Position Objective
The objective of this position is to book, coordinate, and publish interviews with trials riders at all skill levels and riding styles in order to build an extensive rider interview library. While the target is currently North American riders, we expect that this scope could become broader to include riders in other countries as well as people involved in trials related activities. Interviews are currently performed via email, but additional options including video and/or audio could be explored as well. Our goal is to maintain a cadence of one interview per week.
Responsibilities & Duties
The primary responsibilities and duties in this role include (not limited to):
- Maintain a trials rider “database” to track interview candidates and the status of interviews from request through publication
- Identify North American rider candidates for interviews
- Contact interview candidates and coordinate the interviews
- Curate the existing core interview question list and email template
- Develop a few tailored questions for each interviewee (can require some research)
- Email questions to the interviewees (core questions for all interviewees plus tailored questions specific to each interviewee)
- Follow up with interviewees as required
- Proofread interview responses and make typographical corrections (e.g., spelling & punctuation)
- Generate blog posts for each interview in WordPress, including writing the introductions as well as formatting the interview text, photos, links, and embedded videos
- Share each interview across multiple social media channels
The coordinator’s level of autonomy is expected to grow over time.
While not part of the core set of responsibilities, the volunteer in this position is invited to present ideas for other types of interviews as well that might interest the community (i.e., shops, trainers, academies, etc.). The volunteer is also encouraged to provide suggestions for improving the overall interview process.
Impact of This Role
This position plays an important role for a number of reasons, with positive impact to our interviewees, the trials community, and our brand.
Interviewees – One of the primary objectives of these interviews is to benefit the interviewees. This is an opportunity to promote them, which can be of significant benefit in some cases such as helping younger riders find sponsors, helping demo riders book shows, etc. Riders have the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives. Publishing and sharing the interviews gets positive attention in the community, often accompanied by supportive responses from other riders as well as friends and family members. Since we publish interviews with riders at all skill levels, we give a voice to beginners and pros alike, providing more opportunities to offer content to which someone can relate.
Trials Community – Rider interviews provide the trials community a number of benefits. The more interviews we publish, the more likely we are to provide perspectives from all skill levels that encourage and motivate others in the trials community. In many ways, we bond over shared experiences and perspectives. Rider stories provide trials history as well as entertainment. We also get to know more of the people in the trials community who we may never have the opportunity to meet in person. Of course it’s also pretty cool to read about some of our “trials heroes!”
Our Brand – Plain and simple: providing valuable content increases the value of our brand. By sincerely focusing on serving the interviewees and our audience (not just ourselves), we build trust and a positive reputation.
Position Type
Volunteer – part time (unpaid)
Qualifications
Required
- Passion for bike trials!
- Ability to communicate effectively in English (written and verbal)
Preferred
- Trials rider (current or in the past)
- Experience using WordPress
- Experience using Google Docs
- Experience using social media
- Experience with SEO
Competency
You will be expected to have and/or develop the following abilities and behaviors:
- Solid understanding of bike trials, at least from a general perspective
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (written and verbal)
- Curiosity and a desire to learn
- Ability to manage your time effectively
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
- Positive attitude and a sincere belief in our mission (interview candidates can sense this, or lack thereof)
- Ability to reach out to people you’ve never met (despite fear of rejection)
- Ability to use social media and other communications tools effectively to find and connect with potential interviewees (e.g., Instagram)
- Ability to be persuasive (but not pushy)
- Ability to generate meaningful and insightful interview questions
- Ability to develop well-organized and visually pleasing layouts for written interviews that include text, photos, and other content
- Ability to raise the search results rank of our interviews and drive organic traffic to the site
Benefits of the Work
This volunteer position will give you access to trials riders all over the continent, and eventually around the world, possibly even to some of your trials heroes. You will gain experience in cold-contacting people and conducting interviews. Additionally, you will gain experience in using WordPress. You can leverage your experience in this position on your resume and during job interviews to highlight experience and transferable skills. And of course you’ll be part of a great team, promoting the sport of bike trials!
How to Apply
For more details about the overall organization, the work environment, how to apply for the position, etc. please visit the volunteer landing page.
