CivicWeek Spring Staff Position Descriptions


Position Descriptions
Lead Facilitator (LF)

The Lead Facilitator is the primary staff person responsible for a group of 12-18 students on a service-learning immersion program. The Lead Facilitator executes the daily itineraries; serves as the main liaison to the host sites, parents and the Civic Education Project (CEP) and Center for Talent Development (CTD); plans and facilitates educational activities for students; supervises supporting staff members; and serves as the main program administrator for financial, health and disciplinary matters. The Lead Facilitator is ultimately responsible for the safety and quality of the group’s experience. The complete Lead Facilitator job description can be found here.

Lead Facilitators are typically teachers or other education or youth development professionals with relevant experience facilitating service-learning or experiential education programs for middle or high school age students.

Stipends for Lead Facilitators begin at $600 per weeklong session, plus room and board for the duration of the program, and travel reimbursement. Staff traveling to either the training session or the program site are generally reimbursed up to $350, and staff traveling to both the training session and the program site are generally reimbursed up to $500.  

 

Assistant Facilitator (AF)

The Assistant Facilitator works closely with the Lead Facilitator to help manage a group of 12-18 students on a service-learning immersion program. The Assistant Facilitator helps execute the daily itineraries; assists with planning and facilitating educational activities; coordinates residential and recreational activities; ensures students are aware of and adhere to program rules and policies; builds healthy, appropriate relationships with students; helps create a sense of community; and otherwise supports students’ academic, social and emotional well-being. The complete Assistant Facilitator job description can be found here.

Most Assistant Facilitators are college graduates working in the education and nonprofit fields, graduate students, or exceptional senior-level undergraduate students with a background in service-learning or experiential education and experience working with young people in a residential setting.

Stipends for Assistant Facilitators begin at $400 per weeklong session, plus room and board for the duration of the program, and travel reimbursement. Staff traveling to either the training session or the program site are generally reimbursed up to $350, and staff traveling to both the training session and the program site are generally reimbursed up to $500.  

Training and Compensation

All spring staff participate in a two-day training session in Chicago several weeks before the programs begin. Staff training for CivicWeek will be held on Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4, 2012. All staff must be able to attend this training session in its entirety.

In addition to the stipends listed above, CivicWeek staff receive room and board throughout the weeklong program and two-day training session. In addition, CEP is able to provide travel reimbursement for staff who must travel to and from the training session and/or the program site. Staff traveling to either the training session or the program site are generally reimbursed up to $350, and staff traveling to both the training session and the program site are generally reimbursed up to $500.  

Commitment and Expectations

CivicWeek programs are quite intense, and all staff positions require a significant commitment. Once hired, staff are expected to spend sufficient time prior to the program reviewing staff handbooks and program materials and preparing activities. In addition, all spring staff participate in a two-day training session in Chicago several weeks before the programs begin. CivicWeek staff arrive on site the afternoon before the program begins and depart the site the morning after the program ends. Each day of CivicWeek is quite full, and the program moves at a fairly strenuous pace. Because CivicWeek staff live on site with students, all staff positions have 24-hour responsibilities. Following each program, staff may have additional responsibilities for student evaluation, follow-up and documentation.

In order to be successful, all staff should be committed to the goals of the program; attuned to the academic, social and emotional needs of gifted learners; and understanding of the particular challenges of working with students in an intense environment. CivicWeek staff should possess passion, energy, creativity, organizational skills, flexibility, teamwork and the ability to troubleshoot, problem solve and manage stress. Our most successful staff members not only appreciate the intensity of this kind of immersive experience, but also thrive within the community it creates.

Application and Hiring Process

1. Before you complete the application, please be sure you have thoroughly reviewed all of the information on our web site about our programs and available staff positions. Once you are ready to apply, complete the online School Year Staff Application. In the application, you will be asked to supply contact information for three professional references, and upload a current résumé reflecting your education, employment, and volunteer experience, and apersonal statement of no more than 500 words, articulating why you are interested in these positions and what skills or experiences you bring to the program. Please note: It is not an option to save and return to the application to complete at a later time. You will be notified via e-mail once we have received your completed online application, résumé, and personal statement. Due to a high volume of applicants, we are unable to review incomplete applications. 
    
2. Spring staff consideration begins January 5, 2012 with returning staff members, then new applicants, and continues until all positions have been filled. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, so candidates are encouraged to apply early to ensure full consideration. We typically consider applicants in the following order: returning staff members, new lead facilitators, new assistant facilitators.
    
3. Candidates receiving further consideration will be invited to participate in a phone interview beginning in early January. Candidates may also be asked to submit additional materials, including lesson or activity plans, official undergraduate and graduate transcripts, copies of teaching certifications and additional references.
    
4. Most hiring decisions will be made in early February. Applicants will be notified of their status as soon as all positions are filled.

Thanks again for your interest in the Civic Education Project. If you have questions about our spring staff positions or hiring process, or to check on the status of your application, please feel free to contact us.