Project Director Job Description
The Project Director represents the highest level of Latin America Project Staff management. He or she is directly accountable to the International Office for all aspects of program management, including agency and community relationships, budget administration, health and safety and conduct. In terms of implementation of these responsibilities, the Project Director works in partnership with the Associate Project Director, directly sharing responsibility for planning, implementing and evaluating the program, supervising staff and enhancing relationships with partner agencies. The Senior Staff team has the opportunity to define their working relationship and divide tasks and responsibilities according to skill and interests.
Ongoing Responsibilities
- Supervised and supported by the Regional Director
- Understands, upholds and enforces the AMIGOS Standards of Conduct and other policies and procedures among Volunteers and Project Staff during entire summer
- Maintains frequent communication with the AMIGOS Latin American Programs Department
- Plans and coordinates the Latin American program in his/her project area
- Cultivates professional relationships with host country officials at the national and regional levels, and maintains consistent communication with them before, during and after the summer
- Collaborates with the Associate Project Director (APD) to create a successful Senior Staff partnership, dividing responsibilities to promote effective completion of tasks
- Provides leadership development opportunities and empowers the APD to take increasing ownership of the project
- Facilitates the training and leadership development of the Project Staff
Pre-Program Responsibilities
- Participates in two training workshops
- Conducts a survey of the project area and submits a completed initial survey report, Volunteer Country Materials and any additional relevant training materials
- Develops a work plan delineating the responsibilities of AMIGOS and the partner agency, including the selected programs, the work areas, Volunteer numbers, supply requests, etc.
- Communicates survey results to APD and International Office
- Initiates communication with Project Staff to begin to build positive working relationships
- Assists in Volunteer recruiting and/or Chapter or Correspondent Volunteer training
Program Responsibilities
- Coordinates and supervises the work of the Project Staff
- Works with APD to set up staff headquarters
- Establishes and monitors a medical and emergency procedures system to safeguard the well-being of the Volunteers and Project Staff
- Facilitates Project Staff in-country training, including preparing APD to serve as project manager and preparing Project Supervisors to conduct successful town surveys
- Investigates rule violations and safety concerns, reporting follow-up to the International Office (IO)
- Communicates with the IO according to the on-call schedule, and immediately in a crisis situation, to report program progress, rule violations, illnesses and other concerns
- Oversees management of project budget
- Oversees Volunteer training sessions- Briefing, Midterm, Debriefing
- Expands the AMIGOS network by seeking new organizations with similar goals with which AMIGOS could collaborate
- Evaluates Project Staff performance throughout the project and makes recommendations for each Project Staff member's continuation with AMIGOS
- Collaborates with the Regional Director and APD to develop the programs for the following year
- Develops and facilitates participatory evaluation of project with partner agency representatives, Project Staff, and Volunteers
- Submits reports (logistical information, final evaluation, and project proposal for following year) to International Office and partner agencies
- Oversees proper documentation and filing of all project related information
Post-Program Responsibilities
- Engages in a debriefing with the Latin American Program/Training Departments at the International Office
- Submits handover report evaluating the program and providing recommendations for the future
- Represents his/her project via attendance and participation in the AMIGOS Annual Meeting
