Community Moderator

The Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, supports the design, development, and management of Scratch, the world’s largest and most diverse free coding community for kids. With Scratch, millions of young people around the world can create their own interactive games, stories, and animations – and share their creations with one another in an active online community. In the process, they learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively, essential skills for everyone in today’s society.

The Scratch Foundation develops both the Scratch programming environment and online community (for ages 8 and up) and the ScratchJr programming environment (for ages 5-7). We also develop a wide range of resources, activities, and initiatives to support creative learning with Scratch. We are guided by the Four P’s of Creative Learning -- providing opportunities for young people to work on projects, based on their passions, in collaboration with peers, in a playful spirit. We are committed to equity in all aspects of our work, focusing especially on youth and educators in communities facing systemic inequities and injustices.

Last year, more than 20 million young people around the world created projects with Scratch, and activity in the Scratch online community more than doubled. As Scratch continues to grow and evolve, we are seeking curious and motivated people to join our team of almost 50 people including educators, designers, and engineers, who work together in an inclusive, collaborative, creative work environment.

Passionate about online communities, internet culture, and cultivating a safe and collaborative online space for kids? We're seeking full-time Community Moderators to work with the Scratch Team. Scratch Moderators help keep Scratch a safe, trusted, and friendly environment.

Millions of children (ages 8 and up), from around the world, create and share thousands of projects in the Scratch community each day. Moderators will gain valuable experience working online with youth in a creative, interest-driven setting while serving alongside an enthusiastic, diverse, and inclusive team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

PROTECT THE SCRATCH COMMUNITY (80%):

• Investigate reported users, projects, studios, and comments for appropriateness on the Scratch website and take action based on Moderation Guidelines and good judgment
• Monitor online behavior and social interactions to uphold online trust and safety and reduce risk through appropriate action
• Escalate urgent safety risks to the Community Moderation Manager, authorities, and schools when warranted
• Work with young people to help them understand what they did that breaks our Community Guidelines and help them learn how to be safe, inclusive, and appropriate online
• Determine when a person is or isn’t likely to be able to participate constructively in the Scratch online community
• Work in a variety of special bespoke projects as needed:
  • Assist in appeals
  • Assist in Forum moderation
  • Assist in filter management
  • Assist the Community Team in triaging security issues and escalations
  • Assist in training and shadowing new moderators

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PARTICIPATION (20%):

• Promote the values and core ideas of Scratch such as inclusiveness, creative expression, equitable opportunities, playful engagement, collaboration, and progressive improvement
• Participate in Moderation Team-wide discussions involving community trends, policy, and best practices
• Participate in additional Community Team meetings
• Participate in regular one-on-ones with the Community Moderation Manager
• Participate in continuous training to grow your moderation and community engagement skills

EXPERIENCE

• Active participation in online communities, forums, or social media
• Previous moderation and/or customer engagement experience in online communities, forums, or social media is a plus
• Working with kids in the digital space or offline

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Thrives while working methodically in a high-volume and task-oriented environment
• Able to make quick and accurate assessments of online behaviors and situations
• Able to be competitive with yourself, but not others – be willing to grow in your moderation abilities
• Comfortable sifting through potentially inappropriate, traumatic, offensive, explicit, negative, and/or disturbing content
• Comfortable learning to use new software and websites
• Strong online research skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Able to use good judgement while making quick and accurate assessments of online behaviors and situations – considering issues from multiple perspectives
• Able to put aside personal, political, religious, views and opinions to make unbiased moderation decisions
• Able to work well independently, manage your time well, and stay focused while working remotely
• Able to work well as part of a team and participate in group discussions
• A magic mix of empathy, patience, ethics, resilience, adaptability, trust & integrity

Nice to have, but not required

• Ability to read and write in multiple languages

  • Languages most needed: English, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Turkish

BENEFITS

Starting pay is equitable ($20/hr), and this remote position comes with incredible perks and benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, tuition reimbursement, and more) and can be done 24/7, with a set schedule that fits your life.

All candidates must be at least 18 years old and have authorization to work in the United States.

The Scratch Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Scratch welcomes people of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We especially encourage historically marginalized identities to apply.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.