Training Partner

Job Title: Training Partner

Department: Field Department

Location: Remote. This position requires an ability to travel. 

Reports To: Training Director, Training Team 

Context:   At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope:  Supports the design and implementation of training and learning programs within Sierra Club's Field Department and with partners doing organizing work in the Sierra Club.  Contributes to the efforts to effectively engage and cultivate strategic and capable volunteer leaders who can deliver on place based, regional and national strategies, win campaign victories, and build durable power through our chapters and groups. 

• Volunteer and Staff Leadership Development. Support the design and delivery of leadership development strategies to deliver on strategic goals and objectives to build durable power and healthy Chapters and Groups based on State of the Chapters (organizational health assessment) data. Supports identification of structural, cultural, and resource improvements, including training and support needs, that will enhance Chapter success. Partner with relevant stakeholders (e.g. volunteer leaders, local outings, Chapter staff) to assess and identify priority audiences and learning strategies to meet learner needs.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Internal Partnerships. Provide support to engage relevant stakeholders in the design of training goals and programs. Build trusting, mutually accountable relationships with internal partners such as Chapter staff and volunteer leaders, Outings, Campaigns, People Department.
• Project Management. Lead and support Training Team priority projects using project management tools and tactics that identify project goals and outcomes, roles in relationship to a project, timeline, and decision making.  Move projects in a way that utilizes the skills sets of the team and develops leadership. 
• Team Leadership and Facilitation. Lead and support the development of staff and volunteer leaders to meet shared goals and objectives related to training design and delivery. Cultivate healthy, mutually accountable team culture where team members experience a sense of belonging and shared purpose on the team. 
• Training Design and Delivery. Lead and support the design and delivery of a learner-centered training core curriculum that meets Field Department goals and objectives related to base building and powerbuilding.  Draft, edit, and compile training curriculum to be used in various Field training programs online and offline to build alignment across the organization in these areas. Provide support for resource development using Sierra Club internal communications tools.    
• Training for Trainers. Support training and curriculum design that will grow the skills of Field staff and volunteer leaders to deliver training strategies at scale. Support the design and implementation of peer support programs for staff and volunteer leaders advancing training strategies in Chapters, states, and regions.  Coach, manage, and develop volunteer leaders to be training leaders throughout the organization.  
• Training Design & Pedagogy: Lead and support the design and delivery of training materials based on experiential learning best practices and train staff and volunteers on principles of effective training design and delivery that centers people and their learning, supports their growth and moves them into action.  Supports trainers on basic facilitation skills like how to ask open-ended questions as well as skill up to support generative conflict and learning.
• Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned.

• Seasonal Activities: Heavier seasonal workloads may occur as a result of project deadlines, staff absences and vacancies, and during peak activity periods.  Frequent weekend and/or evening work required during times of peak Training programs.

• Equity Analysis and Practice. You are aware of your group identities and how they have shaped your life and experiences at work. You have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems and culture. You bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and position/role. 
• Leadership Development and/or Training Strategy Design and Implementation. Experience designing training strategies that include identifying learning objectives and audiences, designing learning tactics, and assessing efficacy. Experience working with teams, particularly volunteer and staff teams, to deliver on shared training strategies. 
• Training and Curriculum Design and Delivery. Skillful at designing and delivering experiential curriculum that meets the needs of learners. Experience training and coaching others in how to write curriculum and deliver training in an experiential manner.  
• Technical and Online Training Delivery Experience- Experience preparing training materials and content including video, webinar presentations, powerpoint, google suite, other materials so that they are available online. 
• Training Program Assessment. Experience using quantitative data and qualitative data to inform and evaluate training and learning programs. Experience tracking data and using that data to tell a story. Experience identifying learning objectives and metrics for Training Programs. Demonstrated ability to assess efficacy and adjust programming to better meet overall goals and learner needs both at the micro and macro levels. (i.e. in a training room and with an overall training strategy)
• Team Leadership. Experience building, leading, and coaching diverse teams of staff and volunteers to meet shared goals and objectives. Experience supporting teams to surface and navigate conflict in generative ways. 
• Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
• Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

• Conflict Transformation. Compassionate, kind facilitator who is skillful at facilitating diverse groups through conflict towards transformative outcomes. Understanding of power manifests in group dynamics, and skillful at working with those dynamics when supporting individuals and groups through conflict. Skillful at self regulating when supporting individuals and groups through conflict. 
• Hybrid and Online Learning Experiences. Skillful at designing and delivering effective training programs in online and/or hybrid contexts. Experience with different learning and engagement platforms for training programs is a plus.
• Organizational Governance. Experience designing and/or delivering training programs related to organizational governance. (e.g. bylaws, Board development, etc.)
• Virtual Teams.  Experience working within a remote team and supporting the work of other remote teams.   

To Apply

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

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