Program Director in La Plata, Argentina

The Program Director is responsible for the development and maintenance of a program that provides strategic support to a network of local partner organizations and the FSD volunteers who assist the organizations’ projects and initiatives. Under the supervision of the International Programs Director (IPD) and Managing Director (MD), the basic responsibilities of the position include the initiation of the program, technical guidance to program partners and participants, as well as fiscal and programmatic management of site operations.

Note: Only Argentine nationals should apply!

Major Duties and Responsibilities

A. Project Development and Management (approx. 25% of the time)

• Develop relationships with 10-25 organizations and institutions for partnership with FSD. These organizations should work in the field of community-based, locally oriented, sustainable development in one or more of the FSD focal sectors.
• Support development of new partner organizations to promote achievement of FSD’s mission.
• Maintain knowledge of partner programs and initiatives and regular partner communication, reinforcing sustainable development projects and approaches, and sharing regular partner information with SFO.
• Create community relationships to foster awareness and understanding of FSD’s community-driven approach and work to motivate community collaboration.
• Prepare partner organizations for placement of volunteers, ensuring the organization complies with contractual stipulations to ensure fulfillment of volunteer program requirements.
• Prepare host families for volunteer placements by ensuring host families meet criteria and are aware of key cross-cultural integration issues to ensure a safe and successful home-stay.
• Collaborate and guide host organizations to develop rewarding and effective volunteer experiences focused on community-driven projects that are beneficial for the volunteer, the host organization, and the community.
• Administrate direct to partner Grants Program, monitoring grant projects and implementing Grants Program activities.

B. Volunteer Support (approximately 20% of the time)

• In collaboration with the International Program Team (IPT), place applicant volunteers with organizations and programs that meet their preferences and skill sets.
• Ensure all volunteer program lifecycle activities (orientation, educational workshops, midterm retreat, end of internship activities, etc.) are successfully implemented.
• Direct and manage all volunteer logistics related to program activities in sites.
• Travel regularly throughout the program area to establish and maintain working relationships with host organizations and host families, and to visit volunteers at their sites for project and personal monitoring.
• Facilitate meetings between the volunteer and the host organization supervisor to define project objectives and scope, address issues, and monitor/evaluate performance.
• Assist volunteers to improve their job performance and social/cultural adaptation through the provision of technical support, cultural insights, and direction to relevant and available resources.
• Assess and address issues between host organization and volunteers to foster a mutually beneficial relationship and ensure volunteer work benefits communities.
• Support volunteers with personal and cultural counseling, and reinforce FSD policies and procedures.
• Adapt volunteer placements, but only after following the appropriate protocol from headquarters, as needed to ensure a mutually comfortable and beneficial placement for the host and volunteer.

C. Volunteer and Local Partner Capacity Building & Training (approx. 20% of the time)

• Develop, implement, and evaluate orientation, training sessions, and materials for volunteers and to enhance sustainable development skills and practices.
• Creatively develop and provide relevant training to our partner organizations to strengthen the efficacy of their technical programs in sustainable development approaches and enhance organizational development for improved institutional performance.
• Develop and provide training and other activities for host families to support cultural integration of volunteers and expand knowledge on community development practices.
• Evaluate the qualifications of each volunteer, and work to adapt approaches to increase their learning and professional capabilities.
• Create workshops, trainings and other approaches to developing the skills and abilities of our host supervisors in relation to FSD program.
• Create networking and resource leveraging opportunities to support experience sharing among partners.

D. Safety and Security (approx. 5% of the time)

• Establish relationships and systems that increase the safety and security of FSD staff and volunteers, including emergency evacuation plans using local contacts.
• Ensure that each volunteer has mastered the required safety competencies before placed with host families.
• Be aware of and address any behavior or actions of the volunteers or staff that compromises their safety or welfare and/or are not in compliance with FSD policies and procedures.
• Develop and distribute safety standards to the host organizations and host families to ensure awareness of FSD safety protocol.
• Maintain routine safety and security updates to SFO on general situations or emergent issues with volunteers or site environments, following protocol and instructions.

E. Program, Monitoring and Evaluation (approximately 10% of the time)

• Develop a strategy for achieving FSD objectives in the community, including indicators and implementation plans with monitoring and evaluation reporting to SFO.
• Monitor and evaluate volunteer projects to ensure satisfactory progress and results.
• Monitor volunteer, host organization, and host family performance and provide guidance, capacity building activities, or reports to SFO to improve performance and adherence to the FSD approach.
• Provide regular reports to SFO in a timely manner, including weekly reports, session reflection reports, final program evaluations, and other surveys/reports as requested by SFO, to evaluate and make recommendations regarding performance of program, local partners, staff, and volunteers.
• Develop activities for sharing program information with community partners (host families, host organizations).
• Provide relevant feedback to the San Francisco staff on how programs and systems of communication can be more effectively carried out.

F. Financial, Human Resource and Operations Management (approximately 10% of the time)

• Understand and manage the program budget.
• Provide management reports and financial reconciliations to the Executive Director in a timely manner, ensuring the proper and accurate documentation of expenditures for all program related expenses.
• Ensure the appropriate monitoring of funds distributed to host organizations, grant projects and other fiscal projects.
• Provide supportive supervision of the Program Coordinator(s), and participate in recruitment of new PCs.
• Ensure FSD site operations and programs are in compliance with local regulations.
• Manage site office operations, meeting minimum FSD operational standards and maintaining representative of FSD’s professional quality.

G. Other Duties and Activities (not to exceed 10% of the time)

• Perform other related duties as assigned by the International Programs Director, Managing Director, Executive Director or Communications Director.

Expected Outcomes:

• FSD is represented in program site locations as a technically sound, operationally efficient, professional community-based development program that brings added value to program partners and communities.
• FSD volunteers obtain increased knowledge in sustainable development and implement projects focusing on sustainable impact on the communities.
• Volunteer placements and logistics (home stays, host org placements) are fully supported.
• Volunteer orientation and training fully prepares them to be added values to host organizations and understand key development principles and skills.
• All program lifecycle activities (orientation, educational workshops, midterm retreat, end of internship activities, etc.) are successfully implemented.
• Volunteer, staff, host organization and host family trainings prepare them to be compliant with safety and security policies and procedures.
• Project goals and objectives reflect the needs and priorities of the host organization and local communities, while supporting the growth and efficacy of the volunteer experience.
• Safety issues are addressed proactively and in coordination with SFO.
• The Program Director initiates, supports and encourages capacity building activities with program partners.
• Community support is created such that our partners provide fully collaborative input and support for the project activities and initiatives.
• Community-based organizations are developed and guided to support community-driven, sustainable projects.
• Communities and new organizations are interested in hosting FSD volunteers at their agency and understand the philosophy and objectives that drive FSD’s work.
• FSD operations at the program site run efficiently, effectively and smoothly.
• Supportive supervision is used to promote development and retention of Site Team staff.

Supervision & Guidance

The Program Director reports directly to International Programs Director. The Program Director is supported by the Program Coordinator(s) and works directly with them to determine a full distribution of responsibilities. The Program Director performs the majority of designated job functions with general independence. Performance evaluation is based upon successfully meeting the criteria and objectives established in the performance plan. Evaluation of the position will be provided on a bi-annual basis.

Desired Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in organizational development, social studies, economics, public administration, or related field. Graduate degree in related field strongly preferred.
• Prior Work Experience: At least three years experience in public administration, NGO development, community or organizational development, experience in an environmental education, natural resource management or similarly related field. Positions held should reflect responsibility in program development, management, and administration.
• Post-entry Training: On the job training focused on understanding FSD’s philosophy, regulations, and procedures. Training provided by our Special Projects Consultant and through joint work with the Program Coordinators, written materials and trainings provided by FSD.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English and relevant local language. Host country nationals preferred.
• Skills and Abilities: Ability to represent FSD effectively with a wide range of individuals: i.e., local officials and community members, different levels of government officials, international agency personnel, etc. Ability to conceptualize new or improved project possibilities and delineate essential elements needed to indicate program success (i.e. project goals, implementation plans, supervisor and co-worker effectiveness, material availability.) Program vision & creativity; ability to guide FSD volunteer job performance. Counseling ability in cross-cultural and performance evaluation situations. Organizational and administrative skills. Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment under normal as well as complex and stressful conditions.