Hydrus - Session Director - English (US) - V2

Welo Global; United States; On-site; USD 72,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Freelance remote work

Access to AI/LLM workshops

Job summary

Welo Data is seeking a Session Director for Project Hydrus to lead live voice recording sessions with contributors. You’ll coach performers through scripted scenarios to achieve natural, conversational delivery, and you’ll adapt wording for regional authenticity while keeping sessions on track.

In addition to direction, you'll monitor mic technique, pacing, and noise in real time, maintain session notes, and foster a low-pressure, collaborative environment for talent of varied experience.

Qualifications

• Native fluency in the required language with dialect nuance.
• Experience directing or producing voice talent.
• Ability to give clear, actionable performance direction.
• Strong knowledge of basic recording techniques (mic, proximity, noise).
• Comfort improvising and adjusting scripted material on the spot.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and rapport-building across experience levels.

Responsibilities

• Direct performers through scripted scenarios to encourage natural delivery.
• Provide scene context and improvise to fill narrative gaps while keeping pace.
• Adapt wording for natural phrasing and dialect authenticity.
• Monitor real-time audio quality: mic technique, pacing, clarity, background noise.
• Manage session pace to meet targets; document adjustments and retakes.
• Create a supportive, low-pressure environment for performers of varying experience.

Skills

Voice direction

Casting direction

Audio production

Dubbing/ADR

Theater direction

Improvisation

Interpersonal skills

Tools

Pro Tools

Adobe Audition

Reaper

Job description

About the Project

Project Hydrus is a scripted and conversational audio data collection project. The recordings produced help build natural, everyday-sounding synthesized voices for conversational AI products — voices that sound like real people talking, not scripted performances.

As Session Director, you'll lead live recording sessions with Voice Contributors, guiding them through scripted scenarios to produce natural, conversational-quality audio. This hands‑on role blends creative direction, coaching, and technical audio judgment — making scripted material sound authentic and unscripted, rather than recited, while keeping sessions moving at a natural pace.

What You'll Do

• Direct voice performers through scripted scenarios, coaching for natural, conversational delivery rather than verbatim recitation.
• Build quick scene context for performers (who, where, why) and improvise to fill narrative or dialogue gaps live, keeping sessions flowing naturally.
• Adapt scripted wording for natural phrasing and regional/dialect authenticity as needed.
• Monitor and correct technical audio quality in real time: mic technique, pacing, clarity, and background noise.
• Manage session pacing to meet recording targets without sacrificing performance quality, and maintain organized notes on adjustments and retakes.
• Create a supportive, low‑pressure environment for performers, including those with limited prior voice experience.

What We're Looking For

Required

• Native fluency in the required language (with specific dialect), with a strong ear for natural, colloquial phrasing.
• Experience directing, coaching, or producing voice or audio talent (e.g., voice direction, casting direction, audio/podcast production, dubbing/ADR, or theater direction).
• Demonstrated ability to give clear, specific, actionable performance direction.
• Strong working knowledge of basic recording/mic technique (proximity, plosives, room noise, levels).
• Comfortable improvising and adjusting scripted material on the spot.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to build rapport quickly with performers of varying experience levels.

Preferred (nice to have, not required)

• Background in improv, theater direction, or acting coaching.
• Experience directing non-professional or first‑time voice talent specifically.
• Familiarity with DAWs or recording software (e.g., Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, Reaper) for spot‑checking audio quality.

Commitment & Compensation

• Estimated time:Approximately 8hours calibration, plus supervision across two recording sessions of ~4 hours each per participant

Work Type - Freelance Remote

$61 - $61 an hour

Why Join Welo Data?

Project-based opportunities that fit your availability. Choose when and how much you want to contribute—fully remote, with complete autonomy.

Optional access to AI and Large Language Model workshops designed specifically for professionals like you. No coding required—just your expertise.

Be part of a global contributor community with responsive guidance and support.

Apply your expertise in the Legal field to influence the AI systems shaping the future of your industry—while collaborating with data professionals and expanding your skills.

About Welo Data

Welo Data, part of Welocalize, is a global AI data company with 500,000+ contributors delivering high-quality, ethical data to train the world’s most advanced AI systems. We’re building smarter, more human AI with a diverse community in 100+ countries.

At Welo Data, Limitless AI. Limitless You. isn’t just a slogan—it’s our promise. We build smarter AI through the power of human contribution, offering limitless opportunities for our global community to grow, contribute, and work on their terms.