Screening Panelist, Multiple Vacancies 2024

FLSA: Non-exempt

SUMMARY

The Screening Panelist evaluates essays written in English by high school applicants for competitive scholarships to international exchange programs in the United States (foreign students coming to the US) and abroad (US students travelling overseas).  Panelists provide written evaluations using established criteria and a scoring rubric.  Training on the evaluation process is required for both new and experienced screening panelists.  Experienced screening panelists are defined as people who have previously served as American Councils screening panelists for the FLEX, YES, FLEX Abroad, YES Abroad or NSLI-Y programs.

This short-term position begins in September and ends in December 2024.  Panelists are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week in September and a minimum of 15 hours per week in October-December. Screeners may not exceed 40 hours per week. The Screening Panelist is expected to maintain an overall screening rate of approximately nine (9) applicant essay evaluations per hour. This is necessary to complete screening in a timely manner. Screening is expected to be done online. The hourly wage is $20.50 for returning panelists and $18.50 for new Panelists, without benefits.

The work schedule is flexible.  Daytime, evening, and weekend hours are available based on the number and type of essays available.

Please note: expenses for relocation, transportation, and internet are NOT reimbursed.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Required:

• Degree from an accredited higher education institution (community college or higher)
• Excellent reading and writing skills in English.
• International or cross-cultural exposure (e.g. participating in an exchange program; hosting an exchange student; or enrolled in or holding a degree in area studies, world language, international affairs, or other relevant field).
• Availability to attend a mandatory online training in September-October before you begin screening.  While subject to change if we have a low registration rate for a session, these training dates are currently expected to be:
• New Screener Virtual Training:

September 7

September 12

• Ability to commit to working at least 10 hours per week September – Mid October and at least 15 hours per week starting in October.
• Demonstrated attention to detail in a deadline-oriented work environment.
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.

Preferred:

• Evaluation or assessment experience.
• Experience working with high school students (teaching, tutoring, leading activities).

About the Exchange Program Scholarships:

• The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program is for secondary school students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. The program offers scholarships for students to travel to the United States to attend high school for a full academic year while living with a host family.
• The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program seeks to provide young international students with a better understanding of American society and its people, institutions, values, and culture. The program helps students to foster lasting personal ties, engage in activities that promote mutual understanding across cultures, respect diversity, establish leadership skills, and understand civil society. At the same time, YES students help their American classmates enhance their understanding of foreign countries and cultures.
• The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Program provides merit-based scholarships for eligible U.S. high school students to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.

All of the scholarships are programs of the U.S. Department of State and are fully funded by the U.S. government.

Applications will be accepted and positions filled on a rolling basis through August 2, or until all vacancies are filled. Please include a cover letter with your application only if you feel that you have relevant experience not covered by the initial questions and your resume.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

American Councils is committed to taking affirmative steps to enhance employment opportunities for minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities, and strives to ensure that meaningful employment and promotional opportunities are maintained for everyone. American Councils’ commitment to equal employment opportunity is based not only on federal requirements, but also on a longstanding commitment to maintaining a diverse workforce reflective of the communities in which we operate.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.