Posted on September 22, 2009

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Mobile Facilitator, StoryCorps

Position Overview: StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening. Facilitators are the public face of StoryCorps, and work to carry out this mission.

The two StoryCorps MobileBooths are recording studios housed in Airstream trailers, designed to provide safe and welcoming space for participants to record interviews. MobileBooths operate year-round, making 4-6 week tour stops in towns and cities across the country. The Mobile team includes six Mobile Facilitators, who spend 80 percent of their time on the road with a MobileBooth, and 20 percent of their time working in StoryCorps' Brooklyn headquarters.

In 2010, the Mobile Tour will participate in organization-wide initiatives to collect the stories of Latinos (through our Historias Initiative) and African Americans (through the continuation of our Griot Initiative). We seek two bilingual Spanish-English speakers to join our team of Facilitators.

On the MobileBooths, Facilitators welcome participants, orient them to the interview process, handle the technical and administrative aspects of recordings, and do whatever they can to make the StoryCorps experience as positive as possible. Facilitators listen carefully to and guide participants during interviews, log content, and assume the role of interviewer when a participant arrives alone. Facilitators are responsible for data entry, archival activities, reporting, and other tasks necessary to the preservation of interviews and upkeep of the recording space and equipment. Each MobileBooth is staffed by two Facilitators and one Site Supervisor.

While assigned to StoryCorps' headquarters, Facilitators work in the Mobile Department four days per week, performing community outreach for upcoming Mobile stops, along with other supportive tasks. They also work one day per week in StoryCorps' Production Department, listening to and making preliminary edits of previously recorded interviews. Mobile Facilitators may also occasionally work with participants at the New York City StoryBooth, or during New-York-area Door-to-Door interview days. While assigned to New York, Facilitators are supervised by a Mobile Department Senior Coordinator.

The term of employment for the two Mobile Facilitators hired for the 2010 Mobile Tour will be January 3–December 23, 2010. Before this term begins, the new staff will attend 3–4 days of training (exact dates TBD) in mid-December, at StoryCorps' Brooklyn headquarters.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Welcome participants to the Booth and guide them through the interview process, asking questions as appropriate
• Act as interviewer to solo participants
• Handle all technical aspects of making the recordings
• Provide the participants with a CD copy of their interview
• Perform data entry and archival processing tasks to ensure preservation of interviews and an accurate record the day's activity
• Actively guide the content of any interviews conducted with participants who have been specially recruited by the Production Department
• Exhibit sensitivity to the special needs of all participants and to those of specific target populations of StoryCorps projects, such as families of 9/11 victims, and individuals experiencing memory loss
• Identify and edit tape from interviews to be considered for broadcast; learn to use and demonstrate proficiency with Pro Tools
• Provide administrative support to the MobileBooth Site Supervisors and Senior Coordinators
• Solicit donations from participants; accurately process and record transactions
• Participate in regular staff meetings
• Under the direction of the Senior Coordinators and Site Supervisors, engage in community outreach activities, including developing and maintaining relationships with Community Partner organizations in host cities
• Work with the MobileBooth Team to continually improve services at the MobileBooths, proactively problem-solve issues that arise, and promote the program
• Perform minor maintenance and cleaning of recording venues and sites

Knowledge, Skills, & Qualifications:

• Bilingual (English and Spanish) required
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills
• Solid organization skills and attention to detail
• Strong conflict negotiation and collaborative skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Web-mail, and FileMaker Pro; proficiency on a Mac platform is strongly preferred
• High school diploma or equivalency required; 2 or 4 year college degree preferred
• Driving proficiency and possession of a valid driver's license required
• Experience in oral history or documentary work a plus

To Apply: Please send cover letter and resume and include your last name and "Mobile Facilitator" in the subject line. Include both documents as attachments entitled "YourNameLetter" and "YourNameResume." In your cover letter, please tell us how you found out about this opportunity and whether you have applied for a position at StoryCorps in the past. No calls, please.

StoryCorps
E-mail: employment@storycorps.org

Find out more by visiting the organization's web site»

Job Type: Administration
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organizations