Job Description

University Professional & Technical Employees
CWA Local 9119

Political and Community Organizer

Based in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, or Sacramento, CA
(statewide applicants considered)

Job Title: Political and Community Organizer
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, CA, or Los Angeles preferred, statewide applicants considered 
Starting Salary: Dependent on Experience

University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE-CWA 9119) is searching for a talented, hard-working individual to help build our Union’s political and community organizing program. The successful candidate for this position will be values-driven, self-motivated and resourceful, with the skills, experience, and enthusiasm to develop the Union’s political program to support our Union’s work throughout California. This position will assist in the development and implementation of UPTE’s political and community organizing program in conjunction with unionwide strategy, while embracing UPTE’s principles, values, and culture.

UPTE-CWA represents more than 22,000 employees working in healthcare, research and technical jobs at the University of California, Lawrence Berkeley Lab, Lawrence Livermore Lab and Los Alamos National Lab as well as adjunct faculty at Butte Community College, College of Sequoias and Mount San Jacinto Community College. We represent a diverse workforce all over California and are working to build member power and aggressively represent our members and advocate for the rights of working people.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Develop and implement the Union’s political and community organizing strategies, advancing the Union’s political and policy priorities and building the Union’s power.
• Work with Political Director, Political Committee, and Senior Staff to develop goals and execute plans for members participation in candidate interviews, lobby days, town hall meetings, elected official accountability activities, voter registration drives, vote-by-mail and GOTV activities;
• Lead or develop Labor and Community coalitions around key issues or strategic initiatives. Design and drive public pressure campaigns as assigned.
• Develop relationships with key local and state allies, legislators, key office holders and their staff, other unions and progressive organizations
• Coordinate stakeholder organizing as assigned, including potential for student, patient, and other stakeholder groups
• Lead the development of an UPTE advocacy council to allow UPTE members to better engage with coalition and community organizing projects and electoral strategies 
• Develop and grow UPTE’s Political Action Committee with a goal of exceeding 10% membership participation, present at member meetings, schedule PAC meetings, train and mentor staff and member activists to help achieve political goals;
• Track and support increased member participation using various database functions;
• Develop and lead campaign and legislative meetings
• Responsible for monitoring and lobbying on legislation as it pertains to UPTE-CWA members and priorities
• Provide support to internal organizing staff for the recruitment, training, leadership development and coordination of member political activists for political fundraising, electoral campaigns and lobbying
• Work with staff and members to integrate political strategy into planning for contract and organizing campaigns
• Prepare and/or support the creation of member education materials;
• Develop and train members to represent UPTE-CWA’s interests in Central Labor Councils, constituency groups, and community organizations, in their region.
• Empower the membership to build effective advocacy relationships with elected officials, community partners, and other stakeholders; and,
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
• Travel as necessary.
• Supervise a team of political and community organizing staff as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Minimum of one to two years legislative, political organizing, or campaign experience with a labor union, state or local agency or association, non-profit community organization or progressive elected official
• Experience with a union COPE or PAF program development and implementation
• Thorough knowledge of state legislative and budget processes
• Knowledge of professional campaigns including media, research, field, communications and GOTV programs
• Ability to craft and implement electoral and legislative plans.
• Advanced understanding of the state’s ballot initiative process and campaigning is critical, as is awareness of federal, state and local campaign finance regulations.
• Superior oral and written communication skills
• Ability to travel and willing to work long hours and weekends, as needed;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to motivate, lead, build strong working relationships and hold others accountable;
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to creating a positive work environment that encourages personal responsibility, initiative and innovation;
• Self-motivated, great attitude and strong team player;
• Strong sense of professionalism and integrity;
• Proven ability to work with diverse group of people, from union members to union staff and leaders to elected officials to other community and issue stakeholders;
• Thorough knowledge of MS Office programs;
• Previous experience in speech writing, media work, and other communication/public relations fields is highly desirable; and,
• Fluency in a second language is desirable.

Compensation: Starting salary range of $87,220.41 – $132,987.17 commensurate with experience, and an excellent benefits package including a defined benefit pension plus 6% employer contribution to 401k, all university holidays, health benefits, wellness stipend, and flexible work arrangements.

To Apply:
or email your résumé and a cover letter to: jobs@upte.org .

Please include two separate PDF’s with the following:

• A résumé with the months and years of employment for each position.
• A cover letter addressing your qualifications and ability to carry out the duties of the position as described above.

Position open until filled.

WHEN APPLYING: Be sure to indicate that you saw this information at .

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