FIELD COORDINATOR, ONE SMALL STEP, CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS

Department: One Small Step - Campus Partnerships

Division: Initiatives

Location: Nashville, TN (within a 30-mile radius)

Reports To: Associate Director of Campus Partnerships

Term of Employment: 10/15/2024- 2/28/26

Status: Full-time, Temporary, Exempt, Union

Salary: $58,500/ annually

Deadline to apply: Monday, September 9th, 2024, 9:00am ET

THE ROLE

StoryCorps, the national nonprofit, has partnered with Vanderbilt University to bring their One Small Step (OSS) initiative to campus. This is an initiative-funded position. Renewal of the position is subject/dependent upon continued funding. If the initiative is not renewed, the incumbent can apply for other roles within StoryCorps.

The Field Coordinator - Vanderbilt will develop relationships in the Vanderbilt community that support the OSS initiative. The Field Coordinator will forge connections within and around the Vanderbilt campus to identify, develop, and support partners (e.g. student groups, faculty members, alumni, community organizations, etc.) that result in sign-ups for OSS conversations. They will receive training in OSS participant matching, scheduling, facilitation, and recording. They will host engagement opportunities and workshops for Vanderbilt staff and students, provide ongoing support to student facilitators, and offer regular office hours for anyone hoping to learn more. They will pursue opportunities for media exposure and represent OSS during these and other promotional events.

The field coordinator will be required to reside in Nashville and conduct onsite work on campus and in the community. This position operates with considerable autonomy and reports to the Associate Director of Campus Partnerships, One Small Step. This is a temporary role, scheduled to end at the 18th month mark of employment.

A background check is required for employment and the offer will be contingent on a satisfactory background check. StoryCorps shall, at its expense, perform local, state, and federal background and reference checks, including criminal background checks, on all prospective employees to be assigned to the client, for every county of residence of prospective employees for the past seven (7) years.

This position is designated as a union position. As such, it is subject to the terms and conditions outlined in our Collective Bargaining Agreement with CWA Local 1180.

This is a temporary position, ending February 28, 2026.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Drive awareness and participation in OSS through advocacy, project management, and strategic communication.
Conduct training sessions and workshops for community partners to enhance understanding of OSS methodology.
Establish local partnerships with campus-based organizations and institutions to promote OSS and recruit participants from diverse constituencies.
Identify collaborators in the Vanderbilt community and form mutually beneficial relationships that provide pathways to productive intergroup conversations.
Build relationships with stakeholders and enthusiastic participants, cultivating them into champions who can recruit and refer others.
Collaborate with Manager, Student Programs to provide leadership, coordination, and on-the-ground support to the student facilitator cohort.
Facilitate up to 50 OSS conversations per year between leaders, notable alumni, and other priority participants.
Identify compelling recordings and assist production in creating edited audio segments
Prepare reports (narrative, qualitative, and quantitative) for StoryCorps funders and internal organizational use.
Perform other duties to support the One Small Step Initiative and OSS partnerships as assigned.

ABOUT YOU

Required:

You are passionate about bridging divides and normalizing cross-partisan conversations
You have a Bachelor’s degree or similar combination of relevant education + experience
You have experience in community organizing or cause marketing, preferably in a nonprofit environment
You have demonstrated experience developing and executing community outreach
You are experienced in planning and overseeing complex project execution
You are comfortable and have the ability to move seamlessly between varied political, social, and organizational environments
You’re a creative and analytical thinker with a drive for results and a demonstrated track record of creating and implementing new initiatives
You have strong organizational skills, multitasking abilities, and attention to detail
You have strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Drive, as well as telecommunication platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, etc.
You are able to work independently as well as collaboratively
You are flexible and adaptable to a growing, changing organization
You demonstrate cultural humility and thrive in a diverse working environment
You have an above-average working knowledge of the Vanderbilt campus, its cultural flashpoints, and the local social and political landscape as a former or current Vanderbilt student, staff, or faculty member

Preferred:

You have experience working with conservative communities and have a working knowledge of conservative news and information sources
You have proven experience working on political or advocacy campaigns

Physical Requirements:

Travel percentage: 15%

ABOUT STORYCORPS

StoryCorps' mission is to help us believe in each other by illuminating the humanity and possibility in us all — one story at a time. Since 2003, more than 600,000 people, in all 50 states, have recorded StoryCorps interviews about their lives. We preserve and archive their recordings at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered, and share 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.

ABOUT ONE SMALL STEP

One Small Step (OSS) brings strangers with different political beliefs together to record a 50-minute audio-only conversation — not to debate politics — simply to get to know each other as people. Rooted in contact theory, the goal of OSS is to reduce political polarization by making these kinds of conversations across the divide normal again. In 2024, we are scaling OSS nationwide with the launch of a public service campaign and the public roll-out of our new digital platform, OSS Connect, which allows anyone, anywhere to participate in a conversation. To date, over 5,400 people in over 40 U.S. states have taken part.

OUR COMMITMENT:

We seek to recruit and develop a staff whose diversity reflects the communities we serve, and strongly encourage applications from people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and people of all ages, political beliefs, and cultures. StoryCorps records, shares, and preserves stories from across the country.

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.