Internal Organizers (5 Positions): Public Sector, Private Sector Human Services, Family Child Care, Higher Education

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 OF POSITIONS

Internal organizers are responsible for organizing, representation, and (in some divisions) negotiations on behalf of SEIU Local 509 members.

This fall, we are expanding our internal field teams, and will be hiring five additional organizers—one in each field division, plus an additional organizer in our Private Sector Human Services division with turf focused on the South Shore and Cape area of Massachusetts. The field divisions are:

1. Public Sector: members who work at state agencies in the Commonwealth as social workers, case managers, and other job classifications to provide critical human services
2. Private Sector Human Services: members who work in direct care, mental health, and elder services at various nonprofit agencies.
3. Family Child Care: members who operate home-based childcare centers for early childhood learning and development
4. Higher Education: members who are part- and full-time faculty, graduate student workers, and undergraduate workers at colleges and universities in the greater Boston area

All internal organizer positions require significant in-person time at worksites within the assigned turf. One of the Private Sector Human Services positions will have turf concentrated in the South Shore and Cape area; other divisions may have turf assigned anywhere within the State of Massachusetts and assignments will be redistributed as we expand our teams. Candidates are welcome to apply for any (or all) of the positions with a single application—see application process below.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Organize members around workplace issues and initiatives of the Local Union
• Recruit, develop, and educate member leaders
• Guide and support member leaders in the work required to build and maintain high participation bargaining units
• In Private Sector Human Services and Higher Education divisions: Lead negotiations for contracts and agreements
• Plan and execute campaigns and worker actions in collaboration with members
• Enforce collective bargaining agreements at the worksite level by supporting member leaders in the labor-management process and identifying strategic issues for building member power
• Investigate member complaints and find appropriate resolutions
• Communicate regularly with union membership and management at the worksite level
• Support organizing of non-union workers by the external organizing department as needed
• Organize members around political priorities of the Local Union (e.g. legislative/policy initiatives affecting membership)
• Perform related work and union-wide duties as required and assigned
• Specific duties may change at the direction of the respective supervisor

SUPERVISION:

Internal Organizers will report directly to the Coordinator of their respective division. Internal Organizers will also work under the guidance of Lead Internal Organizers on each team, though Leads are not formal supervisors. Internal Organizers may be asked to supervise specific projects, member organizers, or interns directly.

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.
    • For private sector human services and higher education positions ONLY: Contract negotiation skills, especially experience as a lead negotiator
  • Organizing skills from leading contract and issue-based campaigns
  • Experience supporting a bargaining or organizing committee either as a staffer or member of that committee
  • Familiarity with external organizing campaigns in the corresponding sectors.
  • 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
  • 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

• Preferred:
  • Experience working as a rank-and-file member in the corresponding industry – 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, researcher, staff member, or union rep) or a graduate degree (in any field).
  • For private sector human services: proximity to the South Shore and Cape area of Massachusetts, given that turf assignments for the vacant position will be located there
  • For family child care: written and/or oral fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese. Turf assignments are likely to include childcare educators in central Massachusetts.

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:

These are full-time bargaining unit positions based in Marlborough, MA, with some flexibility for local remote work based on assignment. The salary range for these positions is $88,426-$100,172 depending on experience. 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 resume and a thoughtfully written cover letter to jobapplication@seiu509.org and indicate “Internal Organizer” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please indicate if there are specific divisions you are applying to (e.g., “I am applying for the internal organizer positions in Private Sector Human Services and Family Child Care”).

Applications are reviewed as they are received. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The application deadline is September 30, 2025.

Candidates who advance should expect initial in-person interviews at our Marlborough, MA headquarters beginning in late September to early October, followed by a second round interview and a final interview with union leadership. The expected start date is late Fall 2025.

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 mconway@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.