Country Director

Start Date: May 2025

Job Type: Full-time, based in Shandia, Ecuador

Job Description

Manna Project International (MPI) is an Orlando-based nonprofit fostering the next generation of social change agents through collaborative, on-the-ground service with communities in need. Operating in Ecuador, MPI’s mission is to empower communities while cultivating young leaders.

At our site in Shandia, Ecuador, the Country Director (CD) plays a pivotal role in advancing MPI’s mission, vision, and goals. The CD supervises and mentors the Site Manager, 2-4 Program Directors (PDs- 12+ month fellows), 3-5 Program Coordinators (PCs- 3-9 month volunteers), and seasonal volunteers (1-3 month interns and 1-week short-term groups). Together, they build relationships with local communities and develop impactful health, education, and economic development initiatives. The Site Manager supports the CD with administrative duties, program oversight, and integration into the local Kichwa culture.

In practice, the CD serves as the executive leader for MPI in Ecuador, responsible for daily management and long-term strategic planning. As MPI is a small organization in Ecuador, the role requires a versatile leader who can navigate tasks ranging from grassroots engagement to high-level decision-making. Since Shandia is a newer site established in May 2023, the CD and the long-term team must be comfortable with ambiguity, sudden changes, and a start-up work context.

The CD and long-term team live and work closely together, prioritizing community-driven development while fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual support. This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead impactful initiatives while building relationships in a dynamic and multicultural environment. For more background on MPI, please visit our website, www.mannaproject.org. 

The CD is directly accountable to and reports to MPI’s Executive Director.  The CD will spend  their work time in Shandia / Tena, and live in Shandia or within 30 min. drive of Shandia. The CD’s daily responsibilities include any and all tasks necessary to maintaining and improving the operations of the organization in Ecuador, and will delegate some responsibilities to capable staff and volunteers.

We’re Looking For Someone With: 

• Strong relationship-building skills;

• Fluency in English and advanced Spanish;

• A minimum of two years' experience in Latin America (preferably Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru or Bolivia); 

• Experience in and a passion for grassroots community development and/or community organizing; 

• A passion for and experience in working with volunteers, college students or in leading Gen Z individuals;

• A visionary mind and an entrepreneurial initiative, very comfortable with ambiguity and sudden change;

• A strong ability to multi-task and balance short- and long-term goals;

• Personal experience as an international volunteer (preferred);

• Experience in the classroom (preferred), enthusiasm in working with youth aged 6-17;

• A willingness to commit and contribute to MPI’s collaborative, community-based, holistic approach to community development; 

• A minimum two year commitment; 

• A Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.

Description of Responsibilities

1.Managing & supporting foreign Program Directors & shorter-term volunteers (30%)

Supervising PDs and volunteers to ensure their well-being, safety, personal and professional development, effectiveness in projects and overall volunteer experience.

The CD plays a hands-on leadership role, dedicating approximately one-third of their time to supporting Program Directors (PDs)  and volunteers, including 3-9 month Program Coordinators (PCs), summer interns, and short-term volunteer groups. This responsibility encompasses ensuring their well-being, safety, personal and professional development, and the overall success of their experience with MPI.

The CD works collaboratively with the Site Manager to:

• Role model immersive community living and development.

• Help the team build relationships with local residents and Kichwa community members.

• Coach, mentor, and provide regular feedback to the team.

• Observe and support community programs to ensure alignment with MPI’s mission.

• Implement safety and security protocols for all staff and volunteers.

As the direct supervisor for PDs, the CD conducts regular one-on-one coaching meetings with them to address their personal and professional needs, monitor emotional well-being, and provide guidance for improved performance. These meetings ensure that every volunteer feels supported, motivated, and enriched by their time with MPI. 

Additionally, the CD oversees the implementation of MPI’s Leadership and Community Development Curriculum, working with the Site Manager to design and facilitate  twice monthly workshops for PDs and volunteers. The CD also leads weekly team meetings, acting as both a team leader and a bridge between the on-site team and MPI’s remote staff. This dual role involves communicating relevant updates, policies, and decisions from the organization; representing and advocating for the on-site team’s needs to the broader organization; and offering well-informed perspectives on issues and ideas based on the CD’s experience, MPI’s history, and best practices in community development.

The CD also oversees the visa application process, guiding volunteers through each step—from pre-departure documentation to on-site translations and office visits with government authorities.

Finally, the CD is responsible for MPI’s 24/7 emergency response system, ensuring the safety of all staff and volunteers. This includes rotating on-call shifts with other staff members to handle rare but serious emergencies, such as illnesses, injuries, crimes, or natural disasters.

Navigating the transition between groups of 13-month Program Directors and volunteers, with an eye toward efficient, effective, and sustainable progress in community relationships & programs; 

As one of two members of the MPI site team whose presence in Ecuador spans MPI’s seasonal transitions from one group of volunteers to the next, the CD oversees the continuity of the organization from year to year. This is crucial to ensuring that programs and projects develop well over time. The CD works with the Site Manager to lead orientation & onboarding activities for new PDs & volunteers, who in turn can lead such activities for summer volunteers and one-week groups.

In partnership with MPI’s Site Manager, assist recruitment of PDs and volunteers to support our community program and recruitment goals. 

The CD assists as needed with  interviews with PD & PC applicants, and works with the SM to support  in sending out pre-arrival materials, responding  to email inquiries, and assisting with arrival plans for interns and one-week groups.

2. Leading  relationship-building between the MPI team and local residents, partner organizations, vendors and others. (30%)

CD enables MPI staff & volunteers in developing authentic, long-lasting relationships with local residents, partner organizations, vendors and more. Besides more traditional work activities, the CD and on-site team also use work hours to spend social time visiting homes, playing informally with kids, sharing holidays and community events, and immersing in the cultural life of the community.

3. Overseeing and developing community development programs that benefit underserved locals (20%)

Ensuring that volunteers conduct community programs, both MPI-operated & those run by community partners, in a goal-oriented, culturally sensitive way, and that programs are in line with the mission of MPI.

The CD plays an active role in overseeing community programs and physical projects, both created and implemented by Program Directors and foreign volunteers. The CD works with the Site Manager to regularly visit each of the programs in operation, assessing their performance, impact and long-term development. Each program should be visited at least once every month, and depending on circumstances and current need, the CD may be called upon to lead certain programs.  

For volunteers, the CD serves as a constant coach & mentor, continually discussing with them the goals of each program and how to achieve those goals.  The CD is the key point of contact for community members, meeting with key stakeholders from the community who oversee or participate in the program in order to understand community needs and assess the success of the program from the community’s point of view. In order to assess each program’s performance, and to keep record of the program’s history, PDs and volunteers submit quarterly program updates, monthly program metrics, and weekly metrics to the CD.

The CD will play a key role in supporting the Development Director in identifying and securing grant opportunities to sustain and expand programming. As the primary on-the-ground information source, the CD will research and identify relevant grants that align with program goals, providing detailed insights into local needs and project impact. Additionally, the CD will collaborate in the grant-writing process by drafting sections, supplying program data, and ensuring proposals accurately reflect community priorities and organizational objectives. This role requires research, writing, and communication skills to effectively contribute to grant acquisition efforts. 

Building and deepening local and international partnerships.

As the foremost representative of the organization in Ecuador, the CD is the public face of MPI to local and international organizations. The CD builds new relationships and deepens existing ones, leveraging the knowledge, expertise and experience they provide into MPI’s programs and projects. The CD manages and creates contracts and agreements with partner organizations in Ecuador. 

The CD will actively seek out and cultivate new partnerships with external organizations, government entities, and community stakeholders to enhance programming and increase organizational impact. This includes identifying opportunities for collaboration, establishing relationships with potential partners, and fostering mutual trust and understanding. The CD will also play a vital role in maintaining and strengthening existing partnerships, ensuring consistent communication, fulfilling commitments, and exploring opportunities for growth within these established connections. Strong interpersonal and networking skills are essential for success in this role.

Overseeing management of Manna’s Community Center, including maintenance issues as they correspond to budget and program effectiveness, and ensuring safety of these areas, etc.

For the regular spaces that MPI uses and controls to operate its community programs, the CD oversees safety, functioning, organization and repairs. Such spaces may be any Community Center, school classrooms, and office rooms. Such duties include arranging cleaning, securing assets, fixing infrastructure and keeping services like electricity and internet working well.

4. Managing all organizational, legal & administrative operations (20%) 

Managing on-site finances, reporting regularly to the Executive Director and volunteers.

As the effective executive director of the organization in Ecuador, the CD manages the finances of MPI in-country. This includes ensuring compliance with Ecuadorian tax law along with a local accountant, maintenance of the organization’s bank accounts in-country, and the dispersal of funding from those accounts to support the MPI team’s living situation, operation of programs, and maintenance of organizational resources.

The CD is ultimately responsible for the program and living budgets within the country and is entrusted to make well-reasoned decisions about the distribution of these funds in accordance with both the needs of the programs and the mission, vision, and goals of the organization.

The CD records and regularly reports on the status of accounts and expenses to the Executive Director,  Director of Finance and local team as appropriate, by overseeing the use of expense reports, banking records, and accounting records (with local accountant).

Reporting regularly and thoroughly to the Executive Director on the condition and quality of MPI programs and resources in the country for which the director is responsible.

The CD reports on the state of the on-site team and community programs in Ecuador to the Executive Director, and serves as the primary channel between volunteers and the ED for questions, concerns, and ideas. The CD is in regular contact with the Executive Director regarding finances, programs, policies, and the needs of the organization in Ecuador.

Fundraising

Each year, the CD is responsible for raising a minimum amount of $1,500 designated to on-site program development and general operating expenses.  This requirement may be fulfilled through individual or corporate donations from the CD’s network, hosted events, and grants received. Time spent on fundraising, either on-site or outside Ecuador, is considered work time. 

Maintaining legal operation of the organization in Ecuador, along with local attorneys.

The CD keeps the organization in good legal standing within Ecuador, and serves as the officially registered Legal Representative of MPI with the government. This means maintaining the legal status and operation of the organization and its volunteers. The CD must have a familiarity with local laws regarding service/non-profit organizations and foreign visitors/workers and record both the general understanding of these laws and the organization’s compliance with them. This will likely involve consultation with other organizations for guidance, the organization’s attorney in Ecuador, and potentially in the United States, as well as government bodies regulating the activities of foreign persons or organizations. The CD prepares & submits MPI’s annual report, required 4-year Agreement, and other required documentation to Ecuadorian government agencies for legal compliance.

Participating in organization-wide planning and development

As a member of MPI’s staff team, the CD actively participates in MPI’s staff calls, organization-wide vision and strategy planning, resource development, and operational assessment. This includes but is not limited to involvement in publicity, volunteer recruitment, curriculum development, metrics management, grant writing, and fundraising.

The CD may delegate responsibilities and tasks to trusted staff and volunteers in order to best realize these goals, as is appropriate and as the CD sees fit. 

Additional Information: 

Salary:  $24,000 to $30,000 per year, depending on experience

Location:  work based in Shandia

Benefits: 

• Four weeks paid vacation

• 11 paid holidays of Ecuador

• International travel insurance

• A visa to live/work in Ecuador for the duration of employment with MPI

Start Date:  May 2025

How to apply: Send a resume and cover letter describing your fit with MPI and this position to jobs@mannaproject.org. 

Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be notified.