Speech Forum Head Counselor

About FIRE

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides means to preserve them.

The Free Speech Forum head counselor will support, supervise, and guide the Forum’s counselor team while ensuring the overall success of the program. They serve as the bridge between counselors and camp leadership, providing hands‑on management, monitoring student and staff needs, and coordinating logistics to maintain a safe, positive, and mission‑driven environment. The role requires a full‑time, residential commitment from Saturday, June 21 through Saturday, June 27, 2026, with live‑on‑camp living at American University.

• Leadership & Supervision – lead a team of 25 counselors, provide guidance and mentorship, coordinate daily counselor meetings, rotate overnight shifts, serve as intermediary between counselors and camp leadership, support team dynamic, communicate with vice president of Student Development and health staff to ensure safety and manage emergencies.
• Program Operations – oversee daily residential and activity logistics, monitor well‑being of students and counselors, enforce program expectations, manage student conduct, support conflict resolution, guide participants, accompany students to scheduled activities, maintain productive learning environment, facilitate participant check‑ins and check‑outs (including orientation, room inspections), provide students with information about FIRE’s mission.
• Logistics & Coordination – assist with transportation for participants, ensure all transportation details are clearly communicated, meet residential needs, report issues.
• Training – attend and complete all required training sessions before the forum, including orientation, health and safety, harassment prevention, mandatory in‑person training on June 19‑20, 2026, complete four hours of virtual training before June 19, 2026, receive travel, meals, lodging for training.

Lead counselors must be at least 18 years old. A successful candidate will have a good work ethic, the ability to manage communications with various audiences, knowledge and passion for FIRE’s mission, and the ability to articulate that mission to excite others.

• Availability to live in program housing for the event duration.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to think quickly and creatively solve problems in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent judgment in making timely decisions.
• Experience working effectively as part of a team.
• Comfort and experience working with high school students in an educational setting.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional respectful relationships with students and staff.
• Commit fully to the head counselor role, with no other personal or professional commitments during the program period.
• Meet standard background check requirements.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Experience in leadership, teaching, or mentoring roles within summer programs, camps, or other residential youth programs.

• Prior experience serving as a counselor at the FIRE Free Speech Forum.
• Experience working with children or adolescents in structured environments (e.g., coaching, tutoring, teaching).
• Experience supervising or mentoring others, including volunteer teams or camp counselors.
• Experience attending universities in the United States, preferably undergraduates (rising juniors or seniors), graduate students, or recent college graduates.
• Prior attendance at FIRE events.

Lead counselors will be compensated at a rate of $20 per hour, including overtime where applicable, and are expected to work up to 110 total hours, including training. Payment will be issued after the conclusion of the Free Speech Forum.

Applicants should provide a resume and a cover letter. All applications are confidential. Please address applications to Cait Scanlan, Chief People Officer.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. FIRE is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. As part of FIRE's hiring process, all candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment will be required to undergo a background check as permitted by and in compliance with federal, state and local law.