Job: Digital BAAS 2024 Conference Assistant (x3)

The British Association of American Studies (BAAS) are seeking three conference assistants to help with the running of this year’s Digital Conference. This is our second conference to be hosted entirely remotely, and will be held online 10-12 April 2024. Please see the BAAS Website for more information about the conference. 

The conference assistants will be relied on for technical support during the conference itself, and ideally will have experience and knowledge of the online platform, Discord. It is anticipated that assistants will need to help speakers with technical difficulties such as sharing their screen, locating rooms, turning on sound, etc. We conceive these roles as an ideal position for postgraduate members of the BAAS community aiming to gain experience running large academic conferences. 

Applications for these positions are particularly encouraged from under-represented groups in UK higher education, as part of BAAS’ active commitment to class, regional, racial, ethnic, gender and sexual diversity.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Collaborating with the organising team on the digital platform (discord) prior to the conference. 
• Monitoring conference sessions and threads, and resolving any technical issues that presenters or attendees may have during the conference. 
• Managing any technical challenges or disruptions efficiently to minimize impact on the conference schedule. 

Essential Criteria: 

• Availability during the entire conference period (10-12 April 2024) and for pre-conference preparations.
• Experience and proficiency using digital platforms (Zoom, Discord, MS Teams etc.) 
• Strong technical skills and the ability to troubleshoot common online conference issues, such as screen sharing, audio settings, and virtual room navigation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Right to work in the UK. 

Desirable Criteria: 

• Experience and proficiency using Discord. 
• Previous experience organising or assisting academic conferences, particularly in a virtual or digital format.
• Ongoing engagement with the American Studies Community 

Employment Details: 

The post pays a rate of £14 p/h for an estimated 21 hours of work. Despite being a digital role, candidates must have a right to work in the UK. 

To apply for this post: 

Please attach a CV and a Cover Letter (no more than two pages long) explaining your suitability for this role in an email to conferences@baas.ac.uk
The closing date for this application is 16th February 2024.