SEIU Colorado State Council

Government Relations and Community Outreach Director

Based in Denver, CO

 

Department: State Council
Reports to: State Council Director
Status: Full-time
Location: Denver Metro / Colorado (hybrid; in-person required at key political moments)

About our Union
"Our union is growing and has new opportunities for smart, dedicated, and passionate people looking to work in a dynamic, progressive, and innovative labor union."

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is the largest and fastest-growing union in North America, with 2 over million members in Healthcare, Property Services, and Public Services. SEIU is the nation’s largest healthcare union and is working to expand access to quality, affordable and secure healthcare for all. SEIU Colorado includes Local 105 and Colorado WINS. Both are growing unions and together we have over 16,000 members, representing around 36,000 workers across the state. 

This role is for people who want their work to matter.
At SEIU Colorado you’ll help build worker power, strengthen unions, and shape outcomes that directly affect the lives of working people across Colorado.

We are looking for someone who is curious, disciplined, and ready to take initiative; someone who can move between strategy and execution, relationships and results. If you are motivated by collective action, political clarity, and the long work of building durable power for workers, we encourage you to apply.

ABOUT THE POSITION
SEIU Colorado is hiring a full-time Government Relations and Community Outreach Director to help drive the work of both locals at the legislature to strengthen working conditions for our members. 

The Director will also advance our members' interests in municipal elections and councils, expanding municipal and community political power.

This position requires strong political judgment and capacity to read and comprehend bills, the ability to convene stakeholders around legislation, and experience navigating political relationships in complex environments. This will include passing legislation; from the initial conversations with legislators, working in concert with the governor’s office, moving the bill through the stakeholding process, communicating with the leaders of WINS, 105 and SEIU Colorado as amendments and changes to the bill are proposed, and of course, working through committees and both chambers to pass the bill. There may be multiple bills from each local moving at the same time, so the Director must be able to manage both simultaneously, while in constant communication with the leaders and political staff.

The Government Relations and Community Outreach Director represents the State Council in state, municipal and community political spaces consistent with established strategy and internal processes.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Specific duties include:

• Coordinate and balance priorities of SEIU CO, as defined by the two locals and outlined in our State Plan. 
• Actively lobby our priorities during the legislative session for the two SEIU locals, 1876 (CO WINS) and 105, including advancing our legislation, bill tracking, facilitation of and attending stakeholder meetings, and regular meetings with coalition partners.
• Monitor all bills as they are introduced and identify which bills impact either or both locals, and how.
• Draft testimony, letters, talking points, etc. for presentations on behalf of SEIU Colorado locals;
• Schedule meetings and appointments with legislators on issues of interest to SEIU Colorado locals, and attend meetings on issues as requested;
• Provide summaries of legislation affecting SEIU Colorado locals’ interests;
• Evaluate and/or propose strategies for accomplishing SEIU 105 and COWINS priorities; 
• Be a conduit between the Governor’s Office, state agencies, and the union; 
• Coordinate with appropriate labor and community allies
• Foster and strengthen the partnership with the union’s legislative allies,
• Help formulate annual state legislative priorities, and
• Facilitate union members’ and staff’s interactions with legislators during the legislative session.
• Lobby Executive Branch agencies and officials in rulemaking and to advance the union’s priorities.
• Evaluate and propose amendments to complex bill language 
• Provide regular reports on bill activity and preview upcoming relevant meetings and hearings;
• Communicate daily with the State Council Director during legislative session, and meet weekly, or more as necessary, during the legislative session to coordinate relevant bills and hearings and identify potential impacts on our members.
• Meet with leaders and political directors from both locals regularly,
• Monitor and attend legislative hearings, committee meetings and interim committees, determine what is necessary information for the locals and share written notes with leaders.
• Identify opportunities to engage our members in the legislative process 
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with municipal elected officials, candidates, and key community power brokers
• Track municipal election calendars, appointments, vacancies, and local political opportunities
• Coordinate municipal endorsement processes in alignment with organizational political strategy and internal approval processes
• Represent SEIU Colorado in municipal and community political spaces
• Translate state-level developments into municipal and organizational implications
• Participate in union-wide events, actions, conferences, and organizational priorities as needed.
• Reporting lobbying activities in compliance with State Statute.
• Other duties as assigned. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS
Required

• Political acumen 
• Ability to work on multiple priorities at the same time and identify where conflicts between priorities may arise
• Minimum of five years of experience in political, labor, or community organizing work
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining political relationships
• Strong political judgment and ability to navigate ambiguity
• Ability to convene and coordinate across departments and roles
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to motivate, influence, and hold others accountable
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and travel as required

Preferred

• Experience working in a labor union or worker-centered organization
• Experience reading and interpreting legislation, and 
• Familiarity with Colorado municipal and legislative processes
• Experience supporting political campaigns, endorsements, or coalition work
• Fluency in Spanish and/or Amharic

SALARY & BENEFITS

• Salary range of $90,529.13 to $104,750.65 based on experience.
• Monthly car allowance of $275
• SEIU Colorado staff receive high quality 100% employer paid premiums for benefits including comprehensive health, dental and vision for employee and his or her spouse, domestic partner, and other eligible dependents. Accident, disability/life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance is also provided at no cost to employees. Additionally, employees enjoy generous paid vacation and holidays as well as a pension plan that an employee is fully vested in after 3 years that provides a good defined benefit pension with no employee contribution that lets our staff retire with respect and dignity. 

Application Requirements
A résumé and cover letter are required for all applications. Your cover letter should explain your reason for wanting to work for SEIU Colorado, an example of how you demonstrated success in a similar position and a description of how this position fits into your long-term career plan.

To Apply:
Email a résumé with cover letter explaining interest and qualifications to: Kallie Leyba, kleyba@seiucolorado.org

SEIU Colorado is an equal opportunity employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.