Contract Campaign Director, California Gig Workers United (CGWU)

Location - California
Salary: $175,000-$195,000/year (salary commensurate with experience)

This is a high-profile, senior leadership role, in a first-of-its-kind campaign, requiring an experienced labor strategist capable of integrating multiple strands of work including collective bargaining, organizing, fieldwork, research, communications, political strategy, member engagement, and coalition building into a single coordinated strategy.

The Contract Campaign Director will be responsible for leading a staff team that will include staff from three SEIU locals. This person will also work closely with SEIU leadership (local leaders and IU leaders), bargaining team members and other driver leaders, organizers, researchers, communications staff, political staff, and legal counsel. They must be able to lead a diverse, blended staff team from the three different SEIU locals that have much in common but also differences among them. They will also be responsible for overseeing external allies' work that includes other (non CA) SEIU locals and other unions throughout the state.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned labor campaigner who understands that successful bargaining is not confined to the negotiating table. They know how to translate research into strategy, strategy into member action, and member engagement into power at the bargaining table and in the broader political and public arena. They can develop and lead a diverse staff, fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture that builds shared accountability, strengthens team cohesion, and drives collective ownership of the bargaining goals. They appreciate differences among the three locals but will build a unified and cohesive staff team that operates in services to one strategy and one plan.

RESPONSIBILITIES: All duties listed are required and not limited to but may or may not be continuously performed or ongoing at any specific time.
The ideal candidate must have the ability and willingness to work long and irregular hours, including weekends and travel as needed.

To develop and lead CA Gig Workers Union's overall first-contract campaign strategy for a statewide membership of 400,000+ rideshare drivers, working with a large team and multiple stakeholders:
1. Strategy & Leadership:
● Establish bargaining goals, priorities, timelines, benchmarks, escalation strategies, and decision-making processes.
● Develop an integrated campaign plan connecting organizing, bargaining, research, communications, political and legal strategies, member mobilization, and coalition work.
● Anticipate employer strategies, counter-strategies, and potential points of conflict throughout the bargaining period.
● Develop and lead Labor and Community coalitions around key issues or strategic initiatives,
● Establish and Maintain relationships with key stakeholders including elected officials, community groups, and labor leaders (SEIU and non-SEIU)

2. Field Leadership and Member Mobilization:
● Develop campaign structures that enable 400,000+ drivers to participate meaningfully despite a geographically dispersed, highly decentralized and multi-lingual workforce.
● Work closely with organizing and member leaders to build the member participation and workplace power necessary to support bargaining demands.
● Establish measurable member-engagement goals and campaign benchmarks.
● Establish clear expectations and accountability for organizers and other staff.

3. Bargaining Prep and Building a Comprehensive Campaign: Working with Communications, Digital, Politics and Research:
● Either serve as chief bargainer OR work very closely with the person in that role to develop a table plan that aligns with the field campaign and overall strategy
● Work closely with communications staff to develop an integrated internal and external communications strategy with a compelling narrative to explain the campaign’s goals etc.

4. Campaign Operations & Execution:
● Establish campaign infrastructure, timelines, work plans, and accountability systems.
● Coordinate diverse staff teams across multiple functions and ensure campaign activities are synchronized.
● Maintain budget oversight and allocate resources effectively.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
● Minimum of ten (10) years of labor organizing experience; including at least five (5) years of experience in member representation, contract negotiations and worker organizing.
● A minimum of eight (8) years of campaign planning and management experience, including developing and managing multi-component campaigns; working with interdisciplinary campaign teams.
● A minimum of seven (7) years of direct supervisory or team management experience, including leading campaign teams and staff.
● Graduation from a four-year college or university is not required but is a plus.
● Experience maintaining complex budgets and allocating resources effectively.
● Willingness and ability to travel including overnight travel and assignments.
● Ability to work long and irregular hours, including weekends.
● Computer literacy and a willingness and ability to learn the organization's technology tools.
● Strong personal planning, motivation, and time management skills and attention to detail.
● Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment.
● High level ability to communicate orally and in writing.
● Ability to work in diverse communities and individuals.
● Ability to work independently as well as on a team.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
● Must possess a valid California driver’s license and use of a car for work, and specified automobile insurance coverage are mandatory.
● Special consideration will be given to candidates with the ability to speak, read, and write in multiple languages

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Salary: $175,000-$195,000/year (salary commensurate with experience)
This position is open until filled; however, the posting/acceptance of applications may close at any time.

Send a resume and cover letter to Damon Coulter: damon.coulter@seiu.org