Experiential Facilitator

About the role

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; we coach administrators and educators to use data to identify and implement solutions that address damaging systemic patterns of inequity that target marginalized students; and we train and coach families and caregivers to apply solution-oriented practices that instill critical social emotional life skills.

BELONG Partners is hiring two Facilitators based in the Seattle area. We are committed to having a diverse workforce and strongly encourage individuals who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color to apply. The organization operates on a shared leadership model where all employees contribute their talents and ideas to the larger work.

Responsibilities

• Participate in an 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 develop 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 processes. Participate in all required training, meetings, and classes and implement learnings as requested.

Requirements

• Available to work 24–32 hours per week with flexibility to accommodate school schedules including 7:30 am–4:30 pm 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; occasional travel to clients beyond the Seattle/King County area may be required. Travel time and mileage are compensated.
• Pass Washington State criminal background check.
• Reside in Seattle/South King County or vicinity.

Preferred qualifications

• 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.

Schedule

This is a 0.6 FTE position (average 24 hours per week) requiring flexibility to accommodate school schedules, especially during professional development times. Work hours include weekdays 7:30 am–4:30 pm, some evening events, and occasional out-of-area/state travel. Travel time and mileage are compensated.

Skills

• Works collaboratively with team members and management.
• Maintains consistent and regular attendance of assigned work schedule.
• Organizes resources to complete 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