Job Title: Conflict Coach
Department: People, Culture & Equity Department
Location: Remote
Reports To: Director of Organizational Effectiveness
Supervises: N/A
About Sierra Club
At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of togetherness. 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 inequity, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our democracy. 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 comprises 850+ staff, 64 chapters, 2 unions, 8,500 volunteer leaders across the country and millions of members across a network of local chapters that power our grassroots engagement, and place us at the forefront of climate change activism. Learn more about Sierra Club.
Scope: The conflict coach will report directly to the Director of Organizational Effectiveness and engage in and support conflict transformation between individuals and among teams. They will engage in and educate staff and volunteers about navigating conflict via relevant and appropriate pathways, including coaching, facilitated conversations, mediation and other forms of conflict transformation. They will partner with key internal stakeholders to advance individuals and team’s capacity to navigate conflict in generative and productive ways. They will oversee the work of external conflict consultants and mediators. This work will be done in alignment with Sierra Club’s values and requires highly advanced emotional, relational and equity skills and practice.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Provide conflict coaching and skill-building. Provide support, mentorship, advice, and guidance to leadership, managers, staff and volunteers on navigating challenging interpersonal and intergroup dynamics, especially across identity and positional authority. In collaboration with other staff and departments- including, but not limited to, People Culture & Equity Department and the Office of Chapter Support- support staff in navigating existing personnel and accountability systems and advancing solutions. While this role will play a part in supporting challenges related to our union-represented staff- in coordination with People Culture & Equity and union stewards- it will have a particular focus on Chapters, volunteers and staff who are not represented.
- Lead conflict transformation and mediation processes for staff and volunteers. Support and conduct intake investigations and fact finding of select conflict situations to assess appropriateness of facilitated conversation, mediation or other conflict transformation pathways. Draft summaries and assessments of conflict situations and recommendations for next steps. Conduct mediations, facilitations, or other processes for staff and teams, and volunteers. Provide support to parties following mediations, facilitated conversations, and other processes through ongoing coaching and advising. Provide advice and guidance to managers on personnel matters, some involving union-represented staff, which may require access to and maintenance of confidential information
- Educate and train select stakeholders on conflict transformation best practices. Provide education and training to select staff, volunteers, teams, managers and volunteer leaders on equity-centered conflict transformation and mediation practices, and provide support to and advice for equity-centered organization-wide conflict transformation skill-building efforts. Develop tools and resources on conflict de-escalation and intervention and help advance productive, just and equitable relationships and communication throughout the organization.
- Develop just relationships. Just relationships are developed and maintained over time and built on a foundation of trust, justice, and respect. Develop authentic and just relationships with staff and volunteers throughout the organization, at all levels. Bring an understanding and awareness of social identity, power dynamics, levels of oppression and racism, privilege and bias to all interactions and relationships. Develop a reputation as a resource and support to staff and volunteers throughout the organization. Collaborate closely with key stakeholders, including the Resolutions Team, Office of Chapter Support, People Culture Equity Partners, Equity Advisors and Program Training Teams.
- Supervise and support Conflict Transformation Consultants. Manages Conflict Transformation Consultants’ scope of work to ensure alignment with Sierra Club’s equity vision and process. Provide weekly support and guidance on cases to ensure equity and trauma informed approaches are utilized. Support their collaboration with internal stakeholders. Provide overall direction, prioritization and framework for their services.
The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:
- Extensive conflict transformation skills and experience. Experience providing equity-centered conflict transformation support, interventions and training in the workplace. Training on and deep familiarity and comfort with various conflict transformation approaches including mediation, alternative dispute resolution, coaching, facilitation, and restorative justice.
- Advanced equity skills and practice. Commitment to, and an understanding of, concepts of equity, justice and inclusion in the workplace and a demonstrated ability to effectively work and collaborate across differences and identify and intervene in problematic dynamics across identity. A working knowledge and understanding of the ways implicit bias, personal identity, and power and privilege impact individuals, organizations, systems, and structures.
- Track record of developing just relationships. Demonstrated track record of developing relationships across all levels- staff and managers- and identities. Exhibits a high level of emotional intelligence and cultivates trusting and collaborative relationships with individuals and groups. Fosters relationships that support individual and collective ability to grow, thrive, and work effectively together. Demonstrates a commitment to self-transformation including skill and comfort with regularly giving and receiving feedback and advancing a balanced and holistic perspective and approach.
- Ability to hold highly sensitive and confidential information. Excellent judgment and a high level of discretion, especially when handling sensitive and/or confidential information. Working knowledge of the legal and social implications of maintaining confidentiality. Operates in accordance with reporting and disclosure practices.
- Experience effectively navigating complex organizational systems, structures and dynamics. Demonstrated track record of understanding and navigating complex and layered employee relations issues, labor relations, organizational/volunteer structures and matrix management. Ability to identify and address root causes and to work within and improve opaque systems and processes.
The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following experience, skills and competencies:
- Staff, team, or volunteer direct management experience
- Experience at organizations or companies with unionized workforces
- Knowledge of current CA and Federal employment laws, and record keeping requirements
- Experience in a similar role at a mission driven organization
- Ability to use logic, reasoning and empathy to identify alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $100,00 - $110,000.
The Sierra Club offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.
This is a category 3 exempt, non-represented, confidential position.
Sierra Club is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Sierra Club employees are not eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
Sierra Club values the expertise and talents of foreign nationals. Sierra Club sponsors both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas when certain criteria are met, based on immigration laws and organizational needs. Such sponsorship is at the discretion of the Department Head and Sierra Club Human Resources in consultation with the employee’s manager. The Sierra Club cannot guarantee the approval of a visa petition.
The Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.
To Apply
This position does not have an undergraduate education requirement. If you choose to include your education history, please remove your school’s from your resume. You may leave your degree (e.g., “B.A. Philosophy”), but please remove any undergraduate and graduate school names.
This anonymous process is aimed at opening this opportunity to more candidates, reviewing applicants on performance assessments and mitigating bias in the decision making process.
Lastly, we are intentionally not asking for a cover letter, so please do not send one in with your application.
We are accepting applications on a rolling basis; this position will remain open until filled.
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
Job Type: Full-time