Passport Trip Staff - Summer 2024

Organization Summary: BBYO is the leading pluralistic, Jewish teen movement and has been providing exceptional leadership programs and identity enrichment experiences for 100 years. We offer year-round activities in hundreds of local communities and inspiring world-wide travel experiences enabling teens to explore areas of leadership, service, civic engagement, Israel education and Jewish values.

BBYO Passport: BBYO Passport is BBYO’s premiere summer travel department for Jewish teens in 8^th - 12^th grade from around the world. BBYO Passport summer programs combine elements of active touring, community service, and meaningful Jewish experiences. Each summer over 1,000 teens travel to over 15 countries. These experiences are led by a team of Passport Trip Staff.

Dates and Availability: Trips begin June 18^th and run through August 13^th 2024, with most departures out of the New York City area. Applicants must be available for a minimum of 2 weeks to staff a program. Depending on the program, a trip duration is anywhere from 9 days up to a maximum of 35 days, including combination destinations. BBYO Passport staff must also be available for a weekend long staff training from June 7^th – 9^th 2024. Please note all hires are seasonal employees. 

Locations: BBYO Passport offers trip locations in across Europe, Israel, South America, and North America. Specific destinations and combination programs can be found HERE  Location preference is asked on the application, but is not guaranteed.

Compensation: Compensation ranges from $950 to $1800 depending on the length of the program. Full compensation is contingent upon being at staff training. Returning staff are paid at a higher rate.

Key Position Responsibilities Include (and are not limited to):

Teen Safety and Wellbeing

• Execute role as BBYO Passport Staff with the highest level of customer service and participant care, compassion and empathy
• Contact program participants prior to the start of the program to make personal connections and answer questions
• Capture group photos, send to BBYO staff, and prepare bi-weekly updates for participant families
• Ensure participants follow program safety guidelines; act on any violation of behavioral guidelines and elevate as necessary
• Support teen medical and mental well-being, including determining next steps if additional medical attention is required
• If necessary, communicate with parents while on the ground during the trip during an emergency
• Chaperone group flight (if applicable for trip) and support teens during travel days and when at the airport

Travel Community

• Serve as a role model for participants as a Jewish adult
• Model cultural competence and respect and exhibit international travel skills
• Ensure that teens create respectful bus community that does not discriminate against race, gender, sexuality, different values or Jewish background
• Assist with daily logistical needs (including but not limited to rooming assignments/ checks, supporting medical concerns, programming logistics helping participants with unique dietary needs, etc.)
• Maintain community atmosphere (orderliness, timeliness, organization, lost-and-found, etc.)
• Elevate any mental, social, or medical emergencies to field supervisors or site staff.
• Provide comfort, support, and compassion for all participants during program duration
• Ensure that the program participants are forming a socially cohesive group, while working to discourage cliques and address any cases of social alienation

Trip Programming

• Translate your own Jewish experiences into learning opportunities for participants and serve as an informal resource for Jewish programming
• Help facilitate Shabbat services and Shabbat programming for participants
• Support teens while planning onegs or evening programming
• Facilitate icebreakers and other various aspects of building communal life
• Support teen programming committees such as marketing, birthdays or events
• Participate in all trip programming such as hiking, overnight camping, museum touring, volunteer projects and water activities.

Staff Team and Structure

• Participate in a weekend long staff training from June 7^th –9^th, 2024. Participate in supplemental virtual trainings before the trip departs.
• Collaborate with your fellow trip staff as well as with the Trip Guide prior to the start of the program and review roles and responsibilities; continue to work as a team during the trip
• Participate in all full staff meetings, trainings, professional development, and team-building activities
• Communicate with your staffing team, Senior staff and/or Field Director, Parent Liasion (if applicable) and Director of Operations

Qualifications:

BBYO Passport trips are fast paced, demanding, and rewarding experiences. Passport trip staff should be prepared for long evenings, early mornings, and constantly being on the move. Trip itineraries and plans are ever changing, and staff should be prepared to be flexible and always put their best faces forward.

• Candidate must at least four years removed from high school at the start of summer
• Significant international or domestic travel experience, including meaningful time in complex and high-level travel scenarios
• Extensive leadership experience, preferably working with teenagers
• Strong Jewish identity and ability to lead an inclusive Shabbat experience preferred
• Ability to work long hours within a team setting
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Candidates should be comfortable working as part of a cohesive staff team and within a larger hierarchy of staff structure
• Candidates should be able to set a positive tone throughout the program, establish an appropriate close relationship with the participants which includes maintaining an appropriate level of authority and respect.
• Candidates with clear understanding of the program’s educational goals and preparedness to act as an informal Jewish educator during the program preferred.
• Candidates must understand that itineraries and trip programming change often and staff must be flexible and support these changes.
• Candidates should be able to participate in all trip programming such as hiking, overnight camping, museum touring, volunteer projects and water activities.

For more information, please contact bbyosummer@bbyo.org. All applications must be submitted directly through BBYO’s online application systems. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Application Instructions

Thank you for your interest in staffing a BBYO Passport experience this upcoming summer! 

The staff selection & training process is comprised of the following phases: 

  1) Submission of Online Application 

  2) Video-Based Interview (Starting December) 

  3) Contract Offer and Placements (Starting Mid-February)  

  4) Mandatory Staff Retreat June 7^th – 9^th 2024

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, because of this we encourage you to submit your application early. Note: After each phase, applicants will be notified of their status. 

We expect to make all staff selections on a rolling basis with placement announcements starting early February. Applicants who are chosen for staff positions will be invited to a mandatory training retreat which will take place June 7^th – 9^th 2024.  BBYO will cover travel expenses to and from the training weekend. 

Once you begin your application you will need to complete it in its entirety since your answers will not be saved.

Every year we receive more applications than we have available staff positions. Staffing an international travel experience is a wonderful opportunity, and staff selection tends to be a competitive process. We expect a thorough and thoughtful application. We are most interested in staff applicants with a record of leadership, a strong Jewish background, and experience abroad.

If you have any questions about the application or the process, please contact us at bbyosummer@bbyo.org.

On behalf of the entire BBYO Summer team, we sincerely appreciate your interest in the program, and helping to make this an incredible summer for our teen participants. 

Thanks, and best wishes! 

The BBYO Summer Team 

bbyosummer@bbyo.org