Junior Associate Mediator / Facilitator

Position description

The Consensus Building Institute (CBI) is a not-for-profit organization created by leading practitioners and theory builders in the field of dispute resolution. CBI serves public, nonprofit, and private clients worldwide by providing facilitation, collaboration, and dispute resolution services; training in negotiation and consensus building techniques; and evaluative research. CBI also plays a key role in helping to build the intellectual capital of the field. CBI believes that our most challenging problems are solved through collaboration. When the ideas, values, and voices of all affected stakeholders are included, we can achieve outcomes that are wise, fair, and lasting. 

CBI conducts its work in the U.S. and internationally with offices and staff in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Portland, ME; Washington, D.C.; Denver, Colorado; San Francisco, California; New York, New York; Montreal, Canada; and Santiago, Chile.  In California, we work and partner with organizations and agencies at the local, state, and federal level with a particular focus on natural resource issues (water, forestry, wildlife, climate) and on organizational strategy and direction.

CBI is an equal opportunity employer. We aim to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people do their best work together. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation. Persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply. CBI is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion both within our organization and in our collaboration practices. 

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The CBI Junior Associate position is an opportunity for a highly motivated individual early in their career to explore the field of public collaboration and consensus building, build valuable knowledge and skills, and work on a wide range of challenging public issues. Junior Associates work with multiple senior staff on CBI’s domestic and international projects.  Expected tasks include:

• Support facilitation and mediation projects (take notes and produce meeting summaries, conduct background research, draft communications with stakeholders, assist at public meetings, run virtual meeting platforms, provide administrative support (calendar items, scheduling), and manage spreadsheets and other organizing tools)
• Participate in conflict assessments (coordinate interviews, take notes and synthesize findings, conduct background research, draft assessment presentations and reports)
• Support development of training materials and training delivery (presentation slide edits, simulation and case study drafting, assist in conducting trainings)
• Conduct research and evaluation projects (survey development, background research, drafting)
• Support internal projects and writing (drafting content for CBI Reports, CBI’s web page, and marketing materials)
• Participate in professional organizations (e.g. ACR) and conferences
• Post-pandemic, travel is required, normally in the range of 1-2 days per week.  

We are looking for someone who is eager to work for two to four years at CBI.  Our expectation is that the Junior Associate then moves on to other graduate educational or professional opportunities, with a potential for return to CBI sometime in the future. Previous Junior Associates have been accepted at prestigious graduate schools around the country.

Qualifications

• Self-motivated, hard-working, and efficient
• Excellent writing (note-taking, summarizing and synthesizing, editing) and communications skills 
• Able to work reliably on several projects at the same time, communicate effectively with project managers to clarify and prioritize tasks when necessary, and meet project deadlines 
• Nimble technical capacity and open to embrace new tools (Zoom and other online meeting platforms, online engagement software, working across different content-sharing platforms_
• Able to take direction, work independently, get feedback, and adjust 
• Able to work in an intensive, fast-paced work environment with high expectations for outstanding performance
• Willing to locate either in Boston or Northern California (Sacramento or Bay Area)
• An undergraduate degree is required, preferably in social sciences with exposure to public policy, political science, international relations, natural resources management, sustainability, conflict analysis and resolution, or other related fields.
• Work experience in fields related to CBI’s work, via post-undergraduate employment, summer or school-year internships, is preferred

Desired, but not required skill sets include:

• Foreign language fluency (Spanish in particular)
• Social media expertise 
• Experience working with spreadsheets, data bases, GIS mapping, and/or graphics

Women and candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Compensation is $45,000 - $55,000/year depending on experience. In addition, CBI offers an excellent package of benefits, including health and dental insurance, fourteen paid holidays, two weeks vacation, training and mentoring, and a retirement plan.

Application instructions

Send cover letter, resume, and writing sample (5 pages or fewer) indicating the job title and location you are applying for in the subject line (e.g., “California Junior Associate Application.”)

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