Support Facilitator

Support Facilitator For Sexual Assault Prevention Intervention

The School of Public Health (SPH) at the University of Maryland College Park was first accredited as a School in 2010. However, beginning in the 1960's the Department of Health Education in the College of Physical Education, Recreation, and Health was created and by 1999 had an accredited MPH degree program in public health that served as the foundation for launching the School of Public Health a short eight years later. This MPH in Community Health was the model for the public health degrees that would follow with the official launching of the school. Within the department, this includes a B.S. in Community Health, an MPH and a PhD in Behavioral and Community Health.

Our proximity to both our state and national capitals provide unparalleled opportunities for faculty and students to work with key government health agencies, non-profit associations, public policy organizations, and private corporations. Our department uniquely offers its undergraduates a semester-long full-time internships for our students to take advantage of this proximity but also uniquely offers these same style internships internationally

The University of Maryland School of Public Health has an outstanding opportunity to join a team of passionate individuals serving as a SUPPORT FACILITATOR for an evidence-based sexual assault prevention intervention being tested in a research study led by Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier. The support facilitator (SF) will be contributing to the mission of the Peitzmeier lab to rigorously evaluate novel, impactful interventions for sexual violence prevention as part of our broader work toward a world without gender-based violence.

In this role, the successful applicants will join a collaborative team with program facilitators on campus to support the delivery of a feminist intervention based on Flip the Script with EAAA but modified for online delivery to transgender and nonbinary 18–25-year-old undergraduate students at US Campuses. In an earlier research trial, Flip the Script with EAAA reduced the 1-year incidence of rape and attempted rape experienced by undergraduate women by 50%, preventing 1 attempted or completed rape for every 13 women reached by the program. The successful applicant will be part of the team trying to develop and deliver one of the first interventions shown to reduce sexual violence against trans students.

The support facilitator will support two program facilitators as they deliver the five-session, 15-hour interactive group intervention over Zoom. The SF will support intervention facilitators during program delivery in a non-speaking, yet essential, role by being responsible for managing Zoom (screen share, video sharing, breakout rooms, etc.), chat messages, and other apps as well as troubleshooting technical issues that may arise with the hardware or software needed to deliver this online intervention. The SF supports seamless intervention delivery to enhance the experience for participants, which is essential to deliver this intervention with high fidelity and generate a positive and fun learning environment for participants.

We seek highly competent, can-do candidates with clear communication skills who are passionate about preventing violence against trans and nonbinary individuals, ending sexual violence, and increasing access to sex-positive, trans-inclusive sexual education in transgender individuals. The SF should be tech-savvy and confident juggling multiple applications simultaneously and troubleshooting tech issues with participants. An intellectually curious, self-motivated learner who takes ownership of tasks and effectively executes them to completion, and who is intentional about asking for clarification, help, or support as needed, will be successful in this position. This individual should enjoy giving and receiving open and respectful feedback as a vehicle for the growth and self-development of self and colleagues, and to support the aims of the research. The ideal candidate must be excited about developing strong working relationships with other facilitators to effectively deliver the intervention together. Commitment to integrity and participant confidentiality are essential requirements for the position. Applicants from under-represented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

The position involves:

• Part-time employment in the School of Public Health, University of Maryland June 22, 2026- April 30, 2027
• Up to 375 hours total at $27/hour. Hours will typically vary between 5 hours (weeks when not facilitating programs) and 24 hours/week (weeks when facilitating programs or in training). Intensive 3-week summer training (40 hrs/week) in August is required and included in this estimate of total hours.
• The SF will help deliver 2 sets of program sessions (each program consists of 5 three-hour sessions) during weekday evenings and weekend afternoons each semester. Other hours will be spent training, practicing in the Peitzmeier Lab on campus, setting up and taking down of equipment, and other related duties.

Successful candidates must be:

• Available to attend 3 weeks of mandatory in-person training in College Park, Maryland throughout August [Weekdays between August 3rd-21st from 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.]
• Able to work evening and weekend hours in the Peitzmeier Lab on campus to practice and deliver the program with two Program Facilitators to students who are joining remotely. Facilitation involves a minimum of 5 weekends (Sat & Sun) and 5 weeknights each semester (primarily in October/November and February/March).
• Able to attend weekly 1-hour supervision meetings over Zoom that are typically held during business hours
• Available to facilitate programs throughout the study's critical periods (September – November and January – April), arranging vacation outside of these windows
• Committed to work through April 30, 2027, as it is not possible for us to retrain new hires mid-year
• Possibility of rehiring the following year if mutually desired

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Train extensively in the use of equipment, videoconferencing software, and other apps needed to deliver an online sexual assault resistance program to trans and nonbinary undergraduate students
• Provide technical support to program facilitators to deliver the online program in five 3-hour sessions during evenings and weekends from the Peitzmeier Lab on campus.
• Help participants and peer facilitators troubleshoot tech issues during program delivery
• Organize equipment (e.g., computers, standing desks) and program materials, and set up and clean up for each session.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of participants' identities, comments, and interactions during all phases of research and programming
• Track participant attendance on SharePoint and in REDCap. [Training will be provided]
• Communicate effectively with program facilitators, supervisors, and research team members
• Participate in regular supervision meetings with peer facilitators and supervisor
• Attend team meetings as required
• Other duties as required

Physical Demands:

Available to attend 3 weeks of mandatory in-person training in College Park, Maryland throughout August [Weekdays between August 3rd-21st from 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.]Able to work evening and weekend hours in the Peitzmeier Lab on campus to practice and deliver the program with two Program Facilitators to students who are joining remotely. Facilitation involves a minimum of 5 weekends (Sat & Sun) and 5 weeknights each semester (primarily in October/November and February/March).Able to attend weekly 1-hour supervision meetings over Zoom that are typically held during business hoursAvailable to facilitate programs throughout the study's critical periods (September – November and January – April), arranging vacation outside of these windowsCommitted to work through April 30, 2027

Qualifications:

• Lived or professional experience in trans communities
• Received a bachelor's degree within the last 10 years (position requires recent familiarity with undergraduate life).
• Experience using Zoom
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment to stay on top of all the apps and technical pieces of the intervention for seamless delivery
• Ability to "think on your feet" to troubleshoot unexpected issues with technology during program sessions
• Comfort interacting in a supportive team where sexuality and violence against transgender and nonbinary individuals is being discussed over prolonged periods
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to value feedback for improvement and foster a growth mindset
• Dependability, reliability, and problem-solving skills

Preferences:

• Experience delivering or supporting the delivery of online presentations, programs, or courses
• Previous work/experience with issues around gender-based violence/violence against transgender and nonbinary individuals, trans health, or community empowerment