Job Description

Carpe Mundi Organizational Overview: 

Carpe Mundi is a growing nonprofit with a mission to empower low-income college students to embrace their full potential through international learning experiences and mentorship. In August, 2023 Carpe Mundi will begin our 12th year of holistic programming, supporting an average of 10-20 diverse, Pell-eligible, mostly first-generation college students in the Portland area with a yearlong mentorship program that includes an experiential education semester abroad.  

We pride ourselves on being the only nonprofit in the US that provides low-income college students with a scholarship to study abroad in addition to a holistic support network to ensure student success. We believe in student engagement, learning communities, and providing equitable opportunities to all students. Our office culture is supportive, collaborative, creative, and lively. We work closely with two primary partner organizations: Carpe Diem Education and Where There Be Dragons, and have strong relationships with our community partners and a diverse base of alumni students that continue to stay engaged and involved with our organization. 

Program Director Position Summary: 

Carpe Mundi is a close-knit team of three passionate educators that share office space with our partners at Carpe Diem Education. We are seeking a dynamic individual to step into the role of Carpe Mundi PDXchange Program Director (PD) beginning in mid-August, 2023. The PD’s primary function is mentoring students during Carpe Mundi’s year-long program, and provides academic, developmental, emotional, and logistical support in Portland and internationally. This year-round, salaried position includes two months of international travel as an Overseas Educator through our sister organization and program provider Carpe Diem Education.

The successful PD has a strong desire to positively affect the lives of young people. They enjoy the challenge of educating and mentoring young adults as they expand their self-awareness through traveling internationally, often for the first time. They love travel and approach their work with energy, curiosity and a sense of fun. They are committed to diversity and inclusion, their own personal development and have strong emotional intelligence and program management skills.

Carpe Mundi seeks to build an inclusive workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our student community. We are committed to fostering a culture where difference is celebrated, and everyone feels safe and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, socio-economic status, or disabilities. We consider all applicants holistically and we strongly encourage applications from historically underrepresented groups.  

Essential Job Functions: 

Student Mentorship – Before and after international travel, spend approximately two-thirds time on student support functions

• Mentor and supervise individuals to ensure they are logistically and financially prepared for the entirety of the program (passports, visas, scholarships, maintaining satisfactory academic progress, etc.)  
• Plan and facilitate student group meetings on a weekly and monthly basis, including a two-day orientation in early September
• Utilize prepared curriculum and develop new lessons that are proactive and responsive to the needs of students such as: goal setting, budgeting, non-violent communication, social and environmental justice, mindfulness, cultural humility, and other interpersonal skills 
• Act as a writing and academic mentor for students
• Identify and secure post-travel volunteer placements in the greater Portland metro area
• Liaise with Carpe Diem Education to plan international travel
• Track student progress and logistics, and update database with student information
• Provide supplemental support for Carpe Mundi events and fundraising campaigns
• Coordinate the students’ Capstone Event
• Collaborate with the Executive Director (ED) in:
  • Student updates and special student needs or accommodations
  • Consulting on students during recruitment 

Program and Curriculum Development – Spend approximately one-thirds time on program and curriculum development, and evaluation :

• Creating mentor/educator and student guides, as well as resource packs.
  • Incorporate a range of digital resources to optimize classroom learning and ensure ongoing learning outside of formal settings
• Evaluate existing program curriculum for effectiveness by monitoring student progress and feedback to make relevant changes to curriculum.
  • Ensure content matches established learning impacts 
  • Review, research, and recommend supplemental educational materials/resources 
  • Set up assessments to gauge the effectiveness of curriculum 
    • Consider implementation of curriculum in different contexts (lin-person v virtual, locations, etc.) and evaluate effectiveness 
    • Analyze effectiveness based on student feedback and observations to propose improvements or potential program strategies
• Manage the continual process of changes to curriculum for changing needs 
• Collaborate with the Executive Director (ED) in: 
  • Developing and implementing more robust forms of program evaluation to track individual student outcomes
  • Provide recommendations along with justifications in the budget creation. Monitor and report on the program budget. 
  • Review and evaluate curriculum and program content with consideration for scalability and expansion 

Administrative Responsibilities – Spend approximately one-tenths on administrative responsibilities:

• Attend weekly meetings
• Prepare for meeting in advance
• Answering phones / email inquiries
• Supporting other Carpe Mundi projects as needed such as:
• Planning and attending fundraising events/campaigns
• Planning and attending Storytelling Night
• Other duties as assigned

International Travel – the Program Director functions as a Carpe Diem Overseas Educator which entails a balance of leadership and mentorship, travel sensitivity, cultural understanding, community living skills, and risk management. 

• The PDXchange PD is required to travel for two months to a developing country or region of the world (i.e., Central American, SE Asia, South America, South Asia) on a program offered by Carpe Diem Education (late-February to late-April)
• Lead and mentor students while supporting their physical, emotional and educational needs 24/7
• Participate in a 10-12 day leader training in Portland, hosted by Carpe Diem Education in early February
• Function as a Carpe Diem Education Overseas Educator with the support of a Carpe Diem Education co-leader
• Follow the health and safety policies and emergency response protocol of Carpe Diem Education; provide medical assistance and first aid, as needed 
• Maintain frequent and effective communication with Executive Director as well as with Carpe Diem Program Director
• Support students in completing academic requirements
• * Overseas Educators are required to possess a Wilderness First Aid Certificate and be CPR certified

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Experience working with teens and young adults from low-income and diverse backgrounds; desire to connect, develop and maintain long-term, caring and trusting relationships with youth
• Strong mentorship, coaching, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence
  • Able to encourage and support students in overcoming obstacles and navigating potential logistical barriers to travel
  • Able to responsibly encourage students to stretch beyond their comfort zones
  • Reinforce expectations for college level academic skills and learning
• Committed to self development and growth
• Navigate traveling in a foreign country while guiding a group of 10-12 students (often first time international travelers)
  • Experience practicing intercultural communication and culturally sensitive travel
  • Impart knowledge on cultural curiosity, intercultural communication, and demonstrate an excitement for activities; teach and model what it means to be a respectful/responsive traveler, not a tourist 
  • Able to translate travel experiences into personal life lessons
  • Able to establish clear guidelines and boundaries to support others
  • Engage in a safety mindset at all times, and respond effectively and calmly to adverse and unpredictable circumstances, including medical or emotional crises
  • Maintain awareness of relevant issues related to host countries such as culture, religion, current affairs, environment, etc.
  • Has strong conflict resolution and problem-solving skills
  • Willing and able to be available to students during travel times 24 hours a day 7 days a week
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, and experience working closely with a co-leader or team member 
• Effective group facilitation skills
  • Able to establish and communicate clear expectations, and model and maintain appropriate boundaries with and for students
  • Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills
  • Able to create a friendly, positive, equitable, culturally sensitive and respectful climate that is student-focused 
• Effective organization, time management, and project management skills
• Able to work independently, set and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong and creative problem-solving skills
• Flexible, and able to perform well under constantly changing environments

 Work Environment and Physical Demands

• This job operates both inside and outside of an office environment.
• This position is regularly required to see, talk, hear, stand, walk, climb stairs, use arms and hands 
• During travel there are periods of increased physical activity with moderate lifting, pushing, or pulling, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching and climbing; some swimming
• During travel there is the possibility of exposure to unusual elements, such as varied or extreme weather, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors; there is the possibility of exposure to hazards such as disease, contaminated water or food poisoning. You will have travel health insurance.

Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Three years of relevant work experience, such as in human services or non-profit organizations
• Twelve months of paid or unpaid experience working with youth from diverse backgrounds and/or from low-income, high risk environments, preferably with young adults age 17-22
• Direct experience traveling, working, volunteering or studying internationally, in the developing world
• Professional experience leading or facilitating groups 
• Proficiency with email, Microsoft office suite (including Excel) and Google drive

• Oral and written Spanish proficiency preferred
• Able to work legally in the US; meaning you are either a US citizen or possess a working visa or Permanent Residency 

*Any combination of education and experience will be considered for meeting the minimum requirements

Additional Eligibility Requirements:  

• Pass a background check* and reference check
• Available to travel out of the country for two months, usually February through April
• Obtain and maintain valid passport and applicable visas*
• Obtain Wilderness First Aid or Responder and CPR certification before January, 2024 (not sure how you’d pay for it? Check out Carpe Diem’s certification scholarship program)
• Willing and able to comply with Carpe Diem Education’s No Drug and Alcohol policy during the two months of overseas travel with the students, foregoing alcohol and drugs during this time period

*These expenses will be covered or subsidized by Carpe Mundi  

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Degree in education, psychology, social work, international studies or other applicable field
• Relevant work or humanitarian experience in developing countries
• Experience leading young adults on extended educational trips
• Experience mentoring or coaching others
• Experience with design applications (Canva, InDesign), iMovie, email marketing, social media, and database applications
• Working knowledge of financial aid processes and college education systems
• Fundraising and grant writing experience
• Reliable vehicle and a current driver’s license

Compensation and Working Hours:  

This is a full-time, exempt position. The annual salary is expected to start at $48,000, depending on experience. Carpe Mundi provides up to $300 per month reimbursement for health insurance. During international travel, Carpe Mundi pays for airfare, room, board, travel and medical insurance, and required activities. This position includes 10 paid holidays and 15 days of paid time off (PTO) to be used while working in Portland. 

During ten months of local work, office hours are generally between 9:00am – 5:00pm with occasional weekends and evenings as needed for student meetings. We’re a hybrid office, with two or three days in the office and two or three days a week working from home.  When traveling as an Overseas Educator, the position is full time. You and a co-leader are responsible for students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for two months.

How to Apply

1. Resume. Please include dates of employment.
2. Cover Letter. In your cover letter, please respond to the following questions: 
   1. This job involves two very different work lifestyles, 10 months in Portland and two months abroad. How do you plan on balancing those two different lifestyles? What excites you about working with students both in Portland and internationally?  
   2. When is your available start date? (Carpe Mundi strongly prefers a start date of mid-August) 
3. References. Please provide 3 references that can speak directly to your group leadership abilities, facilitation skills, travel experience and interpersonal communication skills.
   1. At least one must be a prior supervisor, and one must be a prior student.
   2. Please include name, relationship, phone number, and email address (we will not contact references prior to obtaining your verbal approval).

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 40,000 - 60,000.

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