Training and Education Associate, Climate Jobs Institute

Training and Education Associate, Climate Jobs Institute

The Climate Jobs Institute is based in New York, NY, within the Cornell University ILR School located at 570 Lexington Ave. Position may be located in New York City, Buffalo, Ithaca, or other remote locations as approved.

      

The position:


The successful candidate for this position will design and deliver relevant and engaging training and educational programs and materials for unions, climate jobs coalitions and other labor allies. The candidate will meet with labor partners and allies regularly to understand their needs and interests and provide technical assistance, strategic planning, coalition and member training, and other educational interventions and programs that meet their needs.


This position will also work closely with the Assistant Director for Labor Outreach and Workforce Equity, the Executive Director and leadership team of the Climate Jobs Institute as well as other members of the CJI team to identify new training and education opportunities, help set the strategic direction of this area of work and the institute, and ensure excellent coordination and collaboration across CJI teams and with external partners. The successful candidate is expected to stay informed and educated about key labor, climate and energy issues, and engage in ongoing learning and development related to adult and labor education, participatory learning practices, and leadership and organizational development.


Specifically, the Extension Associate will:

  • Plan and implement educational convenings, trainings and workshops – in-person and online – for union members, leaders, staff, worker advocacy organizations, NYS and other legislators, policy makers, and other allies.
  • Design large, strategic training programs in partnership with labor organizations, producing engaging, popular education-style curricula and designing high-quality facilitator and participant guides and train-the-trainer programs
  • Work independently and with subject matter experts, labor partners and other allies to develop relevant content for educational programming; coordinate curricula development, revisions and updates with the Climate Jobs Institute team and key stakeholders
  • Conduct assessments to determine training needs and methods of delivery
  • Research, write/rewrite, edit and proofread training and educational curricula and policy documents
  • Participate in the assessment of programs and assist in field testing new programs and revise curricula and programming as needed.
  • Build strong, trusting relationships with labor unions, specially building trades and energy unions, worker advocacy organizations, environmental organizations, legislators, and other allies.
  • Raise the visibility and presence of ILR Outreach and the Climate Jobs Institute in NYS’s Capitol – Albany, NY, through meetings with legislators, organizing educational briefings and other events.

The School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University has an immediate opening for Climate Jobs Associate - Extension Associate in the Climate Jobs Institute in the Extension /Outreach Division with a focus on the intersection of labor, employment, climate justice and climate change. These positions are responsible for developing and delivering programs and services that are closely aligned with the strategic mission and core values of the ILR School, and for monitoring quality, impact, and outcomes of education, training, technical assistance, consulting and research activities of the program.


Our Team:

The Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University’s ILR School is guiding New York’s and the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy that tackles the climate crisis, creates high-quality union jobs, which cultivates and develops inclusive and equitable working relationships.


Through cutting-edge policy research, deep relationships with on-the-ground partners, and innovative training and education programs, the Institute provides the information that policymakers, the labor and environmental movements, industry leaders and others need to navigate this historic transition to a zero-carbon economy.


The Climate Jobs Institute serves as the academic and educational partner to the Climate Jobs National Resource Center, providing research, policy and educational support to coalitions of unions in numerous U.S. states.


Extension Associate is a non-tenure track, academic term position for an initial term ending June 30, 2027. Reappointment for additional terms is possible based on successful performance, available work and continued funding, as well as recommendations by the appropriate Executive Director and Senior Associate Dean for Research, Outreach, and External Relations.


More information about the ILR School can be obtained at our web site, http://www.ilr.cornell.edu and the Climate Jobs Institute at https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/climate-jobs-institute.


What we need:

  • Master’s or other advanced degree in related subject matter expertise (industrial and labor relations, social science, labor economics, employment or labor law, workforce development) with relevant expertise related to labor unions, social and economic imbalances, and climate change.
  • Candidate should have at least 2 to 5 years of experience working with the labor movement or on climate change with an emphasis on worker, labor or social justice issues.  
  • Experience and desire to work in a fast-paced, action-oriented research setting.
  • Experience in developing and delivering educational programming in-person and virtual modalities.
  • Strong skills in written communication, report writing, quantitative, qualitative, geospatial analysis, and policy research and analysis.
  • Familiarity with labor unions, worker organizations, and climate change. Experience with building trades and energy unions is especially useful and helpful to this position.
  • Model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.
  • Ability to work independently and collectively within a team, strong interpersonal communications skills, and a commitment to cultivating a positive, supportive, hardworking and equitable team culture.

You will be a top candidate with our preferred qualifications:

  • Five or more years of experience working with the labor movement or on climate change with an emphasis on worker, labor or social justice issues.
  • Experience with union pre-apprentice and apprentice training programs and the ability to model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.
  • Experience working with two or more of the following functions: worker organizing, political organizing, policy/legislation, collective bargaining, representation, leadership development.
  • Experience designing surveys and studies, ability to conduct qualitative interviews with labor, industry and governmental officials.
  • Experience with multiple unions and worker organizations. Experience with federated labor bodies, including the national AFL-CIO, State AFL-CIO and/or Central Labor Council/Area Labor Federations.
  • Minimum of one to three years demonstrated experience in project management (coordination among stakeholders, staff, contractors; managing budgets and logistics, etc.).

ILR School Outreach appreciates employees by providing the opportunity for a 3:2 campus-to-home hybrid schedule.


Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.


Salary $81,000 to $91,000 commensurate with experience, qualifications, and location


Cornell appreciates employees with great rewards & benefits:

Cornell provides great benefits that include educational benefits, access to a plethora of wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, health care options to choose from, generous paid leave provisions and superior retirement contributions.

Cornell has also been nationally recognized as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. For more information click here.


Application materials should be submitted through Academic Jobs Online:

http://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32451


This is an academic, full-time, non-tenure track benefits eligible term opportunity may be located in New York, NY, within the Cornell University ILR School located at 570 Lexington Ave, or can be based in Buffalo, Ithaca, or other remote locations as approved.

  

Pay Range:

Refer to Posting Language

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

  • Prior relevant work or industry experience.
  • Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
  • Academic Discipline
  • Unique applicable skills.

  


Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.


If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.


Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

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2026-08-13

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