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The Blue Mountain Project is looking for up four Ambassadors who are willing to live and work in Hagley Gap for a year in exchange for modest room and board. During this time you will gain an in-depth understanding of the people and culture of Jamaica while you provide invaluable technical assistance and program management for one of our programs that will improve the life of the Hagley Gap community.

Ambassadors should have training and/or experience in one of the following areas:

•Health (all aspects including public health)
•Education (at all levels including adult)
•Business development and management
•Civil or water engineering

Ambassadors are paired with Jamaican staff members and SLP volunteers while they work full time on their project and assist others on special events.

Simply put: Ambassador life exemplifies simple living along with a twist of adventure, a mountain of work, and a lifetime of memories.

Title: Ambassador
Reports to: Program Manager
Hours: Full time
Benefits: Room & Board*
Basic Health Care**

The Ambassador is a member of Team Jamaica. The Team (of 4 Ambassadors) is responsible for the day to day activities of the Blue Mountain Project in the district of Hagley Gap, St Thomas, Jamaica. Duties include, but are not limited to, the coordination and management of the health, education, economic development, and engineering programming in Jamaica. On occasion, the Team will also be responsible for assisting with special event and fundraising coordination and tasks.

Responsibilities & Functions (the responsibilities and functions listed below are general, a specific job description will be written for each Ambassador):
• Manage and work in assigned program
• Orientate, train and supervise volunteers and LIGHTs assigned to the Ambassador’s program
• Help orientate, train and supervise short-term volunteers
• Work as a Team Leader alongside foreign and local volunteers on a variety of service projects as assigned
• Work through issues with foreign volunteers such as culture shock, homesickness and other sensitive issues as needed
• Coordinate or assist with special events and fundraisers as assigned
• Perform general office tasks, including computing, making copies and filing
• Write articles for the BMP newsletter
• Submit monthly reports to the Program Manager and Executive Director
• Mentor Jamaican staff and SLP volunteers
• Attend weekly staff meetings
• Travel to Kingston each week to check e-mail and perform internet research
• Nurture relationships with colleges, universities, churches and other institutions to further promote the mission of the BMP
• Speak to the general public to promote the BMP mission
• Attend various community meetings to represent the BMP in Jamaica
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or Program Manager

Minimum Qualifications:
• 12 month commitment
• Bachelors Degree or equivalent
• Experience in a developing (3rd world) country
• Ability to work as a team player
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work independently if necessary
• Ability to be extremely tolerant and flexible
• Ability to live and work in developing (3rd world) conditions
• Computer literate

*Ambassadors live in the BMP staff house, which is located in the village of Hagley Gap, St. Thomas, Jamaica. There is no running water in the house or even in the village. The entire community gets its water from the Negro River which is approximately ¼ of a mile from the house. Ambassadors are responsible for fetching their own water. Water conservation is a must. Washing, including bathing and laundry is typically done at the river, however can be done at the house using buckets.

The house itself is a 2 bedroom concrete house, sleeping 2 people per room or a total of 4 Ambassadors at a time. The house is furnished modestly, including a single bed for each Ambassador. Linens (bed sheets, towels, etc) are the responsibility of each Ambassador and netting is suggested to deter insects while sleeping.

Ambassadors receive a monthly food stipend to cover food expenses, however Ambassadors who have special dietary restrictions and/or requirements might find the stipend inadequate, versus the Ambassadors who eat closer to a typical Jamaican diet. Imported, junk and health food is expensive in Jamaica.

**The BMP operates a free Health Clinic which Ambassadors are welcome to access at anytime. The clinic is regularly staffed by a Jamaican nurse and supplemented by visiting medical professionals from developed countries (1st world).

Persons interested in serving as Ambassadors should send an e-mail expressing interest to cskoula@hotmail.com