International Youth Program Leaders: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America & the U.S.

We are Global Leadership Adventures (GLA), a well-established organization committed to delivering life-changing journeys for high school and middle school students. Our mission is to inspire the next generation to realize their potential to transform the world and their role in it. We proudly operate our global travel service-learning programs in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the United States.

GLA has welcomed and trained hundreds of staff from all over the world to lead superior-quality trips. For more than a decade, program leaders (International Directors & Mentors) have been carefully selected from a pool of highly-qualified, well-traveled, passionate educators seeking a fulfilling summer experience abroad — now we are also excited to welcome staff who are interested in leading meaningful programs in the U.S.

Our international teams are hired to work in collaboration with our local counterparts, either on the ground or remotely. All field positions are based in the program location and require a minimum commitment to the program dates. Staff are hired to work multiple, consecutive program sessions throughout the summer.

Position Responsibilities

Directors collaborate with the Local Program Director (from the host country or region) to facilitate a positive summer experience for Mentors and participants. Program Directors work to maintain the safety and health of each student, ensure program logistics are properly coordinated and implement GLA’s service-learning leadership curriculum. Communication, teamwork and flexibility are critical throughout this process. Local Directors are responsible for managing, supporting, and guiding local team members in their roles.

Mentors participate in all aspects of programming alongside students, including community service and excursions. Mentors facilitate activities implementing GLA’s service-learning leadership curriculum, as well as discussion and reflection sessions to help students process their experiences. Mentors will facilitate discussions directly with a small group of students regularly and occasionally lead activities with larger groups of students.

Director responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

All new Directors must attend in-person Director Training from May 31 - June 4, 2023

• Read and prepare questions on all resources provided by GLA
• Lead one awesome team building activity or workshop

 Plan for and prepare for the program:

• Participate in introductory and planning calls with your Local Program Director
• Complete all mandatory online training modules prior to the summer
• Participate and/or lead introductory and planning calls with Mentors
• Co-lead In-Country Training with Local Program Director

Work to establish positive team dynamic with Local Program Director, Mentors, and all support staff:

• Support Mentors in their own professional development by conducting goal-setting sessions, check-ins and providing feedback both throughout the summer and at the end by completing a Staff Performance Evaluation
• Live alongside students; you are responsible for the students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while programs are in session
• Protect the health and safety of students at all times
• Facilitate the implementation of GLA’s service-learning leadership curriculum
• Guide students through personal growth experiences
• Resolve student discipline issues
• Provide constructive feedback for further program and curriculum development

Communicate with GLA headquarters and parents/guardians: 

• Manage parent/guardian communication, as well as communication with GLA HQ
• Contact parents/guardians as needed when issues arise on program regarding their student
• Utilize the appropriate summer communication protocol for providing updates

Mentor responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Participate fully in GLA Mentor Training:

• Read and prepare questions on all resources provided by GLA
• Participate in introductory and planning calls with your team
• Complete all mandatory online training modules prior to the summer
• Attend In-Country Training 5 days before the start of your program

Work to uphold a positive group dynamic:

• Live alongside students; you are responsible for the students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while programs are in session
• Protect the health and safety of students at all times
• Work as part of a team to implement GLA’s service-learning leadership curriculum
• Mentor and counsel students through personal growth experiences
• Provide constructive feedback for further program and curriculum development

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or several years of experience working within the experiential education field
• A minimum of two years of experience working with teens; either teaching in a classroom or in an alternative education setting
• Two years of experience working with middle school students for our middle school program
• Mastery relating with teenagers
• Extensive international travel experience for our non-U.S. programs
• Extensive regional or thematic experience for our U.S.-based programs
• Flexibility – our staff have the ability to find comfort in the discomfort, no matter their location
• Exceedingly personable and positive demeanor
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and cross-cultural awareness
• Collaborative in nature; skilled in problem solving
• Good physical and mental health – staff must possess the ability to actively participate in all elements of the program’s experience
• Ability to talk things out and a willingness to express your professional opinions while considering your personal feelings and the feelings of your colleagues
• Natural aptitude to motivate and energize students in a variety of settings and situations
• Ability to confidently lead an ice-breaker activity

Required Certifications

• Directors: CPR and First Aid Certification; Epinephrine Administration Training
• Mentors: CPR and First Aid Certification
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination ( Staff should be fully vaccinated and up to date with their Covid-19 vaccination. This means they have the completed primary series and booster as eligible and available in their country)
• Proof of medical insurance for U.S.-based programs

*Note: GLA does not accept online CPR/First Aid certifications. Certifications must be attained prior to staff’s contract start date and will be at the expense of the candidate.

[Some programs require a wilderness certification (Wilderness Advanced First Aid or Wilderness First Responder); some programs require a Lifeguard certification.]

Preferred Extras

• Fluency in Spanish for programs in Spanish-speaking countries
• Advanced language skills in a language of the country where you are interested in working
• Wilderness certifications as mentioned above for programs in remote locations; an additional stipend is offered for staff certified as a WFR or WAFA
• Lifeguard certification as mentioned above for water-based programs; an additional stipend is offered for staff certified as lifeguards or open-water lifeguards
• Extensive experience in the country or region where you are interested in working
• Familiarity or experience utilizing Zoom video conferencing platform; experience working with online learning management systems
• Experience working with animals and familiarity with veterinary care for our animal and wildlife programs
• Strong biology or environmental background – for biologically and ecologically diverse programs like the Galapagos
• Master’s degree in a field related to the program theme
• Strong athletic background for our sports-based programs
• Ability to swim, hike, surf and keep up with teens