Become a Digital Facilitator

Online Facilitation 

• Facilitate asynchronous online discussions for program participants (about one hour per day, with an expected response time of no more than 24 hours to participant posts/communications); 
• Facilitate bi-weekly dialogue with participants through synchronous online video conferencing (1-3 hours every other weekend); 
• Facilitate bi-weekly (alternating with dialogues) breakout discussions after workshops; 
• Create weekly icebreaker activities with check-in questions; 
• Review participants’ work on project planning and provide constructive feedback; 

Participant Support 

• Create and maintain a positive and inclusive digital learning community; 
• Coach participants on behavioral challenges within the program community and mediate disagreements and conflicts; 
• Help participants troubleshoot technology issues to ensure program engagement; 
• Talk or meet with participants to discuss their projects and provide individualized help; 
• Support participants with plans for their project implementation; 

Administrative 

• Participate in a three-week (estimated seven-ten hours per week) mandatory online training hosted by World Learning covering strategies for online facilitation; 
• Participate in weekly hour-long check-ins with Program Staff and other Digital Facilitators; 
• Update Program Staff and other Digital Facilitators regularly on interaction with participants using online communication tools; 
• Monitor and collaborate with 1-2 digital peer mentors on weekly icebreaker activities, facilitation of break out discussions and social events, and participant communications;
• Submit program reports and final evaluation in a timely manner; 
• Submit weekly timesheets; and 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Required Qualifications 

• Experience facilitating dialogue and leading conversations among student groups; 
• Experience facilitating discussions on online platforms; 
• Experience working with students of diverse cultural backgrounds; 
• At least 18 years of age (applicants must be 18 or older by June 1 of the program year); 

• Comfort using technology and digital tools, and the ability to learn new tools quickly; 
• Reliable Internet access; 
• Superior interpersonal, cross-cultural, organizational, and time-management skills; 
• Proven written and oral communication skills; 
• Ability to take initiative, be creative, flexible, and work independently and with a team; 

• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines; and 
• Fluency in English required. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Familiarity with The Experiment Digital and/or World Learning Youth Exchange programs; 
• Familiarity with or proficiency in digital platforms such as Canvas and/or Moodle, Zoom, and Google Docs; and
• Experience living and/or working in or with people from the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, or the United States;
• Highly advanced in Spanish language proficiency (LATAM/Climate Change program only).

The Experiment Digital values equity, diversity, inclusion and justice, and our programs are committed to recruiting and supporting participants of historically underrepresented communities. Facilitators represent various geographic, racial, ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds, and are skilled in creating inclusive group environments for their participants. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, our goal is to select the most qualified facilitators for each program, and the competitive standards are set by each group of applicants. 

Applicants who have facilitated a program before bring that experience as one strong component of their qualifications, but must compete successfully with new applicants. 

This position is remotely based and does not include benefits.  Our compensation structure for digital facilitators is based on the location where they perform their remote work. Facilitators in the United States are compensated hourly for their work at a rate of $15/hour or the minimum wage in their state or city (whichever is higher). Facilitators outside of the United States receive a set rate stipend that aligns with the minimum wage in their country of residence.

Facilitators benefit from professional development training, the opportunity to gain skills in virtual facilitation, and the chance to connect with other facilitators and youth.

Facilitators gain new colleagues and friends as they become part of World Learning’s network of educators, development professionals, and alumni that spans 85+ years and 60+ countries. Facilitators also join a network of other professionals working in virtual exchange. 

November – Application Available Online 

The application for facilitators will be available online in early November. 

November to January – Accepting Applications 

The Experiment Digital will be accepting digital facilitator applications on a rolling basis between November and January. The people operations team will begin reviewing applications during this time period.

November or December – Early Bird Application Deadline 

Digital facilitator applicants are invited to submit their applications by the December 10, 2023 (11:59 pm EST) early bird deadline. Both return and first-time digital facilitator applicants are eligible to submit early bird applications. The people operations team will prioritize reviewing return facilitator applications. First-time applicants can expect their application to be reviewed after the general application deadline.

January– Application Deadline

Digital facilitator applications will be accepted through January 31, 2024 (11:59 pm EST).

February to April – Application Review 

During this time, the people operations team will review applications and will begin contacting qualified applicants and sending them to a self-recorded “one-way” interview. Return digital facilitators will only have a live interview with a member of the people operations team.

April to May  – Hiring and Onboarding 

Selected applicants will receive offer letters for digital facilitator positions. 

Hired facilitators will complete the required onboarding paperwork and receive information about attending facilitator training. 

Early June– Facilitator Training 

Facilitator training provides facilitators with a professional development opportunity in online intercultural training which will prepare them to implement successful virtual programs using World Learning’s experiential learning pedagogy. Facilitators will be trained on managing their neighborhood in the program platform, facilitating online dialogues, supporting participant learning, managing their group dynamics, etc. The training, conducted entirely online, consists of both synchronous (live) activities and asynchronous activities (completed on facilitators’ own time). 

Late June to Early-Mid August – The Experiment Digital 

Facilitators co-conduct a week of orientation and technology setup with participants after the last week of facilitator training, then facilitate six weeks of program activities.

August– Post Program Responsibilities 

Facilitators wrap up their neighborhood close-out activities, complete their post-program evaluation, and submit their final timesheet.

Do facilitators have a co-facilitator?

Each digital facilitator is independently responsible for managing their own family groups of youth participants and are paired with another facilitator for neighborhood groups. Each facilitator may be paired with one-two digital peer mentors, alumni of the program who volunteer and have their own responsibilities in supporting and mentoring program participants.

Do facilitators design curriculum?

The programmatic curriculum and content are primarily created by The Experiment Digital team and implemented by digital facilitators. In other words, facilitators are not responsible for designing or creating activities for the participants. However, in some parts of the program, there is room for creativity and improvisation on behalf of the facilitator to introduce icebreakers and teambuilding activities.

What does the time commitment look like?

Digital facilitators are expected to spend an average of 10 hours per week on responsibilities during training and program.

While we understand that facilitators may have competing time commitments that conflict with live training sessions, they will be expected to watch a session recording and/or complete a follow-up task to make up participation and keep up with the course content every week.

While a part-time position, the digital facilitator role requires multiple functions including active facilitation with students, monitoring program channels at least once per day, and tracking participation. This role requires strong time management skills and the ability to “switch gears” between multiple skills and tasks within the allotted 10 hours each week. The needed time commitment may also fluctuate week to week, depending on the program week, scheduled activities, and facilitation experience.

While the time commitment can be flexible to accommodate other commitments such as work and school, facilitators should expect to keep up with weekly responsibilities, typically completing work on most weekend days. Although many responsibilities can be completed asynchronously, there are times when facilitators will need to attend live activities such as workshops and calls with The Experiment Digital team during the week. Facilitators conduct hour long dialogue calls with smaller subgroups (“families”) every other weekend, which are scheduled by the facilitator according to their availability. On weeks when dialogues are not conducted, facilitators are responsible for facilitating breakout discussions after workshops delivered by The Experiment Digital staff and/or guest speakers. Facilitators should be prepared to monitor their neighborhoods daily and manage communications from multiple time zones.

Be ready to learn from participants. You will gain an international digital community with such diversity you won’t dream of otherwise if not with The Experiment Digital.
— Maha (Algeria), The Experiment Digital two-time facilitator

It’s a very special experience that you’d learn so much from: being responsible, making decisions and being able to work with a diverse team, plus having the opportunity to get to know many people virtually in a very organized environment.
— Ibrahim (Iraq), Alumnus of Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program and The Experiment Digital Facilitator

It’s a great experience that will make you grow as a human and a leader.
— Safa (Yemen), The Experiment Digital participant and facilitator

Apply if you have passion for this work. This is not a typical job that one would apply for to make a profit. Working with teenagers requires creativity, effort and passion about leadership/culture.”
— Lano (Iraq), Alumnus of Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program and The Experiment Digital Facilitator

Serving as a Digital Facilitator is a unique and incredible opportunity to walk alongside youth as they develop a passion for creating change in their community. Everyone from TED staff to fellow facilitators and peer mentors are all such wonderful and supportive people. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a Digital Facilitator!
— Jo (U.S.), The Experiment Digital Facilitator

Digital Peer Mentors are alumni of The Experiment Digital who volunteer with the program to provide an additional layer of support for participants. Digital peer mentors are paired with a facilitator to help build relationships with participants, support the development of effective communication, creativity, collaboration, cultural and social understanding within the digital context, and facilitate country chats. Digital peer mentors attend Facilitator Training to practice their own digital facilitation skills. All program alumni will receive an invitation to apply for the digital peer mentor role.