Belize Program Manager, applications accepted through May 2, 2014
About Ecology Project International (EPI)
EPI is an international non-profit organization dedicated to addressing
critical conservation issues through field-based partnerships between local
experts and high school students. We engage adolescent youth from local
communities and visiting youth from other regions in applied conservation
as they learn about and help protect threatened species and habitats. Through
EPI’s programs in the U.S. and Latin America, teens are inspired and empowered
to engage in conservation efforts at home and worldwide.
Job Description
The Belize program manager is responsible for the oversight of all aspects
of EPI’s Belizean educational programming and operations. The Belize program
manager ensures the successful delivery of a field-based, academically rigorous,
environmental education program for Belizean and visiting international
teenage students. The program manager will also develop in-country programs
to allow for continued engagement with Belizean alumni. S/he will provide
program leadership and strategic vision (both programmatic and development),
and will work in conjunction with EPI’s program operations director and
other senior staff to ensure a fiscally and legally sound program.
Other important aspects of this position include communication between the
field site and EPI’s world headquarters (WHQ); planning, management, evaluation,
and improvement of field courses and outreach activities; supervising in-country
staff; procurement and management of office space; risk management; budget
creation and administration; development of relations and collaboration
with in-country foundations and donors, partners, and vendors.
The position is based in Belize City, Belize. The Program Manager is responsible
to the Program Operations Director (POD) who is based in La Paz, Mexico.
Responsibilities
• Oversee and manage EPI’s Belize Program with occasional travel to EPI’s
other field programs and EPI world headquarters in Missoula, Montana;
• Ensure high quality, safety, and effectiveness of program content and
delivery while striving for operational efficiency;
• Manage in-country human resources: recruit, hire, train, develop, and
supervise program personnel, and ensure collaboration and proper coordination
other EPI staff; identify, prioritize, and pursue professional-development
opportunities;
• Build, strengthen, and leverage key strategic partnerships with local,
regional, and international non-profit organizations and government agencies
to achieve EPI’s mission and goals;
• Seek out opportunities to increase positive public relations exposure
for EPI in Belize;
• Develop budget forecasts; monitor spending and oversee monthly program
accounting;
• Generate development prospects and actively and continuously engage in
fundraising efforts in conjunction with EPI’s development director;
• Develop effective strategies for student recruitment, pricing, promotions
and program content; identify potential fee- and income-producing opportunities,
and cost-cutting opportunities;
• Ensure program activities fulfill EPI’s vision, mission, and strategic
goals; stay fluent in “best practices” as they apply to regional conservation
and environmental education;
• Plan and deliver educator training courses for both Belizean and U.S.
teachers;
• Evaluate existing and new education and program offerings; ensure that
program content is aligned with current proficiency requirements when appropriate;
• Direct EPI Belize through in-country legal issues and official government
business including relationships with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry
of Education.
• Oversee any special projects assigned by senior staff;
• Maintain good humor and apply professional, common-sense solutions to
everyday challenges.
Tasks
Leadership and Communication:
• Provide leadership for Belize office staff, instructors, and participants
• Represent EPI to partners, vendors, schools, government officials, and
within the local community and region;
• Work to ensure legal compliance in-country;
• Serve as primary contact for in-country staff, partners, and vendors;
• Serve as primary contact for staff from EPI headquarters in Missoula,
Montana;
• Coordinate and share resources with program staff at other EPI program
sites.
Staff management and supervision:
• Understand and stay abreast of in-country human resource policies and
practices;
• Hire and train program associates/coordinators; support this process for
assistants, instructors, and interns;
• Supervise, motivate, and inspire program staff, provide positive and constructive
feedback, and conduct semi-annual reviews of key staff.
Financial oversight:
• Oversee in-country finances;
• Develop program budget and forecasts; review account ledgers and staff
payroll summaries;
• Complete vendor contracts or Memorandums of Understanding and request
payments.
Income production:
• Identify and cultivate potential funding sources; serve as primary in-country
contact for local funding partners;
• Contribute regularly to grant writing and reporting efforts;
• Enhance U.S. and international student recruitment efforts;
• Maximize local student tuition and other earned income revenue as appropriate.
Program planning, evaluation, and improvement:
• Ensure each course fulfills EPI’s educational, conservation, and cultural
goals;
• Maximize relationships in the communities where we operate;
• Contribute to regional awareness and support of EPI programming;
• Maintain relationships with EPI’s partners and vendors before;
• Oversee season schedule;
• Evaluate appropriateness of current logistics; work to improve efficiency,
participant experience, and cost-benefit.
Risk management:
• Maximize safe learning environment for students during field and other
activities;
• Ensure that decisions regarding program delivery account for EPI’s risk
management policies;
• Participate in medical review process for international participants and
implement and oversee operation of medical review process in-country for
local participants;
• Play key role in administrative emergency response system.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
At least five years management experience, including supervising staff,
providing financial oversight, developing and executing programs
Work experience involving education, science, and conservation
Ability and desire to live/work in Belize
Additional desirable skills
Professional experience in Belize, particularly in education, science, and
conservation
Master’s degree in relevant field
Marine and/or ecological science degree
At least three years of education experience, ideally in environmental or
science education with students aged 14-19
Proven, past fundraising success ($100,000+/year)
Valid Wilderness First Responder certification
Program management or research experience in Belize
Creole and Spanish language fluency
Applications will be accepted through May 2, 2014 or until a suitable candidate
is identified. Early applications are encouraged and applications will be
considered as they are received. All applications must be submitted through
our online system. Hard copy or emailed applications will not be accepted.
For questions/inquiries please call 406-721-8784 or email .(JavaScript must
be enabled to view this email address). Download this job description: http://www.ecologyproject.org/images/uploads/documents/BELIZE_PROGRAM_MANAGER_2014.pdf.
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