NUHW
National Union of Healthcare Workers

Political, Community, and Regulatory Affairs Organizer

For covering Northern California
(position works out of our Emeryville office)

 

The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) is searching for a talented, hard-working individual committed to building a powerful and democratic union. The successful candidate for this position will be values-driven, self-motivated and resourceful, with the skills, experience, and enthusiasm to help lead the Union’s legislative, electoral, and community relations activities in multiple locations throughout California. The position works out of our Emeryville office.

About NUHW
The National Union of Healthcare Workers is helping revitalize the labor movement with its commitment to worker empowerment and democratic ideals.

Founded in 2009, we have grown to represent more than 19,000 mental health clinicians, nurses, nursing assistants, medical technicians, clerks, and service workers. NUHW members are leading the fight to improve patient care, raise living standards, and hold healthcare corporations accountable to their employees and the communities they serve. And NUHW-represented mental health clinicians are powerful advocates for ending the stigma surrounding mental illness and enforcing mental health parity rules so that patients get the treatment they need when they need it.

To learn more about NUHW and its values, see the video at NUHW.org/about.

About the Political and Community Organizing and Public Policy Departments
The Political and Community Organizing team helps build and maintain our union's relationships with allies in our communities and in state, local, and federal government to build community and electoral coalitions in support of health care issues, workers' rights, and our members' contract campaigns. The Public Policy team leads our union's legislative and regulatory affairs work to protect both workers’ and patients’ rights.

Duties
The Political and Community Organizer’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Acts as the primary day-to-day contact between the Union and municipal, county, state, and federal elected officials and staff as well as relevant staff leaders of other unions and allied groups to coordinate the Union’s involvement in legislative and electoral coalitions.
• Organizes the electoral and grassroots lobbying work of other staff and rank-and-file leaders, providing educational materials, training as necessary, and logistical support.
• Participates in ongoing community coalitions around healthcare, workers’ rights, and other matters of institutional interest to the Union.
• Helps develop political strategies in support of the Union’s organizing and bargaining efforts and builds ad-hoc coalitions and other community actions to support them.
• Works with organizers and rank-and-file leaders to conduct endorsement interviews and make advisory recommendations to the Union’s Executive Board.
• Supports organizers and rank-and-file leaders in meeting the political fundraising goals of the Union’s Committee on Political Education (COPE).
• Tracks proposed regulations from relevant departments and agencies and assesses how proposed rules would affect member working conditions, scope of practice, staffing levels, and patient care quality. Prepares clear summaries and impact analyses for union leadership and membership.
• Drafts formal comment letters responding to proposed regulations, drawing on member experiences, research evidence, and legal frameworks. Coordinates input from affected workers to ground regulatory submissions in frontline perspectives. Represents NUHW at public hearings, stakeholder meetings, and agency convenings.
• Monitors employer compliance with existing workplace safety, staffing, and healthcare delivery regulations. Documents potential violations and coordinates with legal and organizing staff on enforcement strategies.
• Builds and maintains productive relationships with agency staff, allied organizations, and coalition partners. Participates in working groups and advisory committees where union input can shape regulatory outcomes. Collaborates with communications staff to translate regulatory issues for member and public audiences.

Qualifications
Required:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience drafting formal comments, policy briefs, or similar materials.
• Ability to relate successfully to individuals of all races, nationalities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, income levels, educational backgrounds, and occupational groups.
• Three years or more of prior experience in grassroots lobbying, electoral field work, community coalition building, and three or more years of experience in regulatory affairs, policy analysis, healthcare advocacy, or work as a legislative lobbyist or staff person.
• Familiarity with California's healthcare policy and regulatory landscape.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently under stress and with tight timelines.
• Proficiency in computer applications including Gmail, Word, Excel, and use of the Internet.
• Willingness to work long hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Able to spend long periods of time driving and working on the road.
• Must have a car, driver license, adequate insurance, and a cell phone with email capability.

Preferred:

• Prior union organizing experience and an advanced knowledge of labor and healthcare policy and regulations.
• Bachelor's or advanced degree in public policy, public health, law, or political science.
• Fluency in Spanish as well as English.

For more information about NUHW, go to our website at www.NUHW.org.

Compensation: Salary $70,936 – 113,088 plus $6,600 auto allowance, employer paid medical and dental benefits for employee and family; life insurance for employee; holidays, sick leave, vacation; HRA and FSA plans; 401(k) with 14% employer contribution.

How to Apply
https://nuhw.org/career/

Put your beliefs and skills into action. Apply today and be part of making history!

NUHW is committed to staff diversity. We welcome qualified people of all backgrounds to apply.