Intercultural Learning Specialist

About AFS-USA

AFS-USA works towards a more just and peaceful world by providing international and intercultural learning experiences to individuals, families, schools, and communities through a global volunteer partnership.

AFS-USA is particularly proud of its staff of over 175 people. AFS-USA is equally proud of its network of more than 5000 volunteers located in communities throughout the United States. Our staff and volunteers work in partnership to deliver quality intercultural exchange programs to adolescents and adults, both those interested in coming to the U.S. as well as those interested in experiencing life abroad.

Job Context

In cooperation with the Senior Learning and OD Consultant , the Intercultural Learning Specialist has primary responsibility for ensuring that all AFS core program, inbound and outbound participants as well as host families and natural families here in the U.S. receive high quality orientation programs and materials. The Specialist will also participate in research and program development efforts related to intercultural earning. And finally, the Specialist will assist in the design and implementation of intercultural learning training programs for AFS-USA volunteers and staff.

Responsibilities

1. Participant Orientation: Working in close collaboration with appropriate staff and volunteers, design/revise core program orientation materials/programs for AFS-USA participants both inbound and outbound, as well as for AFS-USA host families and natural families. Orientation programs to include pre-departure and re-entry for outbound participants; arrival, post-arrival, mid year, pre-return and end of stay for hosted participants; pre-arrival, post-arrival, mid-stay, and pre-return for host families, and pre-departure for natural families.

1.1. Production and distribution of the Hosting program orientation materials including but not limited to:

· Welcome to the USA

• Safety Tips for the USA
• Host Family Handbook
• Host Family Pre-Arrival Orientation Leader's Guide and Handbook
• Arrival Orientation Leader's Guide and Handbook
• Post-Arrival Orientation Leader's Guide and Handbook
• Mid - Stay Orientation Leader's Guide and Handbook
• Pre-Return Orientation Leader's Guide and Handbook
• End-of-Stay Event Handbook
• Country-specific orientation materials

1.2 Production and distribution of the Sending program orientation materials including but not limited to:

• AFS Guide for Participants
• AFS Guide for Families of AFS Participants
• Pre-Departure Orientation Leader's Guide (in cooperation with National Sending Orientation Manager)
• Sending Gateway Orientation materials (in cooperation with National Sending Orientation Manager)
• Re-entry Orientation Leader's Guide
• Culture Trek

1.3. Work with E-Learning Specialist and others to create web-based orientation and intercultural education training materials.

1.4. Work with M&C staff and others to ensure that AFS Web site content related to orientations and intercultural learning is in line with our mission, AFS Philosophy, and Educational Learning Objectives.

1.5. Ensure that all core and sponsored program participants and families have the opportunity to evaluate orientations attended and help ensure that this information is gathered and compiled into reports which can be distributed to those responsible for orientations and used to make on-going improvements in the orientation program.

1.6. Attend both hosting and sending orientations in various parts of the country from time to time to work with volunteers and staff to improve orientation content and delivery.

1.7. Work to ensure that orientation materials are varied to meet the needs of different programs – High School, Short Term/Long Term, and Community Service, and different program participants – scholarship and non-scholarship.

1.8. Serve as a member of the Orientation Advisory Group

1.9. Provide oversight of the Hosting Orientation Work Groups.

1.10.Assist the Senior Learning and OD Consultant and others in new program and educational content development including sponsored programs project development.

2. Research

2.1. Participate on behalf of AFS-USA in research efforts related to intercultural learning.

2.2. Assist in the creation of summary reports and help ensure that the findings of such research are shared with the appropriate internal and external audiences.

3. Training

3.1. Assist in the creation, facilitation, and evaluation of staff and volunteer training programs for orientations and intercultural learning, including attendance at occasional training events.

4. Other

4.1. Work with Senior Learning and OD Consultant and Learning Department staff to develop orientation materials for grant-funded programs, to be coordinated with other existing AFS orientation materials and used for as much as possible for the benefit of non-grant programs as well.

4.2. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts or Sciences required
• Masters Degree in Intercultural Communications, International Education, or other related field preferred
• 2 years work experience in the field of intercultural communications, international education or training preferably with experience in developing orientation materials
• Experience living/working/studying in intercultural setting
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Excellent visual design skills
• Excellent computer skills with in-depth knowledge of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint as well as visual design tools such as Photoshop and InDesign
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to schedule work and meet deadlines.
• Proficient in SPSS or equivalent preferred

Work Conditions

The Intercultural Learning Specialist position will be located in the New York office, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Occasional travel to observe orientation sessions, attend staff and/or volunteer training events and to give presentations will be required.

Salary and Benefits

AFS-USA is committed to attracting and retaining top quality staff. One way we support this goal is to offer a benefits package that is competitive.

AFS-USA's wide array of benefits (including but not limited to health and dental coverage, retirement plan, short-term and long-term disability, fully funded life insurance, generous time-off, and commutation reimbursement) not only enhance your financial security and well-being, but also add significantly to your total compensation.

Salary will be negotiated at the time of hire.

Other

It is the policy of AFS-USA to provide equal employment opportunity in all employment practices without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other unlawful basis. Our goal is to foster a diverse workforce which reflects a broad spectrum of society and maintain an organization free from unlawful discrimination towards any employee or applicant for employment. Full commitment to this policy is required to produce a work environment in which we can take pride.