy work, including at least seven (7) years directing or supervising research, policy, and/or capital markets work related to worker or economic justice; OR a combination of education and experience that would provide for the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of labor and/or worker justice issues.
• Basic familiarity with methods, techniques and tools related to corporate or issue research, policy analysis, and analysis and engagement of capital markets, and advanced knowledge of methods, techniques and tools in at least one of these areas.
• Basic familiarity with campaign strategies and tactics that engage research, policy and capital markets work, and advanced knowledge of campaign strategies and tactics in at least one of these areas.
• Successful experience using campaign strategies and tactics that engage research, policy and/or capital markets work in a corporate-facing or government-facing campaign related to economic justice.
• Knowledge of unions and other progressive advocacy groups.
• Strong strategic abilities.
• Strong ability to handle multiple projects and meet established timelines.
• Strong ability to recruit, manage and develop staff.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Strong analytic skills and ability to convey complex concepts and ideas in an accessible and digestible way.
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong commitment to diversity and equity in all aspects of management.
• Skill in the use of personal computers, including Google and Microsoft Office suites.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is generally performed in an office setting. Extended hours, non-traditional hours, and travel may sometimes be required.

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.