Limitless Horizons Ixil

Job Opportunity: International Coordinator

Application Deadline: May 10, 2019
Start Date: June 3, 2019

Location: Chajul, El Quiché, Guatemala

 

About Limitless Horizons Ixil

Limitless Horizons Ixil (LHI) is a non-partisan, non-religious Guatemala-based organization with legal status in Guatemala and 501(c)(3) status in the United States. LHI creates opportunities for the indigenous youth, women, and families of Chajul, Guatemala to develop the academic and professional skills needed to effect change in their lives and community.

LHI achieves its goals through the integration of four core programs:

  • The Youth Development Program supports middle and high school education for youth who would not otherwise have the means to continue their education past primary school. The program provides youth with scholarships and a comprehensive range of support services, including tutoring, computer and Spanish language classes, a work-study program, career counseling, mentorship, and life-skills workshops.
  • Our Emerging Leaders Program provides alumni with career development opportunities and ongoing support in their post-secondary transitions to university, employment, or entrepreneurship.
  • LHI founded and operates Chajul’s first and only community library. The library serves 50 to 100 visitors daily and provides access to around 9,000 books.
  • The Artisan program provides women with the opportunity to earn a fair wage using their traditional weaving skills.

 

Position Description

LHI seeks a creative, flexible, relationship-oriented team member with excellent communications and interpersonal skills, and who is passionate about international community development and interested in nonprofit management. The International Coordinator will work to further the development of our programs by managing communications and donor relations, as well as building capacity for local managers to lead their programs. The ideal candidate will be an adaptable and supportive team member, an independent, self-motivated worker, and strong critical-thinker. S/he must also have excellent written and oral English skills, advanced oral and written Spanish skills, and must be comfortable working closely with a diverse international team. The International Coordinator will work alongside the LHI staff, reporting to the Managing Director and the Executive Director and working in partnership with the Board of Directors.

Because we are a small team, each employee has a wide variety of responsibilities. We ask candidates to be flexible, eager to learn new things, and willing to engage in both high-level and entry-level work. Working with LHI is a tremendous opportunity for personal and professional growth; employees are given significant responsibility and independence in their work and are mentored by the Executive Director, colleagues, and the Board of Directors.

This is a multifaceted opportunity for the right individual to join our small NGO with a eleven-year record of excellence in community development. Are you the motivated, hard-working, talented, and reliable individual to join our LHI team? The work is challenging, exhausting, exhilarating, and could be the most rewarding endeavor you ever undertake.

 

Responsibilities 

Communications, Fundraising, and Donor Relations 

  • Support and coordinate communications to our network (including drafting and publishing newsletters, blogs, and other communication materials)
  • Support Associate Director in executing fundraising and communication strategies
  • Manage online presence, including social media outlets
  • Complete reports to staff, board, partners, and major donor
  • Support with fundraising campaigns
  • Translate communications between scholars and their sponsors

Community Engagement and Tourism

  • Assist with LHI’s sustainable tourism trips, including marketing, communications, planning and logistics
  • Lead student and adult groups
  • Supervise on-site volunteers and interns as needed

Program Support 

  • Provide program managers with support and follow-up in their activities
  • Support local staff coordination of workshops and activities for youth and families

Strategic Planning and Program Development

  • Participate in annual strategic planning process
  • Support with quarterly progress reviews
  • Assist in writing yearly evaluation and strategic plans

Capacity Building

  • Provide support and training to local staff as needed
  • Assist with creating and maintaining team cohesion and professional development

 

Qualifications

Required

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a relationship-oriented work ethic
  • Flexible, patient, diplomatic and friendly, with a positive attitude
  • At least 1 year of professional work experience and a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
  • Experience living in a developing country (Latin America preferred)
  • Fluent in English (native preferred) and excellent verbal and written communication skills in Spanish
  • Excellent writer capable of writing effectively for various audiences
  • Interested in international development and indigenous communities
  • Cultural sensitivity and capacity to adjust behavior accordingly
  • Extremely detail-oriented and organized
  • Responsible, reliable, and proactive
  • Reflective and eager to learn
  • Excellent independent worker
  • Understanding of and commitment to staff capacity building
  • Prepared for the challenges of living in an isolated and developing indigenous community

Preferred

  • 3 years of professional work experience
  • Experience working with youth and/or families
  • Experience in fundraising and/or donor development
  • Experience in writing and communications
  • Experience in staff capacity building
  • Experience leading trips or activities
  • Experience with video and/or photography

 

Compensation and Benefits

LHI provides a monthly stipend of USD $378 (approximately 2750 quetzales, Guatemala’s legal minimum wage); covers rent in a LHI international staff house, phone and Internet costs; and reimburses work-related
transportation. LHI also provides stipends that cover required 90-day visa renewals. Relocation costs up to USD $750 and health/travel insurance up to USD $750 will be reimbursed with the fulfillment of the 18-month contract of employment. While LHI requires a minimum commitment of 18 months, we encourage employees to stay on for an additional year following an evaluation at the end of the contract, and will implement a 20% pay raise after one year, and a 30% pay raise after 18 months. LHI employees get 8 weeks of vacation in the 18- month contract (last two weeks of December, one week at Easter, and 25 other personal days), plus Guatemalan Independence Day. Employees staying past their contract will earn additional vacation days.

 

Work Location

The Ixil region is isolated by beautiful mountains and has maintained its rich Maya Ixil traditions and language. Chajul, Nebaj, and Cotzal are the three counties that make up the Ixil region in the Department of Quiché in the western highlands of Guatemala. Limitless Horizons Ixil serves Chajul, which consists of an urban center (pop. 20,000) and many outlying rural villages (pop. 30,000). Having been at the heart of Guatemala’s 36-year civil war, Chajul experiences post-war challenges such as land displacement and fragmented families. Within the community, 84% of families live in poverty with 27% in extreme poverty. Limited educational opportunity remains a significant impediment to progress, with only 11% of youth in Chajul graduating from middle school.

 

Housing Location 

While LHI works in Chajul, the International Coordinator will live in the nearby larger town of Nebaj (urban center pop. 25,000). Nebaj has a number of restaurants, stores, amenities, and a community of long term volunteers and NGO workers. The LHI team will provide housing. The Operations and Development Coordinator has the option to work from home in Nebaj up to 2 days per week, and will travel to the LHI office in Chajul at least 3 days per week. The daily commute to Chajul takes roughly 40 minutes in each direction on public minibuses. There are infrequent occasions when it would be necessary to stay in Chajul or travel to other Guatemalan cities such as Quetzaltenango (Xela) or Antigua.

While the Ixil region is a rewarding and beautiful place to live, it is not without its challenges. As is the case in much of the developing world, water quality is poor and illness is common. LHI works hard to maintain the health of its employees, providing water filters, a well-stocked kitchen to safely prepare food, and air purifiers, as well as reimbursing travel insurance and maintaining a wide network of quality healthcare providers in the region and beyond. Additionally, international employees receive ample time off to occasionally take advantage of the amenities of the more developed parts of the country. The ideal candidate will be understanding of these risks, eager to tackle the challenges of living in the developing world for the reward of participating in truly meaningful work.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Email resume and cover letter to [email protected] with “International Coordinator. [Your Name]” in the subject line. Only successful candidates will be contacted. If selected for an interview, references and work/writing samples may be requested.