Position title: Education Programme Manager
Employment type: Fixed term, 24 months
Location: Cusco, Peru
Background on crees the organisation:
Crees is a Peruvian-based not for profit organisation that runs research, sustainable initiatives, education and ecotourism in the Manu Biosphere Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon. Crees is dedicated to supporting a sustainable Amazon through understanding the value of the rainforest and helping local people to access its resources in ways that are both profitable and that will preserve the forest for the future.
The Crees’ Conservation Research Programme generates important knowledge about the value, and potential value of biodiversity, ecosystem services and socioeconomic initiatives for local communities, businesses and the Peruvian government. It has specialised in areas of historic and current disturbance within the Manu National Park’s surrounding buffer zone and is now expanding to include protected primary forest located within the National Park.
The knowledge generated by our research fuels our Community Programme to support local community members to develop sustainable businesses models. This programme provides the capital, training and resources that local entrepreneurs need to form and grow sustainable business that transform local resources in a sustainable way. The Community Programme also undertakes sustainable initiatives, such as family bio-gardens and agroforestry.
Crees also facilitates environmental education; working with local people, international volunteers, students and tourists.
Crees has two field locations, the Manu Learning Centre (located in the buffer zone for the Manu National Park, inside the Manu Biosphere Reserve) and Romero Lodge (within the Manu National Park).
About the Educations Programme:
The Education Programme aims to create ambassadors for conservation while providing support to conservation and sustainability projects in Manu. Programme fees go directly into supporting crees research and community projects.
The Education Programme consists of a portfolio of:
2 week voluntourism
4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 week experiential learning programs
6 month conservation research internship
3 month local traineeship program for Peruvian university students (Pasantia Programme)
Local school visits
University student groups
Other bespoke visitors
Crees education programmes operate 365 days a year, where volunteer efforts contribute to scientifically credible projects that address research and local needs rather than volunteer needs. Volunteers receive hands on practical training from passionate field staff and gain work experience in a wide variety of conservation monitoring skills.
Crees was voted in the top 100 volunteer companies globally by the UK Telegraph and in top 12 ethical experiences for 2015 by World Travel Guide.
The Role:
This role is key within the crees organisation and encompasses the running, management and successful delivery of the entire crees Education Programme.
One of the main components of the role is to provide strategic planning and leadership of the programme itself so that it can reach its maximum potential.
This role will:
Oversee logistics and delivery
Provide in-depth forward planning and strategic direction
Review and develop existing programme services on an ongoing basis.
Identify new education opportunities, such as other experiential learning programmes, field expeditions, technical courses and skills workshops for volunteers, interns and students.
Identify new opportunities in the market that can increase capacity for volunteers, interns and student groups
This role requires strong leadership at a strategic level with an excellent understanding of the organisation in order to successfully deliver the Education Programme. The end goal being, to the lead the best experiential learning programme not only Manu but in the market as a whole.
It will require close collaboration with all the different areas of Crees in order to make sure the programme fits well within these different areas and compliments them – research, community development, lodge management and sales and marketing teams.
The Education Programme Manager is responsible for leading not only high quality programme operations and services, but also for broadening Crees’ partnerships and reputation with higher education institutions within Peru and internationally.
Key Responsibilities:
Staff and Client Management
Provide direct support to the Education Field Coordinator regarding any aspect of the delivery of programs and their learning objectives, and also advisory support regarding staff and client management.
Provide advisory support and leadership to all programme delivery staff who are based at field locations in Manu
Administer HR requirements for Education Program staff. This includes strategically planning, recruiting, mediating contracts and invoicing, for staff.
Identify and arrange staff development opportunities and skill acquisition.
Oversee that clients and Education staff live and work in a safe, supportive environment with appropriate supervision. Evaluate the risks to volunteers, interns and student groups regularly regarding health and safety.
Oversee that volunteers, interns and students receive appropriate training in order to safely and confidently complete tasks.
Respond appropriately to client feedback and complaints.
Achieve excellent client feedback and testimonials.
Programme Delivery
Design and implement new products, such as experiential learning programs and field expeditions, and coordinate technical courses and skills workshops.
Identify and plan for achieving short term and long term goals for the program to ensure Crees works towards its vision.
Develop, administer and review program policies and procedures.
Ensure sales material and programs delivered are corresponding and consistent, and clients are appropriately screened and prepared.
Review and improve existing programs in terms of operational and communication processes, and educational value, to provide the best experiential learning programs in Manu.
Develop a learning objective based curriculum for Crees’ experiential learning programs as a way to measure educational impact.
Ensure appropriate human, equipment and technological resources are available in order to successfully deliver programs.
Internal Communications
Participate in meetings and follow reporting procedures.
Monthly reporting – communicate effectively with other Crees staff and offices about the running and success of the programme, its achievements and future goals.
Provide monthly reports to Directors as required.
Work closely with colleagues to get assistance required to support and develop the program further – for example work with sales teams on market research, discussing trends and evaluating feedback so we can continue to improve and grow in success.
Provide support to Crees in general as directed by superiors.
Outreach
Liaise with higher education institutions to set up partnerships with Crees to gain university level accreditation for its services.
Build relationships with local Peruvian universities and institutions to open doors for future partnerships.
Constantly network with other organisations, attend events (in Peru) to help market the programme.
Skills /Experience Required
Educated to bachelor degree level
Two years project management experience
Experience in strategic planning as well as previous experience executing succesful volunteer / educational programmes.
Excellent problem solving skills and an ability to think quickly and calmly.
Excellent leadership skills
Proven epxerience of managing a team of staff.
Previous experience managing and inspiring new volunteers and interns.
Previous experience working within the field of education.
Proven ability to work independently and effectively as part of a culturally diverse team.
Be a self starter, have self-motivation and be able to use initiative.
High level of interpersonal skills, with an ability to resolve conflict and appropriately manage sensitive issues.
Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritize work activities in a demanding, busy ever changing and unpredictable environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Previous experience working with an NGO and/or not-for-profit organisation.
Fluent Spanish both written and verbal.
Desirable Experience and skills
Experience and/or qualifications in mentoring, counselling or organisational psychology
6 months living and working in Latin America
Experience working with and/or leading student expedition groups
Experience in delivering learning objectives and/or curriculum development
Understanding of conservation and sustainability issues
Relationships:
This position reports to the crees Director and General Manager.
It requires a close working relationship with crees lodge management team, the Research Manager, Community Projects manager and operations in Cusco and Manu. The role also requires close communication with the UK Sales & Marketing team in terms of project development and new product design. Both this role and the Sales team will also be required to work together with regards to managing client feedback and incidents – this role will need to make sure the UK office is informed of any occurrences on the ground that need support from them in terms of communication with partners or next of kin.
In general this role is pivotal within the whole crees organisation – communication will be key to its success.
See below the hierarchical structure of crees:-
Salary / Working Conditions:
This position is based in Cusco, Peru. Some travel will be required between Crees’ field sites in Manu and Cusco as well as ad hoc travel to events / presentations within Peru/South America as a whole as required.
24 month contract subject to a 3 month probation
Accommodation and 3 meals per day provided whilst at the Manu Learning Centre (20% of time)
Contribution towards international flights and insurance. These costs will be reimbursed in the last quarter of the 12 month employment period.
28 days holiday allowance
Salary tbc dependant on experience
Application Process:
Please send the following to jasmine@crees-manu.org
Covering letter and CV (no more than 2 pages)
Crees website
http://www.crees-manu.org/
crees on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/creesfoundation
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