Guatemala Program Director

About MPI:

Manna Project International (MPI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that utilizes the passions and energy of young people to empower developing international communities through hands-on learning and service. With permanent sites in Guatemala, Ecuador, Nicaragua, MPI strives to foster communities of young adults and encourages them to use their passions and education in service to communities in need. At our international sites, groups of 7-month or 13-month volunteers live and work together implementing a range of community development projects in geographically defined areas, in fields ranging from education to community organizing, health care to micro-finance. MPI employs a holistic approach to community development, seeking to build networks, reinforce local institutions, and empower individuals. For more background on MPI, please visit our website, www.mannaproject.org.

Program Director Job Description:

On the ground, the day-to-day operations of MPI are run by a team of four to ten Program Directors (PDs) who live and work together in Guatemala, Ecuador, or Nicaragua for seven to thirteen months. These teams are comprised of young professionals and recent college graduates who work alongside community leaders to address each community's specific needs. Program Directors utilize their education, passions, and interests to develop and sustain existing projects and to establish new projects. Our model is designed to create impactful, on-the-ground results, while equipping our volunteers with the leadership development and professional skills they need to continue their work in a range of career paths after their service with MPI.

There are 5 primary roles for Program Directors:

• Developing and running community programs
• Managing organizational operations
• Building relationships
• Raising awareness
• Hosting short-term volunteers & training incoming Program Directors

The responsibilities of Program Directors include any and all tasks necessary to maintaining and improving the day-to-day operations of MPI. This includes but is not limited to:

• Maintaining current community development programs, and designing and implementing new initiatives;
• Building and deepening MPI's local and international partnerships;
• Collaborating regularly with fellow Program Directors and the Country Director to improve the reach and effectiveness of MPI's programs;
• Submitting programmatic reports to the Country Director and regularly tracking metrics to assess the impact of MPI's programs;
• Organizing and leading short-term groups of spring break volunteers and summer interns, ensuring that volunteers conduct themselves in a goal-oriented, culturally sensitive way, and that they are in line with the mission and vision of MPI's holistic approach;
• Training the incoming group of Program Directors, with an eye to efficient, effective, and sustainable progress in programming;
• Fundraising $8900 for on-site programmatic and operational development, room and board, food, in-country transportation, and a weekly stipend of $20; and
• Participating in organization-wide planning and development.

Qualifications:

• A willingness to commit to MPI's principles and approach to community development
• Strong relationship-building skills
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work in a team, professionally and personally, as Program Directors both live and work together
• Enthusiasm to experience a new culture, foods, customs, and step outside your comfort zone
• High level of patience and flexibility, as living and working in a developing country is often unpredictable and moves at a different pace than in the U.S.
• Self-starter, able to succeed in an environment with a high level of autonomy
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Benefits:

• 3 weeks vacation in December, 10 personal days, plus 10 national holidays
• Medex international travel insurance
• A visa to live in-country for the duration of your work with MPI