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What does a program facilitator do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
What does a program facilitator do

Program facilitators have good skills in communication, empathy, active listening, conversation, conflict management, and consensus-building. They also have a keen understanding of group dynamics, management, and how to create an inclusive environment. Their daily tasks will be to assist in the organization and implementation of recreation or work programs, and organizing employee training corporate programs.

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Program facilitator responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real program facilitator resumes:

  • Manage procurement and employment of training aids and devices and ammunition along with require logistical support.
  • Instruct CPR to girls in particular groups.
  • Provide individual and group tutoring in areas such as reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills.
  • Coordinate and facilitate a bi-weekly empowerment program design to provide pregnant teen mothers with career development opportunities and positive life skills.
  • Recruited/Le - select and position AmeriCorps volunteers into local mentoring programs.
  • Deliver evidence-based treatment to children with ADHD and other behavioral disorders.

Program facilitator skills and personality traits

We calculated that 14% of Program Facilitators are proficient in Program Curriculum, Substance Abuse, and CPR. They’re also known for soft skills such as Compassion, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Program Facilitators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Program Curriculum, 14%

    Collaborated with a team in developing program curriculum and provide training for teachers seeking to pursue National Board Certification.

  • Substance Abuse, 7%

    Utilized the Seeking Safety curriculum; a dual-diagnosed psycho-educational model addressing both PTSD and substance abuse.

  • CPR, 7%

    Maintain up to date certification with Red Cross CPR and WSI (Water Safety Instruction) protocol.

  • Group Discussions, 5%

    Lead many camp activities and facilitate educational group discussions with campers.

  • Youth Development, 5%

    Coordinated various youth development programs and monitored the outcome measurement.

  • Mental Health, 5%

    Provided social-emotional care and partnered with Mental Health Counselor with individual students and cohorts.

Common skills that a program facilitator uses to do their job include "program curriculum," "substance abuse," and "cpr." You can find details on the most important program facilitator responsibilities below.

Compassion. The most essential soft skill for a program facilitator to carry out their responsibilities is compassion. This skill is important for the role because "social and human service assistants often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations." Additionally, a program facilitator resume shows how their duties depend on compassion: "led team building and collaborative events to enhance compassion for patients while boosting engagement. "

Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform program facilitator duties is interpersonal skills. Program facilitators responsibilities require that "social and human service assistants must make their clients feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues." Program facilitators also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "developed leadership and interpersonal skills of first-year mba teams and individuals. "

Problem-solving skills. program facilitators are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to program facilitator responsibilities, because "social and human service assistants help clients find solutions to their problems." A program facilitator resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "group therapy was implemented with 16-18 identified abusers in which either solution focus therapy or psycho-education as a model of therapy. "

Time-management skills. program facilitator responsibilities often require "time-management skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "social and human service assistants often work with many clients." This resume example shows what program facilitators do with time-management skills on a typical day: "develop monitoring tools to track project deadlines while ensuring objectives are met and hr metrics are presented. "

Organizational skills. Another common skill required for program facilitator responsibilities is "organizational skills." This skill comes up in the duties of program facilitators all the time, as "social and human service assistants must often complete lots of paperwork and work with many different clients." An excerpt from a real program facilitator resume shows how this skill is central to what a program facilitator does: "recognized for high-quality and quantity work, and organizational strengths and exceptional customer service delivery. "

Communication skills. Lastly, "communication skills" is an important element of what a program facilitator does. Program facilitator responsibilities require this skill because "social and human service assistants talk with clients about the challenges in their lives and assist them in getting help." This resume example highlights how program facilitator duties rely on this skill: "trained teens on leadership and youth development developed curriculum on community action planning and social change initiatives taught teambuilding and communication skills"

See the full list of program facilitator skills

The three companies that hire the most program facilitators are:

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Compare different program facilitators

Program facilitator vs. Volunteer

Volunteers are usually unpaid individuals who render their service to a company or organization. Most of the time, volunteers are skilled in specific areas needed by the organization but prefer to provide free service. They may be employed in another organization, but they lend their time and talent to another organization or company to give back to the community. They raise funds, create awareness, and work on the ground. Volunteers usually choose a cause or advocacy close to their heart, such as teaching children, taking care of the elderly, coaching sports teams, cleaning up communities, and caring for animals.

If we compare the average program facilitator annual salary with that of a volunteer, we find that volunteers typically earn a $8,797 lower salary than program facilitators make annually.Even though program facilitators and volunteers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require cpr, mathematics, and community outreach in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, program facilitator responsibilities require skills like "program curriculum," "substance abuse," "group discussions," and "youth development." Meanwhile a typical volunteer has skills in areas such as "child care," "patient charts," "patient care," and "front desk." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

On average, volunteers reach lower levels of education than program facilitators. Volunteers are 6.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Program facilitator vs. Student support counselor

A student support counselor is responsible for identifying the students' strengths and challenges through one-on-one counseling and establishing solutions to help them overcome difficulties and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Student support counselors assist the faculty in determining appropriate programs and activities to develop the students' capabilities, especially as a way of preparing them with their career objectives. They also coordinate with the students' families for extended guidance and support for their growth and development.

Student support counselor positions earn higher pay than program facilitator roles. They earn a $1,305 higher salary than program facilitators per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Program facilitators and student support counselors both require similar skills like "substance abuse," "cpr," and "mental health" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that program facilitator responsibilities requires skills like "program curriculum," "group discussions," "youth development," and "behavioral strategies." But a student support counselor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "student support," "behavioral issues," "financial aid," and "support services."

On average, student support counselors earn a higher salary than program facilitators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, student support counselors earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $44,149. Whereas program facilitators have higher pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $37,723.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Student support counselors tend to reach similar levels of education than program facilitators. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for program facilitators in the next 3-5 years?

Lesley Casarez Ph.D.Lesley Casarez Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction, Angelo State University

Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.

Program facilitator vs. Youth worker

Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential. There may be instances where one must also search for opportunities and apply for funding or sponsorship. Furthermore, as a youth worker, it is vital to assess an individual's condition to determine their needs and ensure that they will receive the proper treatment.

An average youth worker eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of program facilitators. The difference in salaries amounts to youth workers earning a $7,782 lower average salary than program facilitators.Using the responsibilities included on program facilitators and youth workers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "substance abuse," "cpr," and "youth development.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from program facilitator resumes include skills like "program curriculum," "group discussions," "behavioral strategies," and "professional development," whereas a youth worker is more likely to list skills in "direct supervision," "child care," "support services," and "incident reports. "

Youth workers earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $32,651. Comparatively, program facilitators have the highest earning potential in the professional industry, with an average salary of $37,723.youth workers typically earn lower educational levels compared to program facilitators. Specifically, they're 8.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Program facilitator vs. Youth mentor

Youth mentors are adult individuals who are responsible for creating programs to improve the well-being of young people by providing role models that can support them academically and socially. These mentors must educate the community on issues related to mental health while making regular home visits to youth and young adults. They should provide direct care and assistance to adolescents who are with substance abuse issues by creating an educational curriculum on the said topic. Youth mentors are also required to collaborate with mental health professionals and social workers to coordinate counseling efforts.

Youth mentors typically earn lower pay than program facilitators. On average, youth mentors earn a $7,274 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, program facilitators and youth mentors both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "substance abuse," "cpr," and "group discussions. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A program facilitator uses "program curriculum," "behavioral strategies," "professional development," and "group facilitation." Youth mentors are more likely to have duties that require skills in "eating disorders," "social work," "self esteem," and "independent living. "youth mentors enjoy the best pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $32,145. For comparison, program facilitators earn the highest salary in the professional industry.The average resume of youth mentors showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to program facilitators. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 7.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.6%.

Types of program facilitator

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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