Director of Legal Training and Development

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization.  We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country.  We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change.    We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time, and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections.  We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, Chicago, and Washington, DC.

The Director of Legal Training and Development is a newly created position that will lead in the development, implementation, evaluation and continued improvement of onboarding, training and development programs for litigation staff across the organization.  In addition, the Director of Legal Training and Development will provide resources and guidance to regional offices and program teams to support their unique staff development and training needs.  

The Director of Legal Training and Development will partner with HR, Lit Ops, program management and staff to identify and prioritize training needs, and develop a timeline for training and development that provides ongoing and progressive support and enrichment to every member of the litigation department. The incumbent will formulate policy and long and short range objectives in keeping with the organization’s priorities, growth, legal function and programs as well as trends in professional development and legal education.  The Director of Legal Training and Development will also serve as a key thought partner to the VP of Litigation Practice, collaborating often with HR, OGC and others, to ensure the litigation department’s training, development, and staff engagement efforts align with the organization’s strategic goals and core values and provides the tools necessary to effectively represent our clients and fight to advance the promise of a healthy world for all.  

Responsibilities:

Training, Development and Staff Engagement (80 %)

• Create and manage an overall strategy for the organization to meet its mission and help ensure the development and retention of highly skilled employees, supervisors and managers.
• Lead and develop robust onboarding, training and professional development programs for litigation staff across the organization, such as associate attorney training and mentorship program and supervisory training.
• Collaborate with program leadership, staff and other stakeholders to assess department-specific training and development needs and allocate resources, as needed, to accomplish priorities.
• Consult with supervisors and department leads to recommend customized training and professional development solutions. 
• Lead in the development of the 3-day biennial Litigation Training Conference attended by the entire Litigation Department from around the country. Facilitate the development of the agenda through collaboration with program leadership and event planning staff.
• Develop guidelines for evaluating results of training programs and make recommendations and adjustments based on statistics, and qualitative and quantitative data.
• Prepares oral or written status reports for VP, Litigation Practice to assess program effectiveness and forecast future needs.
• Establish partnerships with facilitators, stakeholders, subject matter experts, and learners to identify training and development needs and manage training vendors to ensure learner-centric solutions.
• Partner with managers to facilitate needs assessment and curate content based on individual and team talent goals.
• Identify, research, implement, maintain, and market professional development initiatives such as mentorship program, and formalized sharing of best practices.
• Design and deliver internal communications and guidance on various topics such as feedback, staff engagement, and sound management principles to support and model a culture of continuous learning.
• Lead in the development of a compendium of litigation department policies and procedures.
• Implement and manage content for periodic supervisor trainings to increase shared understanding of management priorities with a focus on employee engagement.
• Establish and maintain a method for evaluating training efforts and engage in the process of continual improvement and honing of training offerings.
• Model a positive organizational culture and internalization of Earthjustice’s core values and mission.
• Partner with outside stakeholders and engage in outreach efforts that may include establishment of or participation in legal training consortia to share resources and effective practices with similar external organizations.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (10%)

• Partner with VP of Litigation Practice, VP Human Resources, VP of Diversity and Inclusion, and other members of the organization to support and advance diversity and inclusion goals and actions and celebrate people of all backgrounds with an open and inclusive work culture.
• Foster a positive work environment that encourages teamwork, cooperation, and collaboration with regional offices and programs.

Other (10 %)

• Serve as a thought partner to Vice President, Litigation Practice senior leaders across the organization.
• Lead and participate in committees, working groups and on project teams as appropriate.

 Qualifications:

• J.D. required, prior litigation experience a plus.
• Experience developing and administering training and development programs, particularly in the legal field, a plus.
• Experience in adult learning and instructional design.
• Experience developing and giving group presentations and training.
• Experience in a legal setting (private sector or government), higher education, or the non-profit sector preferred.
• Experience with traditional business software tools including Microsoft Office suite.
• A positive outlook, empathy and the ability to influence and manage change.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, with a particular emphasis on relationship building.
• Empathy, maturity, and a high level of emotional intelligence.
• The ability to build and leverage relationships with individuals at various levels inside and outside the organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A high degree of independence and substantial creativity and imagination in performing duties.
• Equity-centered approach to work. Demonstrates an awareness and respect for the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
• The confidence, tact and maturity necessary to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Set short term and long range goals and determine timelines and appropriate benchmarks for successful execution.
• Prioritize, manage, and complete multiple complex projects despite time pressure and unexpected challenges.
• Gather and synthesize data and apply the information to develop solutions.
• Communicate comfortably and effectively in front of large audiences. Lead and facilitate discussions among individuals with varying points of view.
• Think strategically, anticipate challenges, envision growth and lead change.
• Independently manage work flow and produce deliverables with minimal supervision.
• Manage a varied workload and multi-task.
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
• Contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that respects and celebrates differences.
• Foster a culture of learning.

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity. 

To Apply: 

Interested applicants should submit the following to Jobvite:

• Resume.
• Detailed cover letter that highlights your interest in the position, relevant experience, and specific skills and abilities for the job.

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position. 

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco:  Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles:  We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.