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Student Health & Wellness Manager
Bocas del Toro, PanamaPosition Summary:
The HWM works closely with the Center Director, and the Community Coordinator and Cultural Liaison to coordinate all non-academic components of the program, including student health and wellness, risk management, group dynamics, community engagement, and daily program operations. The HWM will communicate with faculty and the kitchen manager to disseminate information about student needs on field trips and excursions and is responsible for ensuring that student dietary or other needs are communicated.
Location:
Bocas del Toro, Panamá
Program Schedule:
Start date: August 2022. Applications reviewed on rolling basis. Initial contract will be through mid-July 2023 with possibility for extension.
Virtual training will be required in early August prior to departure to Panamá.
Reports to:
Center Director
Duties & Responsibilities
Under the oversight of the Center Director, the HWM, as an individual and as a member of program faculty/staff team, will:
Student Affairs:
Safety & Risk Management:
Community Outreach:
Program Support:
Daily Program Life:
Required Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
The HWM works closely with the Center Director, and the Community Coordinator and Cultural Liaison to coordinate all non-academic components of the program, including student health and wellness, risk management, group dynamics, community engagement, and daily program operations. The HWM will communicate with faculty and the kitchen manager to disseminate information about student needs on field trips and excursions and is responsible for ensuring that student dietary or other needs are communicated.
Location:
Bocas del Toro, Panamá
Program Schedule:
Start date: August 2022. Applications reviewed on rolling basis. Initial contract will be through mid-July 2023 with possibility for extension.
Virtual training will be required in early August prior to departure to Panamá.
Reports to:
Center Director
Duties & Responsibilities
Under the oversight of the Center Director, the HWM, 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 physical health/mental health and safety
- Assist the HQ Admissions team in the delivery of an online Pre-Departure Orientation as needed
- Act as a resource to students for their program-related, personal, and medical needs
- Facilitate communication within the student group and act as a liaison 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 conflict and student conduct
- Facilitate establishment and support of student committees
- Develop and schedule on-campus activities
Safety & Risk Management:
- Support Center Director and Faculty in overseeing the safety of all program participants
- Adhere to, actively model, and enforce all school-wide and program rules and polices
- Utilize incident reporting system, providing written reports to SFS Headquarters
- Work with and support Center Director with carrying out on-site safety audits
- Work with faculty and staff to review safety protocols and risk management plans
- Review and submit a Risk Management Plan to SFS headquarters prior to all field trips and excursions
- Participate in the review and revision of program risk assessment and management plans, including COVID-19 protocols
- Work with Center Director and staff to coordinate the program’s emergency plans, including for evacuation and fire safety
- Recommend and review policies and procedures for risk management
- Serve as a main point of contact for student emergencies, effectively managing crisis situations
- In consultation with the Center Director, facilitate the safety and health portions of the on-site orientation
- Keep all medical kits and safety supplies stocked and up to date
- Re-order medical supplies as needed
- Accompany students to hospital or clinic
- Coordinate rooming and quarantine in event of COVID-19 infections
- Coordinate food delivery to quarantined students in event of COVID-19 infection
Community Outreach:
- Work with Community Coordinator and Cultural Liaison and other staff to develop and implement community outreach activities
Program Support:
- As directed by the Center Director, develop or update program schedule, regularly communicating these updates to students
- Maintain student activities recreational equipment in well-working condition and report broken items or re-order when necessary
- Attend new program staff training 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
- 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
- Communicate with kitchen about student birthdays and dates for packed lunches
- Log receipts related to student health and wellness activities and expenses
- Report non-functioning bathrooms or other student room issues to maintenance
Daily Program Life:
- Live on-site for the duration of each program period and engage with students during mealtimes
- On a rotating basis, take responsibility for Program-specific staff of the day duties
- 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
- Create staff of the week and student of the day schedules
- Create chore list for student of the day
- Determine roommate assignments and create nametags for student dorm rooms
- Go on excursions and field trips when necessary for safety reasons and be prepared to respond in the event of an emergency
- Prepare all safety equipment for excursions (buoys, medical kits etc.)
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- Advanced language ability or fluency in Spanish and English
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification (if you do not possess this, SFS may assist you in obtaining this certification)
- 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 crisis management, emergency response, physical and mental health support, and risk management
- Commitment to ensure good relations between the SFS and the local community
- Clean driving record
- Ability to obtain proper work visas (with assistance from SFS)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Pre-existing work eligibility in Panama
- Fluency in Spanish
- 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
- Residence Life experience in higher education
- Ability to operate manual transmission vehicles