Urban Rural Action's Mission

Urban Rural Action is a national movement that brings together Americans across divides to tackle our country's most urgent challenges.

The Position

The Director of Collaboration Skills Development believes deeply that we can advance UR Action’s vision of building a more peaceful and democratic society by equipping community members with practical skills for engaging in constructive dialogue across difference, navigating interpersonal conflict, and building consensus within diverse groups. UR Action offers a facilitative, experiential, hands-on experience for community members to enhance their dialogue, joint problem-solving, and facilitation skills. We do this in person and on Zoom with cohesive groups and organizations (e.g., a law school’s Affinity Group Leaders, faculty at an independent school in Baltimore, participants in a leadership development program). The Director of Collaboration Skills Development’s top priority is to implement the vision laid out in UR Action’s new three-year strategy for the organization to become a national leader in strengthening the collaboration skills of Americans nationwide at academic institutions, community organizations, and public sector entities.

Main Responsibilities of Director of Collaboration Skills Development

The Director of Collaboration Skills Development will help UR Action grow and implement our collaboration skills workshop business. In so doing, the Director will advance all six of UR Action’s guiding principles: embracing curiosity, centering communities, taking action, expanding participation in our democracy, finding strength in difference, and having fun.

1. Grow our Collaboration Skills Workshop business for academic institutions (including independent high schools, community colleges, and four-year universities), community organizations (including non-profits and small businesses), and local public sector entities. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Building, maintaining, and expanding relationships with our collaboration skills workshop clients;
• Marketing workshops to existing and prospective clients; and
• Evaluating the impact of our workshops and sharing success stories.

2. Oversee Collaboration Skills Workshops for our clients. The Director will oversee the planning and implementation of our workshops by our diverse network of facilitators across the country. The Director will also oversee the implementation of UR Action’ Facilitation Academy, which helps us expand our facilitator network. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating with clients on logistics
• Designing workshop content and helping facilitators prepare to deliver the workshops
• Ensuring shipment of necessary materials
• Staffing workshops
• Co-facilitating a percentage of UR Action workshops
• Analyzing workshop participant feedback and debriefing with clients and facilitators

3. Lead Special Initiatives. The Director will lead special initiatives such as the National Day of Dialogue to provide as many Americans as possible with the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue. In addition, the Director will explore launching an Excellence in Changemaking Institute for leaders from underrepresented communities who are committed to working across differences to advance a thriving pluralistic democracy. The Director will work with the Executive Team to develop a vision for the Institute and lay the groundwork for realizing it.

Experience & Qualifications

• Strong familiarity with key UR Action frameworks or similar: ABCs for Constructive Dialogue and Seven Elements of Joint Problem-Solving
• Track record of effectively leading a performance- and outcomes-based organization and staff
• Excellent leadership skills that enable effective collaboration internally (with UR Action team) and externally (with clients, community members, funders, etc)
• Deep commitment to the mission, vision, and guiding principles of UR Action
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable
• Excellent attention to detail
• Flexibility to adapt to changing needs
• Positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed
• Language: Fluent English speaker. Other language skills are a plus.

Hours and Schedule: 100% level of effort = 40+ hours/week. Travel (one-day workshops approximately twice a month) around the country to observe and/or co-facilitate workshops is required.

Salary: $110,000-120,000 salary. This is a salaried employee position, and includes tax benefits and a generous leave policy. All travel expenses will be reimbursed.

To Apply: To apply, please complete this brief application.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and decisions will be made as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified. Urban Rural Action is an equal opportunity employer.