Type of Position: Temporary, contract position
Start Date: ASAP
Location: Washington, DC Metropolitan Area/Suburban Maryland/Northern Virginia
Intercultural Friends Foundation (IFF), a non-profit foreign student exchange organization, is currently seeking teachers and school-based personnel in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area/Suburban Maryland/Northern Virginia to coordinate group homestay programs during the 2010-2011 academic year. The Community Coordinator will be responsible recruiting volunteer host families for high school-aged foreign exchange students who will visit the Washington, DC region for 2 to 3 weeks during the academic year. Group programs generally have 10-15 students aged 13-18 and one teacher/escort. The Community Coordinator will also have to obtain school approval from a local high school for the exchange students to attend classes for up to 4 days during their stay. The group must be placed within a relatively close geographic area, so students can conveniently participate in all program activities.
Responsibilities:
- Recruiting, interviewing and selecting volunteer host families for each program participant and one teacher/escort.
- Securing all necessary approvals for foreign exchange students to attend classes at a local high school for up to 4 days during their stay.
- Planning and submitting a comprehensive program itinerary detailing all program activities, excursions, and school days for the duration of the program.
- Arranging all logistics for students to attend a local high school during designated school days.
- Conduct a host family orientation prior to the students’ arrival.
- Organizing and directing all half-day recreational activities and full-day excursions.
- Coordinating all transportation for participants to and from a centralized meeting location in the community for program arrival and departure, activities and excursions.
- Planning and organizing Welcome and Farewell parties at the beginning and end of the program.
- Providing ongoing support to students and host families.
- Communicating all aspects of the program to the IFF home office.
- Submitting host family applications, evaluations, and all other required program documentation in accordance with contractual deadlines.
In order to successfully recruit and screen host families, coordinators must spend a substantial amount of time promoting the program to the local community in the months before students arrive. Coordinators must feel comfortable approaching schools, churches, organizations, and individuals in order to identify suitable host families.
School selection and approval must be obtained well in advance of group arrival.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate is highly organized, resourceful, connected to their community (have lived in the same community at least 2 years), able to manage a budget, and experienced in working with students from other countries. Teachers and personnel based at a potential host school are preferred and strongly encouraged to apply.
Please note that this is a contract position, not an opportunity for full time employment.
Interested applicants should email resume, cover letter and completed IFF Coordinator Application to apply@iffusa.org.
