Senior Political Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Political Coordinator

UFCW Legislative and Political Action Department

Organization:

United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is North America’s neighborhood union; standing together to improve the lives and livelihoods of workers, families and communities. Our members work primarily in the retail food, meatpacking, poultry, food processing and manufacturing and retail store industries.

Location:

Washington, DC, Little Falls, NJ and Media, PA

Position Description:

The Senior Political Coordinator in coordination with local unions, is responsible for building out electoral, legislative, fundraising and activist programs under the direction of the Director.

The Senior Political Coordinator also assesses candidate viability, priority races, and meets with potential

candidates to ensure they understand UFCW’s issues in collaboration with local unions. This position is also assigned to work with locals on building out their electoral programs and legislative priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include the following. Other duties may be assigned. This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented.

Writes thorough state electoral plans for targeted local unions and races, as well as keeps up to date on 

competitive races in their assigned region to provide analysis on fundraising, polling, relevant campaign 

issues and endorsements. 

Works closely with local unions on priorities including low-dollar fundraising, running member-to-member electoral and legislative campaigns, engaging in federal grassroots and grasstops legislative campaigns and other priorities as assigned. 

Executes the International Union’s program priorities in their assigned region. Responsible for running a 

multifaceted program in multiple states that will include canvassing, worksite organizing, voter registration in collaboration with phone banking, and peer-to-peer texting and social media outreach. This encompasses building out a work management system in multiple states which allows for timely reporting and a field feedback loop. 

Works with rank-and-file member organizers to run electoral programs in targeted states. Responsible for 

running well-organizing onboarding, regular team meetings, trainings and conducting one-on-one coaching to ensure member organizers are reaching program goals. Acts in a timely manner and uses discretion when dealing with a member organizer consistently not reaching goals or fulfilling program duties. 

Responsible for keeping up to date on Federal campaign giving laws, as well as be a resource on state and 

local giving laws. Responds to fundraising requests from local unions in a time sensitive manner. 

Develops, updates, and maintains state and local specific training materials that cover fundraising, electoral work and legislative work and coaches the local union political staff person to successfully run trainings, fundraising drives and regular fundraising orientations for new staff representatives from local unions. 

Responsible for customizing training to meet audience needs – local union staff, stewards, member 

organizers, and rank-and-file members. Responsible for making sure that legal information in presentations is accurate such as state voter registration laws and early vote laws. 

Works with the Director and Legislative team to execute an endorsement process at the federal, state and 

local levels that involves viability assessments of races and candidates, candidate interviews, candidate 

questionnaires and where possible member, engagement in the endorsement process. 

Develops briefing materials for local union presidents on the value of political giving and what is at stake in their state. 

Represents the UFCW at in-state coalition tables from time to time. Manages these relationships with 

discretion and not undermine local union relationships. Responds to requests from candidate campaigns in 

a timely manner and ensure that the UFCW endorsement process is being followed. 

Builds relationships with the local union political and legislative contacts and ensure they are up to date on any in-state developments the International Union is tracking. 

Keeps up to date on new tactics and technologies that enables the UFCW to reach members using diverse 

tactics such as relational organizing, peer-to-peer texting, click to call tools, social media, worksite and door to door work and other outreach tactics. Responsible for specific technical tools in the UFCW toolbox and if they are not familiar with the tools, will undergo onboarding and will have expectations of technical tool administration. 

Keeps an up-to-date sharable and assessable database of local union, political and coalition contacts. 

Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, in the UFCW’s discretion. UFCW employees function as a team and, occasionally, and on a temporary basis, employees may be required to perform tasks usually performed by others. This might occur if a team member is absent or unavailable to complete a project and the team is responsible for the deadline. Because employees are required to work as a team, you are required to step up and fill in for a team member who is absent or needs assistance from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience 

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science or related field or equivalent related experience. Minimum of 3 years in grassroots organizing experience with a labor or progressive organization required. Minimum of four to six years’ experience, ideally in a labor organization with fundraising and/or political organizing experience

Computer/Software Skills 

Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and ability to use all functions in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Ability to put together comprehensive reports in Excel and written reports without errors or typos. Experience using online databases like NGP-VAN for analysis, virtual phone banks canvasses and activist engagement. Must be able to review documents like mail and digital content for messaging and ensure that the content is factual. Must be comfortable resolving minor tech issues with iPhones, tablets and laptops.

Communication, Analytical and Leadership Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills are required. 

Must be able to work with discretion, handle sensitive situation and recognize when to refer to a higher level. 

Must be able to work with people from different aspects of political work, Presidential candidates and staff, local union presidents and staff, as well as rank and file members. 

Must demonstrate strong technical, policy, analytical and strategic abilities, and skills. 

Must be able to make effective oral presentations to groups or individuals. 

Must be able to take critical feedback and improve work products on a consistent basis with accuracy. Must have ability to adapt to the best way to reach out to specific local union contacts.

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Required 

Must have strong written and oral skills. Must be able to write documents without typos and keep in mind audience needs. 

Must be able to present information to union audiences in a clear, concise way that connects on the issues 

UFCW members care about. 

Must have an understanding of FEC laws and regulations concerning PAC and their interactions with state election and financial disclosure laws. Must be able to quickly learn their interaction with labor organizations. 

Must have an understanding of Federal Campaign Finance and experience researching state and local 

campaign finance laws. 

Must have the ability to work independently. Must have initiative. 

Must have the ability to canvass and run a canvass. 

Demonstrated understanding of the labor movement and culture. 

Multilingual speaking ability is a plus.

Personal Characteristics

Commitment and dedication to the UFCW’s mission to fighting for our members.

Job Demands 

Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines. Must be able to handle multiple priorities and work projects for completion in a timely manner. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment. Must be able to respond to emails, texts and phone calls in a timely manner. Work requires long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends. Extensive travel required across the U.S. in both planes and cars. Ability to perform long-term assignments for weeks or months at a time.

Working Conditions 

The work is performed in a normal office environment or may be performed at various designated work 

locations throughout the United States. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

Attendance at meetings or events off-site and after normal working hours is often required. The work 

atmosphere is fast-paced and deadline-oriented.

Physical Demands 

The position involves, but is not limited to, written and oral communications skills, use of computer 

keyboard, close vision, sitting for long periods, stooping, bending and reaching. Covering extensive 

geographic areas on foot for canvassing.

This is an exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Reasonable accommodations will be provided pursuant to state and federal laws.

COMPENSATION

Salary Range: $66,931 – $84,445.

The UFCW provides a very generous benefits package, including:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Life insurance provided with ability to purchase supplemental life insurance at favorable rates.
• Retirement Savings Account.
• 401(k) plan with employer matching.
• Pension plan.
• Dependent care reimbursement account program.
• Health care reimbursement account program.
• Transportation program benefits.
• Three weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of paid short-term sick leave, Extended Sick Leave program, paid parental leave.
• Prepaid Legal Plan (for DC/MD/VA only).

Duration:

• This is a full-time position; posting closes when position is filled.  

We believe our success rests on recruiting and retaining a diverse staff. UFCW is an equal opportunity employer.

Woman and people of color are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided pursuant to the state and federal laws.