Assistant Director for Government Relations Campaigns

SEIU (Service Employees International Union)

JOB TITLE: Assistant Director for Government Relations Campaigns
GRADE: MGT F
ANNUAL SALARY: $135,609.02
LOCATION: Washington, DC HQ

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, 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 Assistant Director for Government Relations (GR) Campaigns plays a pivotal role in driving the daily execution of SEIU’s legislative and governing agenda, ensuring that the Government Relations (GR) department systematically builds power for working people. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Government Relations, the Assistant Director assists in designing and coordinating both offensive and defensive campaigns across federal, state, and local levels to advance a transformative, racial-justice-rooted pro-worker agenda. This position is responsible for federal executive branch strategy and connecting daily legislative and executive branch work directly to SEIU’s priority organizing campaigns and long-term political and governing strategy.

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.

• Work with the Director, Deputy Director, and department leaders to develop strategies, policies, proposals, and campaign plans that advance SEIU’s legislative, governing, and organizing priorities.
• Coordinate day-to-day campaign work across Government Relations teams, SEIU hubs, organizing campaigns, state councils, and local unions.
• Develop and coordinate federal executive branch strategy and support offensive and defensive legislative and executive branch campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels, in consultation with the Director and Deputy Director.
• Track campaign activities, milestones, and results; identify gaps, delays, and decisions requiring leadership attention; and recommend adjustments.
• Prepare campaign materials, progress reports, and concise briefings and talking points that explain priorities, results, and next steps to department leadership, International Officers, and local union leaders.
• Present campaign updates in department meetings, connect work across teams, and follow up on agreed actions and commitments.
• Coordinate digital, field, and legislative advocacy activities, including briefings with elected officials and staff, member outreach, and campaign mobilization, in partnership with relevant teams.
• Develop advocacy research, campaign toolkits, policy materials, and strategic communications, and support planning and materials development for leadership and staff trainings and conferences.
• Maintain two-way communication with state councils and local unions to incorporate their priorities into department work and share information about campaign progress and outcomes.
• Build and maintain relationships with staff, union leaders, government officials, and coalition partners to advance shared campaign goals.
• Apply racial justice and equity principles to campaign planning, member engagement, partnerships, and work across teams.
• Support language justice in campaign activities and member engagement, including coordinating interpretation and translated materials with relevant staff as needed.

CONTACTS: All SEIU Staff and Departments, state council and local union political directors and leaders, federal and state political leaders, policy analysts, and other coalition partners and allies.

DIRECTION & DECISION MAKING: This position reports to the Deputy Director of Government Relations and works independently.

QUALIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• At least five years of relevant experience in legislative or policy work, issue advocacy, organizing, union leadership, civic engagement, or campaign management.
• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, public relations, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Knowledge of public policymaking and experience advancing legislative, policy, or issue campaigns at the federal, state, or local level, with an understanding of how work across levels of government connects.
• Experience developing campaign or project plans, coordinating multiple priorities, tracking progress against goals, and following through on deadlines and commitments.
• Experience coordinating work across teams with different responsibilities and priorities, including securing cooperation and advancing shared goals without direct supervisory authority.
• Ability to analyze campaign activities and results, identify problems, and recommend practical next steps.
• Ability to translate detailed policy and campaign information into concise reports, briefings, and talking points for leadership and other audiences.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting updates, leading discussions, and communicating with staff, senior leaders, and external partners.
• Knowledge of the labor movement and allied organizations, and an understanding of how public policy and advocacy support worker organizing and member priorities.
• Demonstrated experience applying racial justice and equity principles to campaigns, partnerships, or team practices.
• Experience supporting language justice, language access, or multilingual member engagement preferred.
• Proficiency in an additional language relevant to SEIU’s membership preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is generally performed in an office setting, but may be required to work in other settings conducive to performing the work required to complete the assignment, such as field assignments. Long and extended hours and travel required.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: SEIU offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our values as a labor organization and our commitment to the well-being and long-term security of our staff. Benefits include:

• A comprehensive, employer-sponsored health benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• A defined benefit pension plan
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Additional benefits consistent with a mission-driven workplace

SEIU believes that workers deserve dignity, stability, and the ability to plan for their futures, and our benefits are designed to support that belief.