SEIU UHW LOCAL Hiring for GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ADVOCATE at Sacramento, CA Full Time

Position Summary:
The Government Relations Organizer/Advocate in the Political Department reports to the Assistant Director for Government Relations and is responsible for a broad range of program objectives to advance SEIU-UHW’s strategic goals by navigating the regulatory process, legislative advocacy, and coalition building.

Areas of Responsibility:
Advocate for SEIU-UHW’s legislative, budget, and administrative priorities;

Track and analyze legislation, with particular focus on healthcare, labor, and workforce development;

Draft legislative language with support from legal team and Legislative Counsel;

Cultivate and maintain organizational relationships with state legislators and their staff;

Recruit coalition partners for legislation and to support SEIU-UHW’s other political priorities;

Work with SEIU-UHW staff and members to integrate legislative, budget, and administrative strategies into SEIU-UHW’s priorities;

Plan and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a high-pressure environment;

Prepare and/or support the creation of materials related to SEIU-UHW’s legislative priorities for diverse audiences including legislators, SEIU- UHW members, coalition partners, and the public;

Represent and testify on behalf of SEIU-UHW in legislative and informational hearings,

Collaborate with other departments, including Research and Communications, within SEIU-UHW

Represent SEIU-UHW’s interests at stakeholder tables;

Empower SEIU-UHW’s membership to build effective advocacy relationships with elected officials, community partners, and other stakeholders; and,

Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements:
Minimum of three years legislative, advocacy, political organizing, or campaign experience with an elected official, labor union, state or local agency or association, or non-profit community organization;

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, ability to work independently, 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;

Relationships with legislators, legislative staffers, and advocates desirable;

Knowledge of California’s healthcare industry is desirable and:

Previous experience in speech writing, media work, and other communication/public relations fields is desirable.

Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare consumers united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by valued and respected healthcare workers.

We live and work throughout California from the Bay Area to Sacramento and Los Angeles to the Central Valley. Our members include:

Frontline healthcare workers such as respiratory care practitioners, dietary, environmental services, and nursing staff who go above and beyond everyday to help Californians get and stay healthy. The majority work in our state’s largest private sector hospitals and clinics, including Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, Sutter Health, Tenet, Prime Healthcare, and Verity Health.

Patients, advocates, and healthcare consumers who are fed up with how healthcare corporations are putting profits before patients and failing to deliver the care our families and communities deserve.