Type of Position: Temporary, contract position
Start Date: ASAP
Location: Northern New Jersey/Metropolitan New York City
Intercultural Friends Foundation (IFF), a non-profit foreign student exchange organization, is currently seeking candidates in the Northern New Jersey/Metropolitan New York City area to coordinate group homestay programs during summer 2011. The Community Coordinator will be responsible for recruiting volunteer host families for high school-aged foreign exchange students who will visit the New York area in July and August 2011. Group programs are generally 3-4 weeks in duration and have 10-15 students aged 13 to 18 and one teacher/escort. 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.
- Planning and submitting a comprehensive program itinerary detailing all program activities, excursions, and (if applicable) classes for the duration of the program, including at least, one full-day excursion to New York City.
- 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.
- For ESL programs, identifying a classroom and meeting point location, accessible to all host families
- For ESL programs, arranging 12 hours of ESL classes per week (Coordinator can teach classes, if qualified, and/or subcontract a program teacher)
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.
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. School-based teachers 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.
