Deputy Policy Director

Organization Summary

At the forefront of building the nation’s labor movement, 32BJ SEIU is changing the narrative around important social and economic issues facing working families. Founded in 1934, 32BJ is the largest union of property service workers in the nation. We have a powerful and important mission: To build and grow a diverse, effective, politically independent and democratic organization of workers to change our lives for the better, improve our communities, and build a more just society for present and future generations.

With a commitment to building power for low-wage workers, 32BJ is engaged in winning strong contracts for members, organizing workers, supporting progressive candidates for elected office and moving a broad policy agenda, such as paid sick days, expanding access to health care and the Fight for $15.

The union has approximately 425 staff in sixteen offices from Boston to Miami. 32BJ SEIU represents over 175,000 property service workers including janitors, security officers, airport workers, and food service employees in 11 states and Washington, D.C. 32BJ is an affiliate of SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which has 2 million members dedicated to raising industry standards and making life better for all working families and communities.

32BJ SEIU’s headquarters are in New York City.

Duties & Responsibilities

While the specific priorities will vary from year to year and across jurisdictions according to the needs of the union, 32BJ’s main issue concerns are ensuring that public dollars result in good jobs through responsible economic development and public contracting; and more broadly advancing economic, racial, immigrant and climate justice. We particularly emphasize affirmative worker protections and supporting the right to organize. 32BJ has been highly successful in advocating for creative and groundbreaking policies to advance the interests of working people. We are seeking a Deputy Director for Policy to help build on that success.

The Deputy Director for Policy will be responsible for working with the Director of Research and Policy as well as other stakeholders to plan and implement the union’s long-term policy agenda. The Deputy Director for Policy will also be responsible for anchoring the union’s efforts to engage 32BJ members in advocacy around federal policy priorities through lobby days, participation in public actions, calls to members of Congress and other activities.

The Deputy Director for Policy will report to the Director of Research and Policy and will directly supervise a Policy Legal Analyst. The Deputy Director will be responsible for coordinating the policy related work of the Research team, as well as for coordinating with the Political Department on legislative outreach.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Helping to shape the union’s legislative and policy strategy at the federal, state and local levels;
Researching policy and legislative issues throughout 32BJ’s jurisdiction and analyzing bills;
Writing testimony, memos, and position papers, as well as possible legislative drafting;
Meeting with policymakers and other stakeholders;
Monitoring/ensuring implementation of policies that have been adopted;
Educating officers/and members about policy and legislation
Coordinating on campaigns with colleagues in other departments; and
Anchoring 32BJ’s engagement of members in Federal advocacy.

Qualifications & Experience

The ideal candidate will be an experienced campaigner who understands how policy advocacy can support worker organizing, and who is able to plan and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional skills and personal attributes:

Minimum of 8 years work experience with legislative campaigns relating to worker rights and racial justice;
Experience working with organized labor strongly preferred;
Excellent analytical and writing skills;
A commitment to workers’ rights and labor organizing;
A commitment to some or all of the following: economic, racial, immigrant and climate justice.

Work Environment

Physical Demands

Compensation & Benefits

The salary for this role is $106,000. 32BJ offers a generous benefits package that includes a fully employer-paid medical, dental and vision plan (for full-time employees and their qualified dependents) and retirement benefits, including a defined benefit pension plan and 401K. 32BJ offers paid time off including three weeks’ vacation, eleven holidays, twelve sick days, and, after the first year of service, four personal days.

How to Apply

Please send a resume and letter of interest to HR@seiu32bj.org. Please use “Deputy Policy Director” in the subject line of your email.

Please note 32BJ has implemented a vaccine mandate. Bona fide religious and ADA exemptions are permitted with additional safety measures.

32BJ is an inclusive and diverse organization, committed to advocating for social, racial and economic justice. We promote diversity and strongly encourage applications from people who believe in our mission. We strongly encourage women and people of color to apply.