SEIU 775

Collective Bargaining & Employer Relations Specialist

Based in Seattle, WA

 

About SEIU 775
SEIU 775 represents more than 55,000 long-term care workers providing quality home care, nursing home care, and residential services in Washington, Montana, and Alaska. SEIU 775’s mission is to unite the strength of all caregivers, to create a better life for ourselves and those we care for, and to lead the way to a more just and equitable world.

About This Role
SEIU 775 is a fast-growing union committed to uniting the strength of long-term care workers and improving the lives of working people. Our 55,000 members are low-wage home care and nursing home workers throughout WA State and Montana, and Alaska, who provide life-sustaining care and are fierce advocates for quality care and quality jobs. Currently the Local is engaged in a coalition effort with other unions and community groups to help organize in the private sector. 

The Collective Bargaining & Employer Relations Specialist (CBER) works as part of a team within the Union Strength Department of SEIU 775, reporting to the Collective Bargaining and Employer Relations Deputy Director. The teamwork is throughout Washington, Montana, and Alaska. 

Essential Functions:
Member Support & Dispute Resolution:

• Lead the union's workplace dispute resolution process by evaluating, preparing, and resolving grievances for the assigned bargaining unit(s).
• Support other departments and teams of the union as needed and work with members and leaders to develop leadership skills needed within the scope of these programs 
• Recruit and develop member leaders to serve as member Advocates (similar to stewards) in Nursing Homes and Home Care Agencies

Collective Bargaining:

• Negotiate union contracts in the healthcare industry
• Recruit and develop member leaders to participate on the contract negotiations team 
• Coordinate contract negotiation and contract campaigns 

Labor Management & Culture Change:

• Participate in the coordination and facilitation of a dynamic and growing industry-wide Labor Management Committee program charged with enhancing communication and culture change in the long-term care industry 
• Engage in other areas of Employer Relations as assigned 
• Recruit and develop member leaders to participate in Labor Management Committees

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assignments to political, electoral and growth mobilization as required by the organization 
• May be required to do political work for candidates and member political education as part of job duties.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills are requirements of this position. 
• Highly organized with the ability to track multiple deadlines
• Competent computer use with Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to utilize databases and to learn to use the organization’s proprietary database is a requirement. 
• Strong personal planning and time management skills
• Ability to work with people from other cultures and backgrounds are also necessary skills. 
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment are considered key components to achieving organizer performance standards 
• Fluency in a second language is also highly desirable. 

Minimum Qualifications: (Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job may be considered.)

• Two years of experience successfully evaluating, preparing, tracking, and resolving grievances in a large bargaining unit or equivalent.
• Experience with the following types of employers is highly significant: labor unions, progressive issue advocacy organizations, long term care, community organizations, political campaigns, and elected officials.
• Personal commitment to the mission and goals of SEIU 775 is a requirement of this position (visit www.seiu775.org for more information). 
• A drivers’ license, a car, and automobile insurance are requirements of this position. 
• Willingness to work long, irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, is required. 
• Willingness to travel is a requirement. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous collective bargaining experience desired.
• Experience with Labor Management Committees or similar joint Employer/Union organizations, mediation, arbitration, and an understanding of the long-term care industry are all desirable.

Typical Working Conditions: The typical working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, requirements include:

• Professional office environment with frequent travel to employer worksites, union offices, and community meeting spaces across WA, MT, and AK
• Regular interaction with union members, staff, employers, and external partners in both in-person and virtual settings
• Long and irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, to support negotiations, member meetings, and mobilizations
• Fast-paced, deadline-driven environment requiring management of multiple complex issues
• May be required work outside of normal business hours to include weekends, evenings, holidays, etc. 

Physical Working Conditions: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, requirements include:

• Duties performed in office, meeting, and worksite environments with frequent travel by car, plane, or other transportation
• Extended periods of sitting, standing, speaking, and use of standard office equipment (computers, phones, copiers)
• Occasional lifting and carrying of materials up to 25 pounds and setting up meeting spaces
• Navigating diverse workplace and community settings across multiple states
• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and ability to travel overnight required

Compensation:
Providing current or previous salary information is optional and will not be factored into hiring decisions. Prospective Employees covered by the CBA can request a copy of the wage scale, the CBA, and any current relevant MOUs upon application to the position.

This position is full-time, exempt. This position is included in the Bargaining Unit. Pay ranges from $81,141 – 96,972 per year. Benefits include vacation, holiday, and sick leave benefits, fully employer paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance, defined benefit pension plan, and optional 401(k), WFH credit, pet insurance, and more.

How to Apply
Please fill out an application for the “Collective Bargaining & Employer Relations Specialist” directly by clicking APPLY. In your application, make sure to include a Cover Letter. 

Women and diversity candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
SEIU 775 is an affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates without regard for race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, creed, gender, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetics, the presence of sensory, mental or physical disability, or any other discrimination prohibited by law. SEIU 775 works to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforces policies against discrimination and sexual harassment.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, creed, gender, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetics, the presence of sensory, mental or physical disability, or any other discrimination prohibited by law. In addition to federal law requirements, we comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.