Ecuador Site Coordinator Job Description and Responsibilities

 

Start Date: Immediately

Job is based in: Sangolqui, Ecuador (40 min bus ride from Quito)

Job Description

Manna Project International, an Orlando-based nonprofit operating in Ecuador, Nicaragua, and the USA, fosters communities of talented young leaders to become the next generation of social change agents by engaging in collaborative, on-the-ground service with international communities in need. At our international sites, groups of 3, 5, 7, 12 and 13-month volunteers live and work together implementing a range of health, education, and livelihood community development projects in geographically defined areas. For more background on MPI, please visit our website, www.mannaproject.org.

The Ecuador Site Coordinator leads a team of long-term volunteers in the realization of MPI’s mission, vision, and goals in Ecuador. They are responsible for the daily management of MPI’s short and long-term volunteers and community programs. They are also responsible for the proper execution of community programs. The Site Coordinator reports to the Ecuador Country Director.

The Site Coordinator ’s daily responsibilities include any and all tasks necessary for maintaining and improving the operations of the organization in relation to volunteers and programming. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Ensuring that volunteers conduct local programs in a goal-oriented, culturally sensitive way and that they are in line with the mission and vision of MPI’s holistic approach;

  • Communicating regularly with volunteers to ensure their well-being, safety, effectiveness in projects and overall volunteer experience;

  • Acting as a mentor to volunteers in their professional development, including training and performance evaluations;

  • Navigating the annual transition between groups of yearlong volunteers, with an eye to efficient, effective, and sustainable progress in programming;

  • Overseeing the recruitment, planning and on-site management of short-term groups, interns, and skill-based volunteers;

  • Overseeing activities at Community Center as well as the development of new programs

  • Ensuring weekly/monthly metrics and evaluations are collected and turned in properly

  • Reporting regularly and thoroughly to the Country Director on the condition and quality of MPI programs and resources in Ecuador

  • Participating in on-site fundraising events and efforts

  • Participating in organization-wide planning and development

  • Providing administrative assistance as needed to Ecuador Country Director

The Site Coordinator may delegate responsibilities and tasks to trusted volunteers in order to best realize these goals, as is appropriate and as they see fit.

Complete Description of Responsibilities

Ensuring that volunteers conduct local programs in a goal-oriented, culturally sensitive way and that those programs are in line with the mission and vision of MPI.

The Site Coordinator plays an active role in the implementation of community programs and projects. They regularly visit each of the programs in operation, measuring their performance, impact and long-term development, and offering practical feedback to those leading the program. The Site Coordinator will also teach a minimum of one English course per session. Each program should be visited at least once every month depending on circumstances and current need. For volunteers, the Site Coordinator serves as a constant resource, continually discussing with them the goals of each program and what is being done to achieve those goals. The Site Coordinator works with the Country Director to be key reference points to community members, meeting with key stakeholders from the community who oversee or participate in the program in order to assess the success of the program from the community’s point of view. In order to measure each program’s performance, and to keep a record of the program’s history, volunteers submit quarterly program updates to the Site Coordinator and Country Director.

Communicating regularly with volunteers to ensure their well-being, safety, effectiveness in projects and overall volunteer experience.

As the direct supervisor of the site’s volunteers, the Site Coordinator is in constant contact with them. This includes attending and leading weekly meetings with volunteers, serving both as the team leader and as a representative of the organization at large. This dual role means both communicating relevant information from the volunteers on to the rest of the staff, and representing the organization’s policies and decisions to volunteers. The Site Coordinator will also serve as a resource who can seek out and present a fresh perspective on issues and ideas, founded in MPI’s experience, partner organizations, and community development best practices.

On a personal level, the Site Coordinator conducts one-on-one meetings with volunteers to address their needs, well-being, and performance in programs. These meetings serve to support each volunteer’s achievements, encourage improvement and guarantee that volunteers have a rewarding experience with MPI.

Acting as a mentor to volunteers in their personal and professional development, including training and performance evaluations.

Beyond just a supervisor, the Site Coordinator acts as a mentor to the site’s volunteers, both personally and professionally. Living in a different culture, as well as group living, can often be a challenging experience, and the Site Coordinator assists as volunteers learn and grow individually and as a group through the process. The Site Coordinator organizes leadership trainings in the areas of community development, nonprofit management, cultural studies, on-site programming, and personal & interpersonal development, during quarterly retreats and monthly meetings. Additionally, the Site Coordinate provides volunteers with performance evaluations twice a year.

Navigating the annual transition between groups of yearlong volunteers, with an eye to efficient, effective, and sustainable progress in programming.

As one of two members of the MPI team whose presence in Ecuador spans MPI’s transitions from one group of volunteers to the next, the Site Coordinator, along with the Country Director, oversees the continuity of the community programs from year to year. The Site Coordinator leads orientation activities for new volunteers who in turn lead such activities for summer volunteers and visiting teams, and the Site Coordinator assists with the recruitment of future volunteers to the site. The Site Coordinator is also tasked with compiling the visa applications of each Program Director and accompanying them to the visa offices.

Overseeing the recruitment, planning and on-site management of short-term groups, interns, and skill-based volunteers

In addition to MPI’s long-term volunteer position, MPI also hosts a number of short-term groups, summer interns, and skill-based volunteers throughout the year. The Site Coordinator is responsible for all preparation and on-site logistics, including coordinating housing for volunteers who stay outside the Manna house. As demand for skills-based volunteering opportunities increase, the Site Coordinator will work with the Country Director to manage applications, pre-departure materials, and on-site scheduling.

Overseeing and implementing activities at Community Center, as well as the development of new programs

In Ecuador, MPI operates a Community Center where the large majority of our programs take place. These programs include homework help, computer lab, English classes, cooking clubs, exercise and more. The volunteers operate these programs on a daily level but the Site Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and ensuring that these programs are executed properly, as well as teaching a minimum of one English course per session. The Site Coordinator will also field questions from community members, manage issues or maintenance at the Center, and take on shifts when necessary. At times of growth and change, the Site Coordinator will work closely with the Country Director to develop and implement new programs.

Ensuring weekly/monthly metrics and evaluations are collected and turned in properly

The Site Coordinator is tasked with reviewing weekly, monthly, and quarterly metrics submitted by the long term volunteers. Other duties may include updating metrics forms for changes in programs, reviewing submissions for accuracy, implementing new methods of tracking, and ensuring that volunteers are thoroughly monitoring their programs.  

Reporting regularly and thoroughly to the Country Director on the condition and quality of MPI programs and resources in Ecuador.

The Site Coordinator reports on the state of programs and volunteers in Ecuador to the Country Director and the Executive Director and acts as the primary channel between volunteers and the Executive Director for questions, concerns, and ideas. The Site Coordinator is in regular contact with the Country Director regarding finances, programs, monitoring and evaluation, policies, and the needs of the organization in Ecuador.

Participating in on-site fundraising events and efforts

Once a year MPI Ecuador hosts a mid-size fundraising event. The event may vary and we often do smaller fundraisers throughout the year (yard sales, fairs, bake sales, etc). The Site Coordinator will work with the Country Director to lead these efforts and manage the organization of these events. Tasks should be delegated to the volunteers.

Participating in organization-wide planning and development

As a member of MPI’s staff, the Site Coordinator actively participates in MPI’s organization-wide vision and strategy planning, resource development, and operational assessment.  This includes but is not limited to involvement in publicity, volunteer recruitment, curriculum development, metrics management, grant writing, and fundraising.

Providing administrative assistance as needed to Ecuador Country Director

As a member of MPI’s staff, the Site Coordinator will participate in weekly staff calls, give input on internal documents, and provide upkeep of website with information on Ecuador as well as other nondescript administrative tasks.

Additional Information:

Qualifications:

  • Experience in community development and/or community organizing

  • Experience working with volunteers, college students or in leading young people

  • Experience in the classroom preferred

  • A willingness to commit to MPI principles and approach to community development

  • Strong relationship-building skills

  • A minimum of one years' experience in South America (preferably Ecuador)

  • Fluent in English and Spanish

  • A minimum two-year commitment

  • Bachelors degree required

Benefits:

  • Four weeks paid vacation

  • International travel insurance

  • Visa to live/work in Ecuador if foreign national (Ecuadorian nationals, and foreign expats already in Ecuador, preferred)

  • Potential for housing in MPI’s volunteer house

Salary:

$600-800 per month (~40 hours/week) based on experience.

How to apply:
Send a resume and cover letter including salary requirements, description of your fit with MPI and this position to jobs@mannaproject.org. Local candidates only.