Lead Educator - Chicago

ABOUT NEW ROOTS INSTITUTEWhat do we do?

New Roots Institute is a growing nonprofit that educates people across the country on factory farming’s devastating impacts on people, animals, and the planet, and empowers them to advocate for systemic change in their communities. Our approach is designed to build significant and lasting capacity for the movement to end factory farming.

How do we do it?

• We believe our competence must be as fierce as our compassion.

• To amplify our impact through collective action, we call people in rather than out, always striving to see beyond our egos to meet others where they’re at rather than treat them like they should already be where we are.

• Because we care deeply about each other and our mission, we elevate accountability, openly addressing issues with honesty and directness and holding ourselves to a standard no lower than excellence.

• We recognize that we don’t have all the answers and will listen to others, including those we believe we disagree with, to grow as individuals and as an organization.

• The magnitude of the systemic change we’re aiming for requires readiness to adapt. As circumstances and information around us shift, we update our approach.

• Last but not least, we genuinely enjoy our co-workers and have fun despite the tragic nature of what we’re up against. (Check out our Rotten Truth series on YouTube to see how we use humor to grapple with the grim reality of factory farming.)

If all of this appeals to you, we encourage you to apply!

ABOUT THE POSITION

As a Lead Educator at New Roots Institute, you’ll empower thousands of high school and college students each year with the know-how to make more sustainable, compassionate food choices. You’ll engage them in deep discussions about the impacts of factory farming on animals, people, and the planet and inspire future leaders among them to join New Roots Institute’s Leadership Program. During the summer, you’ll work with the students in our Leadership Program to equip them with the tools they’ll use to dismantle the system. Throughout the year, you’ll build advocacy networks in your region by hosting meetups and social events (for teachers, students, and program alumni) and supporting your students in doing the same. In various turns, you will wear the hats of facilitator, coach, mentor, network weaver, and ecosystem builder.

Details:

The job will be full-time based out of Chicago. Since you will be traveling to schools, you will need a driver's license and a car. This is a US-based position, and we are not currently accepting international applications.

Skills Required (Non-Negotiables):

• Teaching and facilitation skills to effectively convey information and ideas to high school and college audiences

• Active listening, analytical, and critical thinking skills to evaluate arguments and facilitate productive discussions, including engaging those less inclined to participate

• Organizational and time management skills to plan and manage meetings and group discussions effectively, ensuring all objectives are met in the allotted time frame

• Conflict resolution skills to manage disagreements and foster a collaborative environment

• Leadership skills to guide and motivate students in developing their advocacy capacity

• Interpersonal skills to build rapport with students, teachers, and other stakeholders and facilitate positive group dynamics among them

• Be able and willing to plan, promote, and host several in-person events per semester

• Be able and willing to work remotely/independently

• Have a strong grasp of English grammar and punctuation

• Be conversant in workplace technologies such as Google Suite (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Calendar, Google PowerPoint), Asana, and Airtable

Other Requirements (Non-Negotiables):

• Have a desire for honest and direct critique and interest in growing from it

• Be excellent at not missing details or deadlines

• Love working hard for a mission you deeply care about—while understanding how to differentiate between working really hard (good) and unsustainable self-sacrifice (not so good)

• Be willing to meet people where they are and promote gradual dietary change

• Share vegan values

• Be able to consistently and happily see beyond your ego to make the best decisions for the organization

• Have impeccable time management and prioritization abilities

• Have a strong grasp of English grammar and punctuation, as well as written and verbal communication that you imbue with emotional intelligence

• Be able and willing to work remotely/independently

• Enjoy networking and building relationships with individuals and organizations

Compensation and Benefits:

• Compensation is set at $23.60 to $29.50 per hour (i.e. $49,100-$61,000 annually), depending on qualifications and professional experience.

• In addition to a collaborative and innovative work environment, full-time hires will be able to take part in our benefits package, including:

• Health insurance

• Unlimited planned paid time off (vacation and personal time, with a mandatory two-week minimum)

• Unlimited unplanned time off (sick, wellness, and bereavement leave)

• Eleven paid federal holidays

• 401k to which employees may contribute

• Budget for professional development and workspace enhancements

• Phone & internet and personal computer reimbursement

Application Details:

We consider traditional and nontraditional qualifications and carefully review each resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, we encourage you to state how you would add to our culture; what we would gain from having you on our team; and how you align with our organizational vision, mission, and values.

We are committed to hiring and retaining diverse, culturally competent staff at all levels of the organization. We envision a team that not only reflects the demographics of our country, but also continues to deepen their skills and competencies to serve the full range of our audiences. We strongly encourage people of the global majority, especially Black and Indigenous folks, LGBTQIA+ individuals, persons living with disabilities, women, non-binary individuals, and people of various socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for this position.

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To Apply:

Please follow the “Apply for this position” link. Please submit your resume and cover letter explaining your interest in the position.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a final deadline of 1/30/24.

You can direct questions to Rowdy, the Hiring Manager, at rowdy@newrootsinstitute.org.