Experiential Facilitator

BELONG Partners is a leading education equity nonprofit, working with partners to build equitable learning communities that center the dignity, voice, and agency of young people. We employ a variety of social emotional learning (SEL) models that are brain science-based, culturally relevant, trauma-responsive, restorative, and equity-centered to transform the way adults teach, parent, and care for youth.

BELONG Partners is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded as Sound Discipline in 2007. Our vision is a world where children know they matter and belong. For nearly 20 years, we have developed a strong approach and a reputation as a trusted and effective partner, supporting schools to systemically address disciplinary practices that harm children and perpetuate racial and other inequities.

Our holistic approach includes three efforts:

• We facilitate professional development for school leaders and educators to build classroom communities that model an inclusive culture schoolwide and promote student agency and well-being. Fundamental to school transformation is a systems approach that shifts how adults build relationships with students and integrates social learning and restorative discipline.
• We coach administrators and educators to use data to identify and implement solutions that address damaging systemic patterns of inequity that target marginalized students.
• We train and coach families and caregivers to apply solution-oriented practices that instill critical social emotional life skills.

BELONG Partners is hiring (2) Facilitators based in the Seattle area. We are committed to having a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage individuals who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color to apply.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Participate in our apprenticeship-style co-facilitation model, learning the BELONG Partners approach through observation, co-facilitation, and debriefing with experienced facilitators, typically over 6–9 months, before facilitating workshops independently.
• Facilitate and deliver BELONG Partners' research-based, experiential, and culturally responsive workshops and presentations in schools in the Seattle area and online. Facilitators work primarily from home and travel to schools to provide services
• Coach and facilitate school discipline data teams using the Team Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS) process to come up with trauma-responsive, equity-centered solutions.
• Coach and facilitate school staff as they learn the BELONG Partners approach including integrated culturally relevant, trauma-responsive, restorative practices and problem-solving class meetings.
• Speak, write, and present information effectively and persuasively across numerous communication settings and platforms.
• Work collaboratively with school personnel using a strengths-based, trauma-responsive approach to understand and address their concerns about students who are currently experiencing barriers to engage in learning and community.
• Collaborate with BELONG Partners team members.
• Provide professional development coaching to individuals and small educator teams.
• Facilitate parenting workshops and coaching for families and caregivers, sharing solution-oriented practices that build social emotional life skills at home and in the community.
• Take an active role in creating an environment within assigned schools that supports educators in building equitable learning communities.
• Learn about the specific communities and school partners you will serve and bring that context into your facilitation.
• Contribute to ongoing quality improvement to enhance BELONG Partners programs, workshops, and process. Participate in all required training, meetings, and classes and implement learnings as requested. BELONG Partners is based on a shared leadership model. The hope is that all employees will contribute their talents and ideas to the larger work of the organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Available to work 24-32 hours per week with flexibility to accommodate school schedules including 7:30am-4:30pm and some evening events and occasional out of area/state travel).
• Passion for the BELONG Partners vision, purpose, and goals.
• Experience working with teams and individuals with diverse racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds and values.
• Direct experience in facilitating and/or training in both small and large groups of adults.
• Ability to hold a learning space in which people feel safe, respected, heard, and accepted.
• Competency in managing and organizing multiple tasks and competing priorities independently as well as with other team members (including scheduling, documentation, and follow up).
• Own or have reliable access to a vehicle and have ability to travel to multiple locations around the Seattle area on an as-needed basis. Some work is virtual/remote. There may also be need for occasional travel to clients beyond the Seattle/King County area. Travel time and mileage are compensated.
• Pass Washington State criminal background check.
• Reside in Seattle/South King County or vicinity.

Strongly preferred:

• 2+ years of experience as a classroom educator or counselor.
• Bachelor's degree or certificate of training in organizational development, education, psychology, counseling, training–or similar experience in an education setting.
• Considerable experience and competency in developmental coaching of adults to grow and learn.
• Understanding of trauma-responsive practices.
• Comfortable with technology and workplace platforms, including Microsoft 365, Zoom, Google Workspace, and Slack. A successful facilitator:
• Works collaboratively with team members and management.
• Maintains consistent and regular attendance of assigned work schedule.
• Organizes resources to complete their projects efficiently and on time.
• Is a continuous learner.
• Asks for, receives, provides, and acts on performance feedback.
• Has self-awareness of personal identity (race, gender, culture, ability, socio-economic).
• Uses appropriate discretion and judgment in dealing with sensitive situations or challenging behavior in schools.
• Is able to hold space for conflict and tension in the room while facilitating.
• Switches gears readily and easily in response to unexpected events and circumstances.
• Navigates resistant groups and audience participants while maintaining relationships.

Benefits include: $700/month employer contribution toward group health insurance plan coverage or $700 monthly compensation if you have other insurance. Option to join SIMPLE IRA plan with up to 3% match. PTO/LTD/Life/EAP.