SEIU Local 32BJ

Assistant Chief of Staff

Based in New York, NY

 

ABOUT US
At the forefront of building the nation’s labor movement, 32BJ SEIU is changing the narrative around the critical social and economic issues facing working families. Founded in 1934, 32BJ is the largest union of property service workers in the country, representing more than 185,000 members across eleven states and Washington, DC. Our mission is to build a strong, democratic, politically independent union that improves our members’ lives, strengthens our communities, and advances racial, social, and economic justice.

With over 450 staff across 16 offices from Boston to Miami, 32BJ engages in collective bargaining, organizing, political action, and policy advocacy on issues including immigrant justice, housing affordability, organizing rights, and health care access. 32BJ is an affiliate of SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which represents two million members nationwide.

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Assistant Chief of Staff is a senior strategic and operational leader who partners closely with the Chief of Staff to drive execution, alignment, and organizational effectiveness across the union. This role expands the capacity of the Chief of Staff—translating strategic priorities into coordinated plans, managing high impact initiatives, strengthening cross union communication, and ensuring disciplined follow through on leadership decisions.

The Assistant Chief of Staff works across districts, departments, and leadership bodies, serving as a trusted partner to senior leaders and a central point of coordination for union wide initiatives. This position requires strong political judgment, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to navigate complexity in a fast paced, mission driven environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Project Leadership & Execution

• Lead and manage high priority, union wide initiatives on behalf of the Chief of Staff, ensuring timely execution, alignment, and results.
• Translate strategic direction into concrete workplans with clear goals, timelines, deliverables, and accountability.
• Track progress across initiatives, identify obstacles or risks, and surface recommendations to keep work moving.
• Conduct research, synthesize complex information, and prepare briefing materials to support strategic decision making.

Cross Union Coordination & Alignment

• Support strong coordination and information flow across districts, departments, officers, and executive leadership.
• Identify emerging cross functional issues and work with relevant leaders to resolve challenges and maintain organizational cohesion.
• Ensure decisions made by senior leadership bodies are clearly communicated, documented, and implemented.

Executive & Senior Team Support

• Support the Chief of Staff in developing agendas, materials, and follow up processes for officer meetings, senior team meetings, and cross departmental convenings.
• Track commitments and decisions made by leadership and monitor follow through.
• Represent the Chief of Staff in meetings, working groups, or project teams as appropriate.

Organizational Insight & Strategic Support

• Provide thought partnership to the Chief of Staff on organizational priorities, emerging challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Bring an organization wide perspective to anticipate needs, identify gaps, and surface risks early.
• Help ensure the union’s vision, mission, values, racial justice commitments, and strategic priorities are reflected in systems, processes, and implementation.

Relationship Management & Communication

• Build strong, trusted working relationships with district directors, department directors, officers’ staff, and key stakeholders.
• Communicate clearly and professionally on behalf of the Chief of Staff, with consistency, discretion, and political awareness.
• Serve as a reliable point of contact for staff seeking clarity or support around union wide initiatives and priorities.

Operational & Crisis Support

• Support the Chief of Staff in managing workload, priorities, and information flow.
• Help strengthen systems for task tracking, coordination, and follow up within the executive office.
• Support crisis response and rapid turnaround projects by gathering information, coordinating stakeholders, and driving timely action.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Strong project management, organizational, and execution skills, with experience moving complex initiatives forward across multiple stakeholders. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize information and present it clearly and persuasively.
• High level of political judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters. 
• Experience working in unions, advocacy organizations, campaigns, or similarly fast paced, mission driven environments strongly preferred. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, and exercise sound judgment. 
• Deep commitment to the union’s values, including racial justice, equity, democracy, and worker power. 
• Ability to build trust, manage relationships, and work effectively across lines of role, department, and geography.
• Ability to navigate high pressure situations with calm, clarity, and consistent respect for colleagues, partners, and stakeholders.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The position is a full-time position based in New York, NY.
• This position occasionally requires time outside normal business hours. Union staff are required to attend some Union events or actions, on or off-site.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The salary range for this role is $113k – $126k, depending on experience. 32BJ provides a generous benefits package that includes a fully employer-paid medical, dental and vision plan, for full-time employees and their qualified dependents. We offer retirement benefits, including both a defined benefit pension plan and 401K. The Union currently offers a remote work policy of one remote day per week at the discretion of the manager.

APPLICATION
Please send a résumé and letter of interest to HR@seiu32bj.org. Type “Assistant Chief of Staff” in the subject line of your email.

32BJ is an inclusive and diverse organization, committed to advocating for social, racial, and economic justice. We promote diversity and strongly encourage application from people who believe in our mission. We strongly encourage women and people of color to apply.

For more information on 32BJ SEIU, visit seiu32bj.org.