Want to be part of the staff that organizes [email protected]? We’re hiring!

Our Team staff do everything from organizing events like our annual conference—selecting speakers, venues, and planning breaks—to working with schools, students, and teachers. We’re now accepting applications for students to be part of our Team.

Time commitment will be 1–3 hours a week on average during the school year and 5–10 hours a week during the summer. Team staff won’t need to commute to Columbia; however, there will be a couple, sporadic events (like rehearsals) for which commuting will be necessary for certain staff.

All of our staff volunteer their time; per official TED rules, we do not pay our Team members. However, we still refer to this process as “hiring” because the responsibilities are equivalent to those of a job or an internship (and in most cases, even greater): managing a large budget, selecting and coaching speakers, creating partnerships with other organizations, and working with an interdisciplinary team, among many other things.

So, does this sound like you or someone you know?

1. Loving and kind-hearted. We don’t tolerate brilliant jerks. Instead, we find people who generously open up their hearts and minds to others.
2. Committed to the growth of themselves and others. Our Team members are curious about the world around them and seek out opportunities to be wrong, to broaden their worldview. We aren’t looking for people who “fit in with our culture”—we’re looking for people to add to it.
3. Careful and detail-oriented. Even if it means triple-checking, better safe than sorry.
4. Proactive and impact-oriented. They put out the fire when it’s just a single flame, rather than waiting until everything goes up in flames. On top of that, they take the actions that do the most good for the greatest number of people. They set aside their ego because they understand that the mission of TEDx is far bigger than any of us.
5. Personally responsible. They understand that others are counting on them to get things done on time; if they have to stay up late when the going gets rough, they do. When they get something wrong, they fix it without complaint or hesitation.

See all of our open positions and job descriptions here.

Want to recommend someone to join our Team? Nominate them by going to our nomination page and filling out the form.

If you have any questions, email us at [email protected].