Operations Associate Limitless Horizons Ixil Chajul, Quiche, Guatemala
About Limitless Horizons Ixil
Limitless Horizons Ixil (LHI) creates opportunities for the indigenous youth, women, and families of Chajul, Guatemala to develop the academic and professional skills needed to affect change in their lives and community. The heart of LHI consists of two main programs. Our Youth Development Program supports middle and high school education for youth who would not otherwise have the financial means to continue their education past primary school. The program provides youth with monthly scholarship payments, and a comprehensive range of support services that foster personal and academic success, including: school supplies, tutoring, computer and Spanish language classes, a work-study program, career counseling, mentorship, and life-skills and leadership development workshops. As its second major program, LHI founded and operates Chajul’s first and only community library. Overall, both programs are designed to support education and literacy in the community by providing children and youth with the resources and support they need to attain academic success and personal development. LHI’s other major initiatives are a women’s artisan program and hosting service-learning trips in Chajul.
LHI was founded by Katie Morrow and Chajul-native Pedro Caba in 2004, and supported 10 scholarship students in its first year. Over the years LHI has expanded to provide a range and depth of opportunities. In 2012 the library has over 1,000 registered members and we are supporting 65 students through our Youth Development Program, making an important impact for a community where only 5% of the population graduates from middle school. Last year, we celebrated our first class of students to graduate from high school – something most children in Chajul only dream of.
Work Location
The Ixil region is isolated by beautiful mountains and has maintained its rich Ixil Mayan 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 (estimated population 50,000), which consists of an urban center and outlying rural villages. Having been at the heart of Guatemala’s 36-year civil war, Chajul experiences post-war challenges such as land displacement and fragmented families. Additionally, unemployment is high, large families live in one-room adobe houses with open cooking fires, opportunities for women are scarce, and family and gender-based violence is common. The community has a corn-based agricultural economy in which adults struggle to feed their families each day and the average income is $1-3 per day. Most children are forced to leave school at a young age to help support the family household, leaving 75% of the adult population illiterate. Chajul further suffers from common preventable health concerns such as respiratory illness, intestinal disease, tuberculosis, malnutrition, and mother and infant death during childbirth. Eighty percent of the Chajul population lives in poverty.
Position Description
LHI seeks a creative, motivated problem-solver, systems-thinker, and task-master to lead a number of efforts to promote the organization’s sustainability. The Operations Associate will create, manage, and adapt LHI’s systems, focusing particularly on building local management capacity by developing culturally relevant systems and training local staff. We seek a candidate interested in nonprofit management and program evaluation, and passionate about international community development. The ideal candidate will be extremely organized, a strong critical-thinker, a very independent and self-motivated worker, and comfortable working closely with families as well as a diverse international team. The Operations Associate will work alongside the LHI staff team, reporting to the National 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 to do 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 independence to design and lead projects and are mentored by the Executive Director, colleagues, and Board of Directors.
This is a multifaceted opportunity for the right individual to join our small NGO with a seven-year record of excellence in community development. In Chajul, where 80 percent of the population lives in poverty, a small team of individuals makes a great impact. 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
Systems
• Conduct needs assessments for, research, and implement operational systems and policies
• Maintain and improve current operational and information systems (constituent management system, file-sharing system, online payment system, informational dashboards, etc.)
Monitoring & Evaluation
• Maintain and manage monitoring and evaluation system for major programs
• Design and implement data collection tools and methods, including surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups
• Manage and conduct data collection and analysis
• Produce effective communications to report evaluation findings to staff, board members, partners, grantors, and donors
• Inform on program performance and provide recommendations for improvement based on evaluation findings
• Collect, organize, analyze and communicate other organizational data
• Train local staff on program evaluation
Strategic Planning
• Participate in annual strategic planning process
• Support with writing annual strategic plan and organizational budget
Resource Development
• Research funding and collaboration opportunities
• Lead on grant research and proposal writing, review, and submission process
• Manage reporting to grantors and partner organizations , including leading on meeting evaluation requirements and report writing
• Support with fundraising campaigns and tracking their success
• Maintain online fundraising campaigns through external websites
• Maintain LHI’s Salesforce database
Accounting & Finance
• Support with managing the organizational budget and grant budgets
• Prepare financial reports for partners and donors
• Support LHI’s treasurer (a Certified Public Accountant) with maintaining the books and financial reporting
• Maintain accounting records for LHI’s sustainable tourism trips
Marketing, Communications, and Technology
• Maintain and update LHI’s Wordpress website
• Manage LHI’s online presence through nonprofit and social media sites
• Support with writing and delivering communications tools such as newsletters, blogs, brochures, etc.
• Perform basic computer maintenance regularly and solve technical problems, or coordinate with IT consultant to solve problems
Programs
• Manage the business-end of LHI’s sustainable tourism trips, including trip marketing, finances, communications, itinerary planning and logistics
• Support with tracking the sales of artisan products
• Assist staff with programs during major events such as graduation, field trips, visiting groups, etc.
• Represent LHI at events as needed
Qualifications
Required
• At least 2 years of professional work experience and a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or, at least 1 year of professional work experience and a master’s degree
• Experience living in a developing country for at least 2 months (Latin America preferred)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish
• Coursework or experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods
• A solid foundation of knowledge about program evaluation
• Capable of writing effectively for various audiences
• Project management experience
• Basic computer maintenance skills (e.g. anti-virus, defragmentation)
• Interest in international development and indigenous communities
• Flexible, patient, and friendly, with a positive attitude
• Extremely detail oriented and organized
• Responsible, reliable, and proactive
• Reflective and eager to learn
• Respectful of local culture and sensitivities
Preferred
• Experience conducting program evaluations
• 3 years of professional work experience
• Grant writing experience
• Budget management experience
• Fundraising experience
• Group facilitation and training experience
• Experience working with a Wordpress website
• Experience working with Salesforce CRM
• Experience working with youth and/or families
Housing Location
While LHI works in Chajul, the Operations Associate will live in the nearby larger town of Nebaj. Nebaj has a population of approximately 20,000, restaurants, stores, amenities, and a traveler/long-term volunteer community of foreigners. The LHI team will help with arranging housing. The Operations Associate has the option to work from home in Nebaj up to 3 days per week, and will travel to the LHI office in Chajul at least 2 days per week. The daily commute to Chajul takes roughly 40 minutes in each direction by frequently-running 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.
Compensation and Benefits
LHI provides a monthly stipend (approximately a local professional salary) of 2,075 Quetzales (USD 250), covers phone and Internet costs, and covers work-related transportation. LHI also provides stipends that cover the required tourist visa renewals. International travel up to USD 650 per year and health/travel insurance up to USD 500 per year will be reimbursed with the fulfillment of each year of employment. While LHI requires a minimum commitment of 13 months, we ask employees for two years of service, and will implement a significant pay raise for the second year and an end-of-service bonus after 2 years. LHI employees get 4 weeks of vacation in the first year of employment (last two weeks of December, one week at Easter, and 5 other personal days), plus other holidays. Second-year employees earn an additional week of vacation.
HOW TO APPLY
Email resume and cover letter to operationasassociate@limitlesshorizonsixil.org with “Operations Associate. [Your Name]” in the subject line. If selected for an interview, references and work/writing samples may be requested.
Limitless Horizons Ixil (LHI) creates opportunities for the indigenous youth, women, and families of Chajul, Guatemala to develop the academic and professional skills needed to affect change in their lives and community. The heart of LHI consists of two main programs. Our Youth Development Program supports middle and high school education for youth who would not otherwise have the financial means to continue their education past primary school. The program provides youth with monthly scholarship payments, and a comprehensive range of support services that foster personal and academic success, including: school supplies, tutoring, computer and Spanish language classes, a work-study program, career counseling, mentorship, and life-skills and leadership development workshops. As its second major program, LHI founded and operates Chajul’s first and only community library. Overall, both programs are designed to support education and literacy in the community by providing children and youth with the resources and support they need to attain academic success and personal development. LHI’s other major initiatives are a women’s artisan program and hosting service-learning trips in Chajul.
LHI was founded by Katie Morrow and Chajul-native Pedro Caba in 2004, and supported 10 scholarship students in its first year. Over the years LHI has expanded to provide a range and depth of opportunities. In 2012 the library has over 1,000 registered members and we are supporting 65 students through our Youth Development Program, making an important impact for a community where only 5% of the population graduates from middle school. Last year, we celebrated our first class of students to graduate from high school – something most children in Chajul only dream of.
Work Location
The Ixil region is isolated by beautiful mountains and has maintained its rich Ixil Mayan 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 (estimated population 50,000), which consists of an urban center and outlying rural villages. Having been at the heart of Guatemala’s 36-year civil war, Chajul experiences post-war challenges such as land displacement and fragmented families. Additionally, unemployment is high, large families live in one-room adobe houses with open cooking fires, opportunities for women are scarce, and family and gender-based violence is common. The community has a corn-based agricultural economy in which adults struggle to feed their families each day and the average income is $1-3 per day. Most children are forced to leave school at a young age to help support the family household, leaving 75% of the adult population illiterate. Chajul further suffers from common preventable health concerns such as respiratory illness, intestinal disease, tuberculosis, malnutrition, and mother and infant death during childbirth. Eighty percent of the Chajul population lives in poverty.
Position Description
LHI seeks a creative, motivated problem-solver, systems-thinker, and task-master to lead a number of efforts to promote the organization’s sustainability. The Operations Associate will create, manage, and adapt LHI’s systems, focusing particularly on building local management capacity by developing culturally relevant systems and training local staff. We seek a candidate interested in nonprofit management and program evaluation, and passionate about international community development. The ideal candidate will be extremely organized, a strong critical-thinker, a very independent and self-motivated worker, and comfortable working closely with families as well as a diverse international team. The Operations Associate will work alongside the LHI staff team, reporting to the National 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 to do 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 independence to design and lead projects and are mentored by the Executive Director, colleagues, and Board of Directors.
This is a multifaceted opportunity for the right individual to join our small NGO with a seven-year record of excellence in community development. In Chajul, where 80 percent of the population lives in poverty, a small team of individuals makes a great impact. 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
Systems
• Conduct needs assessments for, research, and implement operational systems and policies
• Maintain and improve current operational and information systems (constituent management system, file-sharing system, online payment system, informational dashboards, etc.)
Monitoring & Evaluation
• Maintain and manage monitoring and evaluation system for major programs
• Design and implement data collection tools and methods, including surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups
• Manage and conduct data collection and analysis
• Produce effective communications to report evaluation findings to staff, board members, partners, grantors, and donors
• Inform on program performance and provide recommendations for improvement based on evaluation findings
• Collect, organize, analyze and communicate other organizational data
• Train local staff on program evaluation
Strategic Planning
• Participate in annual strategic planning process
• Support with writing annual strategic plan and organizational budget
Resource Development
• Research funding and collaboration opportunities
• Lead on grant research and proposal writing, review, and submission process
• Manage reporting to grantors and partner organizations , including leading on meeting evaluation requirements and report writing
• Support with fundraising campaigns and tracking their success
• Maintain online fundraising campaigns through external websites
• Maintain LHI’s Salesforce database
Accounting & Finance
• Support with managing the organizational budget and grant budgets
• Prepare financial reports for partners and donors
• Support LHI’s treasurer (a Certified Public Accountant) with maintaining the books and financial reporting
• Maintain accounting records for LHI’s sustainable tourism trips
Marketing, Communications, and Technology
• Maintain and update LHI’s Wordpress website
• Manage LHI’s online presence through nonprofit and social media sites
• Support with writing and delivering communications tools such as newsletters, blogs, brochures, etc.
• Perform basic computer maintenance regularly and solve technical problems, or coordinate with IT consultant to solve problems
Programs
• Manage the business-end of LHI’s sustainable tourism trips, including trip marketing, finances, communications, itinerary planning and logistics
• Support with tracking the sales of artisan products
• Assist staff with programs during major events such as graduation, field trips, visiting groups, etc.
• Represent LHI at events as needed
Qualifications
Required
• At least 2 years of professional work experience and a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or, at least 1 year of professional work experience and a master’s degree
• Experience living in a developing country for at least 2 months (Latin America preferred)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish
• Coursework or experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods
• A solid foundation of knowledge about program evaluation
• Capable of writing effectively for various audiences
• Project management experience
• Basic computer maintenance skills (e.g. anti-virus, defragmentation)
• Interest in international development and indigenous communities
• Flexible, patient, and friendly, with a positive attitude
• Extremely detail oriented and organized
• Responsible, reliable, and proactive
• Reflective and eager to learn
• Respectful of local culture and sensitivities
Preferred
• Experience conducting program evaluations
• 3 years of professional work experience
• Grant writing experience
• Budget management experience
• Fundraising experience
• Group facilitation and training experience
• Experience working with a Wordpress website
• Experience working with Salesforce CRM
• Experience working with youth and/or families
Housing Location
While LHI works in Chajul, the Operations Associate will live in the nearby larger town of Nebaj. Nebaj has a population of approximately 20,000, restaurants, stores, amenities, and a traveler/long-term volunteer community of foreigners. The LHI team will help with arranging housing. The Operations Associate has the option to work from home in Nebaj up to 3 days per week, and will travel to the LHI office in Chajul at least 2 days per week. The daily commute to Chajul takes roughly 40 minutes in each direction by frequently-running 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.
Compensation and Benefits
LHI provides a monthly stipend (approximately a local professional salary) of 2,075 Quetzales (USD 250), covers phone and Internet costs, and covers work-related transportation. LHI also provides stipends that cover the required tourist visa renewals. International travel up to USD 650 per year and health/travel insurance up to USD 500 per year will be reimbursed with the fulfillment of each year of employment. While LHI requires a minimum commitment of 13 months, we ask employees for two years of service, and will implement a significant pay raise for the second year and an end-of-service bonus after 2 years. LHI employees get 4 weeks of vacation in the first year of employment (last two weeks of December, one week at Easter, and 5 other personal days), plus other holidays. Second-year employees earn an additional week of vacation.
HOW TO APPLY
Email resume and cover letter to operationasassociate@limitlesshorizonsixil.org with “Operations Associate. [Your Name]” in the subject line. If selected for an interview, references and work/writing samples may be requested.
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