Training Assistant

The New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) is seeking a full-time Training Assistant for our Public Defense Backup Center. The Training Assistant reports to the Training Manager and supports the administrative and logistical components of NYSDA’s training and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs.

NYSDA, a not-for-profit, membership organization, has been providing support to New York's public defense community since 1967. NYSDA’s mission is to improve the quality and scope of publicly supported legal representation to people who cannot afford counsel. NYSDA supports and enhances the quality of public defense across the state of New York by providing training, publications, and case consultation for New York's public defense community through its Public Defense Backup Center, Veterans Defense Program, Public Defense Recruitment and Retention Program, and Public Defense Case Management System. NYSDA offers high-quality training to public defense attorneys, investigators, social workers, and other members of the public defense community. The Backup Center is instrumental in assisting defenders around the state to advance quality representation in criminal and family court cases. NYSDA will be opening the Defender Institute, our new training space in downtown Albany this fall.

NYSDA’s main office is in Albany, NY. The Training Assistant works at the Albany office must have the ability to travel to in-person training programs throughout the state as needed.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Experience with professional training and event coordination
• Experience with customer service
• Exceptional organizational skills, calendar management, and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple projects from beginning to end, ensuring all timelines are met
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally
• Strong sense of ownership and responsibility
• Ability to work well both independently and as a team member; willingness to pitch in where needed
• Ability to travel to training programs throughout New York State and work on weekends
• Experience with membership or similar databases
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat
• Experience administering Zoom webinars and meetings
• Experience with marketing and social media platforms, such as Constant Contact and LinkedIn
• Experience with Canva
• Experience with video editing tools or demonstrated willingness to learn to use such tools
• Proofreading experience
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and manipulate hand carts/trucks
• Demonstrated passion for justice and interest in NYSDA’s mission to improve the quality and scope of representation to individuals who cannot afford counsel and advance equitable and racial justice.

Job Duties

The Training Assistant will handle various administrative and logistical aspects of our training programs. We offer in-person, virtual, and on-demand training. Our virtual training sessions are generally 1-2 hours long. In-person programs are typically full-day or multi-day programs, such as our seven-day basic trial skills program in June, three-day annual conference in July, and two-day forensics program in the fall.

Duties include:

Marketing and outreach

• Creating and formatting training brochures, meeting agendas, registration forms, program evaluation forms, and signage
• Promoting training programs and outreach through social media, email, and other platforms
• Responding to inquiries and questions about programs

Project management

• Assembling course and meeting materials for CLE and other training programs
• In coordination with the Program Assistant, entering registration information into NYSDA’s membership database
• Processing CLE certificates for attendees and presenters
• Updating NYSDA’s internal and online training calendars

For online programs

• Setting up Zoom webinars
• Providing technical support to presenters and participants before, during, and after each webinar.
• Preparing recorded webinars for upload to the on-demand learning management system platform

For in-person programs

• Ordering supplies and printed materials
• Making travel arrangements for staff and conference presenters
• Traveling to training programs and meetings
• Assisting with onsite logistics of programs and meetings

Record keeping and reporting

• Compiling program evaluation survey responses
• Maintaining records needed for MCLE compliance and audits

General office support

• Answering calls and managing messages
• Data entry

Other ad-hoc tasks/projects as assigned by the Executive Director, Deputy Director, and Director of Operations

Salary: $50,000 to $58,000 DOE. NYSDA offers a generous benefit package, including paid vacation, personal, and sick time; health, dental, and vision insurance; FSA; and 403(b). NYSDA is an equal opportunity employer. NYSDA values diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages candidates of all identities, orientations, experiences, and communities to apply.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with an expected start date in late July/early August.