Strategic Campaigns Director : Massachusetts

SEIU Local 509
 

Strategic Campaigns Director

Based in Marlborough, MA

ABOUT SEIU LOCAL 509
SEIU Local 509 is a fast-growing, progressive union representing over 28,000 state workers, human service workers, higher education faculty and family child care providers in Massachusetts. In the current political environment, the union has a steadfast vision to increase participation and power among its rank-and-file membership.

SEIU Local 509 is part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the largest and fastest-growing labor unions in the United States.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Local is in a time of unprecedented growth, and as part of it, we are implementing a multi-year staffing plan to build our capacity for the fights ahead. This is a new management position that will spearhead the creation and operations of a new Strategic Campaigns department. 

The Strategic Campaigns Director will coordinate the big-picture strategy and day-to-day resources needed to win on the shop floor and in the community. These efforts will include contract fights, fightback campaigns, political/legislative battles, and unionwide priorities. 

TEAM AND SUPERVISION:
The Strategic Campaigns Director will, in late 2026 or early 2027, hire and supervise four new positions to support campaign strategy and internal organizing:

• Bargaining Strategist (2): provide support & expertise in bargaining to support all contract campaign negotiations by assisting with costing, proposal writing, & strategy.
• Strategic Researcher: conduct research for internal campaigns to help organizers and committees identify strategic pathways to achieve their goals.
• Internal Campaign Data Specialist: assist organizers with data-related projects to further strategy on contract campaigns and fightbacks. Also reports to Data Director.

The Strategic Campaigns Director may also supervise existing positions that can include: 

• Community Organizer: builds relationships with community allies to support campaigns and forge long-term partnerships within the communities where members work and live
• Leadership Development Trainer: executes a strong training program for Local 509 staff, elected leaders, stewards, and other members.

As a supervisor, responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, training, assigning, delegating, evaluating, promoting, transferring, investigating, disciplining, and terminating, as needed. 

This position will report either to the Field Director or the Chief of Staff. Supervision and organizational structure may change at the direction of the Chief of Staff and the President of the Local.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Design, execute, and/or support campaigns within and across internal field divisions; this will also involve close coordination with external organizing, political, communications, legal, data, and other departments of the Local.
• Mentor and supervise a new team of staff. This is a new position in charge of leading new positions, which means it will be especially important to offer clarity, support, and accountability around department-wide and individual goals, calendars, and workplans.  
• Collaborate with other staff and members, especially with internal division Directors and Leads, with the development and implementation of field plans for member growth, bargaining and contract campaigns, political action, social justice goals, and other internal organizing projects as needed.
• Research and share professional development opportunities relevant to field staff.
• Create internal tracking documents to measure progress toward goals.
• Represent the Local in external matters, including meetings with other labor, community, and political organizations, employers, and state agencies as needed.
• Collaborate with the President, Chief of Staff, Field Director, and others on overall management responsibilities. 
• Periodically review internal systems and processes for efficiency and work with other members of the senior staff to revise them as necessary.
• Perform related work and union-wide duties as required and assigned. In times of staffing need, this position may lead and/or assist with contract bargaining.
• Specific duties may change at the direction of the respective supervisor and/or President of the Local.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
This job is based in our Marlborough, MA office and often requires in-person work at member work sites, but may also work remotely as appropriate. Frequent travel within Massachusetts and occasional out-of-state travel is required. Working long hours, evenings, and weekends is often necessary; the baseline expectation is to work 37.5 hours across 5 days each week.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Attending various outdoor events, sometimes for a full working day, even in potentially uncomfortable (but not unsafe) weather.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:

• Experience with the duties of internal organizing, including representation, bargaining, and member recruitment and development.
• Experience in the senior management of a nonprofit organization.
• Experience designing and executing a strategic issues-based campaign.
• Familiarity with the working conditions and issues of most of the Local’s various constituencies, including:
  • Public employees
  • Human services
  • Family childcare
  • Higher education
• Knowledge of United States and Massachusetts labor laws.
• Basic computer skills and a willingness to learn new technologies.
• Willingness to work nights and weekends, including travel throughout the state and some out of state travel.

Preferred:

• Contract negotiation skills, especially experience as a lead negotiator.
• Experience managing a geographically dispersed workforce.
• Familiarity with Massachusetts politics and geography.
• Knowledge of national trends in the labor movement and the Local’s constituencies.
• Fluency in another language prevalent in our membership (Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole).
• Experience working as a rank-and-file member in one of our industries – e.g., as a state worker; direct care worker, mental health clinician, or elder services case manager; a family child care provider; or in a higher education environment (as an educator, graduate student, staff member)

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
There are many qualities that make up an ideal candidate. You might be a perfect fit for this role if this describes you:

• Committed to the labor movement and progressive social change.
• Able to earn trust and build strong relationships across different teams.
• Able to work effectively with limited guidance, both independently and as part of a team.
• Able to accurately assess priorities and balance the progress of multiple short and long-term projects.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong technology skills (Google Apps, email, web-based apps, database usage).
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills.
• Discretion and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Highly organized and efficient, with meticulous attention to detail.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS & LOCATION:
This is a full-time management position based in Marlborough, MA, with some flexibility for local remote work. The salary for this position is $120,372.80. Benefits include, at no cost to the employee: health insurance with FSA and HRA, dental insurance, short and long-term disability, a pension, an optional 401k, and generous paid time off.

Must have a driver’s license, vehicle registration, and/or intent to purchase a vehicle. Our main office is located in Marlborough, MA, and the position will require travel around the state.

SEIU Local 509 requires new employees to have a record of COVID-19 vaccination or a valid accommodation at the time of hire.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply to this position, please submit an updated résumé and a thoughtfully written cover letter to jobapplication@seiu509.org and indicate “Strategic Campaigns Director” in the subject line. Priority application deadline is April 10, 2026.

We want to interview the best candidates for our organization. If you think you have the skills to fill the role and serve our mission, even if you don’t meet every qualification in the list, please consider applying. We review all applications thoroughly and are open to considering candidates from many different backgrounds.

If you would like to request accommodation during the interview process, please email hr@seiu509.org. Accommodation requests will be handled confidentially. Please do not send inquiries about the status of your application.

SEIU Local 509 is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status. SEIU Local 509 is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team.

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Job Posting Courtesy of UnionJobs.com