Government Affairs Fellow

Job title: Government Affairs Fellow

About the Role The Government Affairs Fellow is an entry-level, full-time position designed to provide critical support to the union’s legislative advocacy and political mobilization programs statewide. The GA Associate will be provided ample opportunities to gain valuable experience in Government and Labor-UC relations through the intersections of progressive policy and labor organizing.

What You'll Do

• Develop, in coordination with the Political Coordinator, Executive Director, and UPTE Senior Staff, the union’s Legislative, Budget, Local Government, and Board of Regents advocacy strategy to advance the union’s objectives.
• Participate in the union’s legislative advocacy - through direct lobbying - at the State level with an emphasis on the State Legislature, the Executive Branch, Constitutional Officers, and relevant State Agencies. Special time and attention will be devoted to cultivating, maintaining and expanding UPTE’s influence and presence with members of the “UC Roundtable”
• Schedule lobby visits and meetings with elected officials.
• Assist UPTE staff and members, and leaders to facilitate the Union’s annual Lobby Day; including scheduling lobby visits, training members, and when practicable, join members on their lobby visits.
• Responsibilities also include assisting with the development of printed materials such as leave-behinds, preparation packets and other documents as needed for staff and members.
• Assist the Research Department on relevant cross-departmental campaigns pertaining to legislative, budget, or other projects as assigned by the Political Coordinator.
• Assist in the development, with the Political Coordinator, legislation, budget requests, resolutions (local and state levels), local ordinances, and other policy mechanisms as specified.
• Testify on behalf of the union at legislative meetings and hearings and prepare witness testimony when required.
• Work in collaboration with UPTE Executive Officers, members, and leaders to cultivate and foster relationships with local and state legislators and their staff/consultants, to advance the unions organizational, legislative and budgetary objectives.
• Serve as the union’s designated representative on appropriate policy, advocacy, and community-based coalitions and workgroups as assigned by the Political Coordinator and or the Executive Director.
• Track, analyze, and organize legislation germane to UPTE’s organizational, legislative and budget objectives.
• Assist the Political Coordinator with the overall implementation of the union’s political, electoral, and community organizing initiative.