FACILITATOR, MOBILE TOUR

Department: Mobile

Division: Programs

Location: Mobile Tour (on the road) and Remote

Reports To: Site Manager, Mobile Tour (when on the road) &  Manager, Mobile Tour Community Partnerships (when working remotely)

Term of Employment: (1 year)

Status: Full-Time (35 hours/week) Temporary (1 Year), Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Non-Union

Salary: $21.98/hour (~$40,000 annually)

THE ROLE

Facilitators are the “Corps” of StoryCorps. As the public face of the organization, Facilitators work to carry out our mission by creating a space for participants to feel welcome and comfortable while conducting their interviews with one another. Facilitators also ensure a high-quality audio recording and perform data-basing activities so that the interview can be preserved and is searchable in our digital interview archive – however, minimal prior technical expertise is required! StoryCorps provides Facilitators with training from experts in recording, both in-person and virtually, archiving, and audio production. Facilitators also support departmental outreach efforts to local radio stations and community partners to engage interview participants and ensure we are recording and representing the diversity of each local community. 

The MobileBooth is an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio that travels the country year-round collecting stories. The Mobile Tour partners with local public radio stations for 4-6-week-long visits to towns and cities nationwide. Two Facilitators and one Site Manager staff the MobileBooth at each stop. Mobile Facilitators spend roughly 75 percent of their time on the road and 25 percent of their time working remotely

StoryCorps seeks to record stories from a diverse range of voices — from our Griot Initiative to preserve stories of African Americans, to our Historias Initiative to collect the experiences of Latinos — and candidates with experience working with Black/African American, Latino, and Asian American communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

On the road:

• Welcome participants and guide them through the interview process 
• Handle all technical aspects of the recording process and support virtual interviews, as needed
• Ensure the preservation of every interview by performing data entry and archival processing tasks 
• Interview solo participants

• Exhibit sensitivity to the special needs of all participants 
• Support StoryCorps’ special initiatives and diversity goals 

• Identify tapes from interviews to be considered for national and local broadcast
• Solicit donations and enrollment in StoryCorps’ membership program from participants; accurately process and record transactions
• Keep the recording equipment, Airstream, and worksite well-maintained and clean
• Promote and participate in on-site StoryCorps-produced events and training 
• Conduct on-the-ground outreach to local communities, as needed
• Perform other duties to support the Mobile Tour, as assigned

Remotely:

• Support the Associate Manager and Associate Director with community outreach and logistical planning of the Mobile Tour
• Perform demographic research on upcoming Mobile tour stops and research community-based organizations
• Communicate with community partners as necessary
• Help ensure all interview participants are prepared for their recording experience
• Provide guidance and support to Mobile interns and/or Participant Relations Associate
• Take initiative and proactively problem-solve issues that arise, with direction from the Associate Manager and Associate Director
• Perform other duties to support the Mobile department, as assigned

ABOUT YOU

• You have a high school diploma or equivalency plus 3 years of professional experience, OR college degree plus 1 year of professional work experience.
• Working ‘on the road’ for up to 4 months at a time excites you.
• You’re able to work evening and weekend hours, while on the road.
• You have a valid driver’s license and you’re comfortable driving long distances.
• You are no stranger to providing excellent customer service to everyone.
• You know how to communicate effectively – whether that’s by email, phone or in person.
• You’re organized, have a keen attention to detail, and you’re able to multitask effectively.
• You have strong problem-solving skills
• You are flexible and adaptable to a growing, changing organization.
• You have cultural humility and an ability to work successfully with diverse groups of people.
• You love working closely with a team and feel comfortable with resolving conflict.
• You have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and web-mail (e.g. G-mail).
• You are comfortable with learning and working with new technical equipment (e.g., audio recording equipment, editing software, databases, digital cameras).

PREFERRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• You are fluent in English and Spanish, both orally and in writing.

• You’ve worked in a nonprofit environment.
• You have at least one year of experience working with diverse communities in a volunteer or professional setting.
• You have experience conducting community outreach and engagement with Latino, Black/African American, Asian American, and/or LGBTQIA communities (strongly preferred).
• You have a familiarity with audio recording equipment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Carrying/Lifting: While traveling, Facilitators bring 1-2 personal bags; they must be able to carry and lift the baggage (e.g., into the trunk of a car, into overhead bins on an airplane, etc.)
• Able to travel for long distances via airplane, train, and automobile. 

ABOUT STORYCORPS

Founded in 2003, StoryCorps has given over 600,000 people, in all 50 states, the chance to record interviews about their lives. The award-winning organization preserves the recordings in its archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered, and shares select stories with the public through StoryCorps’ podcast, NPR broadcasts, animated shorts, digital platforms, and best-selling books. These powerful human stories reflect the vast range of American experiences, engender empathy and connection, and remind us how much more we have in common than what divides us. StoryCorps is especially committed to capturing and amplifying voices least heard in the media. The StoryCorps MobileBooth, an Airstream trailer that has been transformed into a traveling recording booth, crisscrosses the country year-round gathering the stories of people nationwide. Learn more at storycorps.org.

In-Office Work:

Working at the StoryCorps office is optional except in certain circumstances, such as in-person training, if your position requires some in-office presence, or if your manager needs an in-person individual or team meeting, COVID guidelines permitting. For those who prefer to work in the office, that option remains.

COVID NOTICE:

All offers of employment requiring on-site/in-person work will be contingent on the candidate being Fully Vaccinated (at least two-weeks after last dose) prior to starting their new role. Reasonable accommodations can be discussed with HR personnel for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons. Proof of vaccination status is required at the time of extending the offer.

We monitor NYC COVID-19 transmissions rates every week to inform staff of in-office protocols. This status is emailed to all staff every Friday and will include the rules to follow for each color code: Green, Yellow, and Red.  These codes will dictate the masking and gathering guidelines.

StoryCorps seeks to hire staff who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. All positions at StoryCorps are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. All are encouraged to apply.

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