Job Title: People Partner
Department: People Department
Location: Remote
Reports To: Managing People Partner
Supervises: N/A
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: The People Partner plays a significant and visible role in moving Sierra Club’s strategic and operational initiatives forward by utilizing a people-centered approach to resolving Employee Relations and other HR needs within a client group. We expect People Partners to develop a reputation as an innovative, reliable, trusted resource and strategic partner. You’ll report to the Managing People Partner and be part of a team of People Partners in the Employee Relations arm of the larger People Department.
We expect that employees in this role’s client group will know you by name, know how to get in touch, and are confident that any challenge they bring will be met with compassion, understanding, and respect. We are looking for dedicated professionals who are excited to work with passionate social and environmental justice advocates and who can bring highly advanced interpersonal and relational skills and practice to an evolving Human Resources framework.
\n- Serve as a People Partner to your assigned client group. Act as the first and primary point of contact for all personnel needs within your client group. Proactively problem-solve to address and resolve employee questions with a service mindset, while always considering compliance. Coach, support, and mentor managers in the application of employment policies and practices. Ensure proper administration of our processes and that all items submitted by your client group are accurate and complete before they are sent for processing. Partner closely with stakeholders throughout the organization to ensure we deliver thoughtful, responsive, and comprehensive support to the Sierra Club community.
- Employee Relations and Conflict Resolution. Provide support, advice, and guidance to staff and managers on navigating challenging interpersonal dynamics, especially across identity and positional authority. Counsel managers on handling conversations about performance management (coaching, providing feedback, career growth, and performance improvement plans). Play a key role in the administration of the Equal Opportunity Policy such as advising and leading on the implementation of corrective actions.
- Help build and maintain a welcoming, supportive, and thriving culture that reflects Sierra Club’s organizational values. Champion the organization’s core values and serve as a key catalyst in establishing and growing a culture and systems centered in belonging, dignity, justice, and joy (BDJJ framework by Decolonize Design).Support and coach managers in building and growing successful teams, identifying and motivating high performers, and navigating difficult conversations. Partner with Learning & Development to ensure cohesive and exceptional onboarding for the members of your client group. Build relationships with staff at all levels grounded in trust and authenticity. Develop and lead workshops for both staff and managers on topics designed to support a thriving, positive workplace culture.
- Strong professional experience in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or Leadership Development. A seasoned professional with excellent judgment and discretion. Able to navigate confidential, complex, and highly sensitive situations with confidence and poise. Able to effectively identify and communicate organizational risks related to personnel matters and provide recommended solutions and responses.
- Project management experience with the ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously. A Team Player who is resourceful and adaptable. Nothing is beneath or above you. You are able to earn influence without authority and naturally seek to support both small projects and large strategic goals. You're at ease with ambiguity and rapid change. You possess a positive attitude and identify creative solutions to obstacles. You can juggle many essential responsibilities at once, and you're rigorous about prioritizing. You possess the ability to use logic, reasoning, and empathy to identify alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Experience effectively navigating complex organizational systems, structures, and dynamics. Demonstrated track record of understanding and navigating complex and layered employee relations issues. The ability to identify and address root causes and to work within and improve opaque systems and processes. Experience with change management, culture work, employee engagement, and team effectiveness. Aware of Racial Dynamics. You have a commitment to understanding the role systematic racism plays in society and the workplace. You have successfully exhibited confidence in being culturally aware while debunking problematic policies. An Effective Collaborator: You’ve successfully worked across cultural lines on a dispersed team, and you have the ability to operate in complex situations. You can easily gain trust from team members and are known for supporting them to ensure they are set up for success.
- 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 skills and experience. Experience providing people-centered conflict transformation support, interventions, and training in the workplace.
- Emotionally intelligent: You are self-aware and perceptive. You nurture relationships and can work and communicate well with all kinds of people. You are optimistic, empathetic, flexible, curious, and well-respected by all who work with you, irrespective of title. You are able to professionally handle stressful situations.
- Experience supporting/ working in a union environment.
- Knowledge of current state and Federal employment laws, and record-keeping requirements.
To apply
Please submit a resume detailing your applicable skills and experience. Please do not submit a cover letter. Applications will close on September 15, 2024.
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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