SEIU (Service Employees International Union)

JOB TITLE: National Policy Director, Politics and Government Relations Hub

LOCATION: Washington, D.C. (Headquarters)

GRADE: MGT I

ANNUAL SALARY: $162,520.00

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW: The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a union of more than 2 million diverse members in healthcare, the public sector, and property services. SEIU envisions a Just Society: where all workers are valued and all people respected—no matter where they come from or what color they are; where all families and communities can thrive; and where the Union can leave a better and more equitable world for generations to come. SEIU is an anti-racist union determined to check corporate power and uproot structural racism by harnessing worker power and collective action, including legislative and political action. SEIU fights for Unions for All and a government that works for all so that everyone, across race and place, can have power together in unions and participate fully in the country’s democracy.

PURPOSE: The National Policy Director oversees the planning, development, and implementation of the International Union’s public policy positions across core industries in the public sector, health care, and property services industries, ensuring alignment with SEIU’s vision for a Just Society. The National Policy Director leads staff focused on federal legislative analysis, budget analysis, comment submission, and federal agency engagement, and is an integral member of the Government Relations leadership team.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: (Any one position may not include all of the specific duties and responsibilities listed. Examples provide a general summary of the work required and should not be treated as a total and complete list of expected duties to be performed by employees in the classification.)

• Serve as a relentless advocate for public policy that builds worker power through collective bargaining and unionization.
• Manage, engage in, and oversee all policy staff and policy-related projects.
• Work with the Directors of Government Relations, Strategic Initiatives, and other senior staff to develop and execute the International Union’s public policy programs, and strategies on legislative and regulatory issues including promoting unionization and developing policy initiatives that promote full employment, raise wages, provide access to quality health care, ensure fair taxation and budgets, advance racial equity, and other policy issues affecting workers.
• Coordinate key parts of SEIU’s Federal administrative advocacy work.
• Brief the International Union’s officers, Department and Division directors, and other senior officials on public policy issues, the positions of other unions, and the long-term impact on SEIU.
• In coordination with the Government Relations department, direct, review, and develop all written testimony, correspondence, and other materials on the International’s legislative and other public policy positions, ensuring timely and high-quality products.
• Develop and present the union’s positions before SEIU conferences, government groups, public forums, and with allies.
• Direct and/or prepare public policy reports and memoranda to support legislative and organizing campaigns and other SEIU initiatives.
• Work with the Government Relations department and other Departments/Divisions to design and implement federal and state policy and legislative strategies and related materials.
• Represent SEIU policy positions in public through writing, speaking, or other presentations.
• Ensure all policy strategies are developed with an explicit racial justice lens, assessing and addressing disproportionate impacts on workers of color, immigrants, and historically marginalized communities.

CONTACTS: Include SEIU International and Local Union staff leaders and officers, elected officials, congressional staff, leaders of allied organizations, academics, and other experts in public policy issues.

DIRECTION AND DECISION-MAKING: This position reports to the Director of the Politics and Government Relations hub.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Master's or advanced degree in public policy, law, or a related field preferred but not required. At least ten years of related progressive work-related experience in policy analysis, including issue campaigning in an organizing, advocacy, or political context, or a combination of education and experience that would provide for the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of unions and other advocacy groups.
• Thorough understanding of labor and employment issues, federal and state budgets, health care, and the federal regulatory regime.
• Experience working in a union, government agency, or policy advocacy organization.
• Basic understanding of relevant public policy issues, including one or more of: health care policy, immigration, procurement, or taxation.
• Ability to conduct policy analysis and issue development, and develop strategies.
• Ability to lead issue campaigns that require coordinating the work of multiple staff and external
• Ability to resolve conflicts while maintaining important and effective relationships.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and meet established timelines.
• Ability to recruit, manage, and develop staff.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to make presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate racial justice and anti-racist principles into policy development, staff management, and coalition-building.
• Skill in the use of a personal computer and associated software used to perform analysis.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is generally performed in an office setting, but may also occur in a variety of settings that are conducive to advancing the organization's goals, including conferences, worker mobilizations, or other union activities. Must be available for frequent travel with overnight stays and able to work long and irregular hours.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: A resume is required for all applications. While optional, a cover letter is strongly encouraged and should explain your interest in working for SEIU, provide an example of how you have demonstrated success in a similar position, and describe how this role aligns with your long-term career goals.

In addition, applicants must submit a writing sample of no more than five pages that demonstrates policy analysis skills, with a focus on labor or economic policy. The sample may include an analysis of existing federal legislation or regulations, recommendations for new federal policy, or related work that illustrates your ability to evaluate and interpret policy issues and their implications.