Position Title: Student Affairs Manager (SAM) About SFS: The School for Field Studies (SFS) creates transformative study abroad experiences through field-based learning and research. Our educational programs explore the human and ecological dimensions of the complex environmental problems faced by our local partners, contributing to sustainable solutions in the places where we live and work.
Position Summary:
The SAM works closely with the Center Director to coordinate all non-academic components of the program, including risk management, group dynamics, community engagement, and daily program operations.
Location:
Current openings for the SAM position are in the following SFS locations:
- Atenas, Costa Rica
Program Schedule:
January 20, 2020 through August 10, 2020 - this position may be renewed for an additional year following a performance appraisal at the end of the contract.
Reports to:
Center Director
Duties & Responsibilities
Under the oversight of the Center Director, the SAM, as an individual and as a member of program faculty/staff team, will:
Student Affairs:
- Deliver in-country orientation and ongoing training to students in the areas of community building, critical thinking, cross-cultural issues, conflict resolution, self-awareness, communal living, and health and safety
- Act as a resource to students for their program-related and personal needs
- Facilitate communication within the student group and between staff and students
- Preemptively monitor and address individual student and group attitudes and behavior
- Keep the Center Director informed of potential problems
- Participate in resolving group management issues and student discipline problems
- Facilitate establishment and support of student committees
Safety & Risk Management:
- Take responsibility for the safety of all program participants
- Adhere to, actively model, and enforce all school-wide and program rules and polices
- Coordinate incident reporting system and on-site safety audits
- Ensure that Incident Reports are provided to SFS headquarters
- Submit a Risk Management Plan to SFS headquarters prior to field trips
- Participate in the review and revision of program risk assessment and management plans
- Coordinate the program’s emergency plans, including for evacuation and fire safety
- Recommend and review policies and procedures needed to manage risks
- Coordinate the safety and health portions of the on-site orientation
- Maintain all medical kits and safety supplies
Community Outreach:
- Work with program faculty/staff to develop and implement community outreach activities
- Arrange recreational programming for students within the local community
- At all times, work to ensure good relations between the program and local community
- Organize and facilitate guest speakers from the community
Program Support:
- Coordinate and communicate scheduling of program to students as needed
- Participate in training activities for new program staff prior to and during the program
- Provide periodic reports, marketing materials, and student input to SFS headquarters
- Participate in preparation of final reports and program field preparation guide revisions
- In cooperation with other program staff and as delegated by the Center Director, provide day-to-day coordination of interns
- Participate in planning activities prior to program start and in review post-program
- As requested by the Center Director, assist with other logistical, group management, and administrative tasks
Daily Program Life:
- Live on-site for the duration of each program period and take meals with students
- On a rotating basis, take responsibility for Program-specific staff of the day duties
- Ensure that all staff understand the responsibilities of the staff of the day role
- Take part in, and occasionally lead, program upkeep projects, social, and field activities
- Serve as program caretaker during breaks as requested by the Center Director
- Drive standard transmission vehicles as needed
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification or ability to obtain WFR certification by program start date (SFS reimburses up to a cap)
- Experience living, working, or studying abroad
- High emotional and cross-cultural intelligence
- Professional experience with group facilitation or leading experiential education programs
- Willingness to live and work on a residential campus, including use of shared facilities and participation in campus activities and community outreach
- Accustomed to working long hours in remote environments with limited resources
- Experience with incident and risk management
- Commitment to ensure good relations between the SFS and the local community
- Clean driving record and ability to operate manual transmission vehicles
- Ability to obtain proper work visas (with assistance from SFS)
- Advanced Spanish language skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced medical certification (e.g. EMT or WEMT certification)
- Master’s degree
- Experience living, working, or studying in program region
- Familiarity with navigating medical resources in developing countries
- Background in wilderness, travel, or tropical medicine
- Residential affairs experience in higher education
