Vacancy Announcement for Training Manager (TM)

United States Peace Corps in Guyana

Basic Functions of the Position:

Manage the design, delivery and evaluation of competency-based training to prepare Peace Corps Trainees for two years of volunteer service in Guyana. Coordinate and manage the development and implementation of the training curriculum, which includes Pre-Service Training, as well as all in-service trainings for Volunteers throughout the year.  Manage relevant staff and budgets associated with training programs.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Guides program and training staff in the design, monitoring, evaluation and revision of a comprehensive set of technical, core, language, cross-cultural, sector, and personal health/safety competencies which will prepare Trainees and Volunteers to effectively serve with their community counterparts.
• Develops and implements a community-based training program based on competencies that integrate technical areas, language, cross-cultural, and core topics.
• Manages a team of trainers, resource persons, resource volunteers, and staff in the implementation of training curriculum and goals.
• Develops and monitors a training budget in collaboration with the PTO and Administrative Officer.
• Oversees the planning and preparation of training activities and events.
• Oversees the development of all training documents/reports and provides quality feedback to the training team in a timely manner that allows for integrated planning and evaluation.
• Facilitates large and small group training activities, modeling a variety of non-formal, adult education techniques in the delivery of training.
• Conducts training sessions for many core competencies and selected sector/technical competencies.
• Guides/directs the evaluation of trainees’ progress, including written assessments, interviews, and staff roundtable meetings.
• Serves as member of the PC Guyana Team.

Qualifications – Education/Experience:

• University bachelor degree in adult education, human resources management, or a development related field OR 4 years of equivalent experience in adult, non-formal education required.

Qualifications – Required Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes:

• Experience researching, designing, and delivering a multi-component training program for adults.
• Demonstrated, management, administration, or coordination of a training program, including personnel management.
• Knowledge of train-the-trainer approaches, group dynamics and facilitation techniques for education programs.
• Must be a very resourceful and creative individual capable of designing flexible options to respond to training needs.
• Demonstrated facilitation skills and ability to make presentations comfortably in front of a group.
• Experience managing budgets and expenses in a high accountability environment.
• Must be computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office products.
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Job requires brief to extended periods of in-country travel for training.

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Guyanese culture, communities, and geography.
• Licensed driver.

Position Salary: Salary negotiable based on previous experience and qualifications.

Position Duration: 1-year contract position renewable upon satisfactory performance.

Application Process/Deadline: Submit resume with cover letter and two reference contacts via email to pcgy_jobvacancies@peacecorps.gov no later than Wednesday, August 19, 2009, or mail them to: Peace Corps Guyana, TM Vacancy, P.O. Box 101192, Georgetown.  Proposed start date: Monday, September 14, 2009.

Additional Information: For additional general information regarding the Peace Corps, please visit our website at: www.peacecorps.gov.

Program and Training Specialist – Education

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to fill the position of Program and Training Specialist for an international agency. Position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate has been identified.

Job Summary:

• Works closely with the Program and Training Staff to design, coordinate, implement, and evaluate a professional training sequence for international volunteers to work effectively in the Basic Education Project.
• Works to establish a productive and dynamic relationship international volunteers and local Guyanese education service providers. Provides a thorough orientation to local Guyanese education service providers, as well as ongoing guidance and support to international volunteers.
• Provides technical and non–technical logistical support to Program and Training Staff.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, project management, community development or related field.
• Three years progressively responsible experience in primary, literacy and/or life skills education.
• Experience in information technology programs and community development is preferred.
• Experience working within the varying levels of the Ministry of Education’s System in Guyana is preferred.
• Experience training adults is required.
• Ability to communicate effectively (reading, writing, speaking) in English.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively.

This position will require up to 70% in-country travel.

A letter of interest and a copy of resume/curriculum vitae should be sent as soon as possible to the following postal address or hand-delivered to the following street address:

Post to: Hand-deliver to:

PM – Education                                                                   PM – Education

P.O. Box 101192                                                                U.S. Peace Corps

Georgetown, GUYANA                                                     33A Barrack Street

Kingston, Georgetown.

Alternatively, applications may be sent electronically to: pcgy_jobvacancies@peacecorps.gov.

A message to all members of Connected Peace Corps

Hi members of the Peace Corps Connect Community!

There is only one week left to submit your ideas for the FIRST round of competition on Africa Rural Connect.

Have you contributed your best idea for rural Africa on http://www.AfricaRuralConnect.org? As we near the first round deadline, there’s no better time to join the community.

As you hopefully are aware, NPCA created ARC to bring all of us together to discuss our most creative plans for rural agriculture in Africa.  Regardless of where you served as a Peace Corps Volunteer, you have something to offer.  ARC is holding a competition and awarding small funds EACH MONTH until November, when we will award $20,000 to help implement the best idea.

Go for it!  Test out your thoughts and see if you can work together with others to make it better: http://www.AfricaRuralConnect.org

If you like an idea, endorse it to help it win a round!

I also extend the invitation to your friends, family, and colleagues—who you think may be interested in contributing their insight and experience. Share the website on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, or by simply sending an email to your friends.

Thank you for helping us build the Africa Rural Connect Community!

Warmly,
Molly

P.S. Here’s an article in the Christian Science Monitor about Africa Rural Connect: http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0807/p02s05-usfp.html

Visit Connected Peace Corps at: http://community.peacecorpsconnect.org

Our shirts are durable 100% cotton. The tastefully screenprinted FROG logo on the front is sure to catch the attention of the casual passerby so you can tell them all about Guyana and FROG. We have a limited quantity, and once they are out – they are out! So order quickly and order several before you miss your chance to be the coolest FROG supporter on the block.

You can find these lovely shirts here – http://www.guyfrog.org/t-shirts/

Thanks!

(via peacecorpsonline.typepad.com)

President Barack Obama announced his nomination of Aaron Williams to be Director of the Peace Corps. “America was built on a belief that the best progress comes from ordinary citizens working to bring about the change they believe in,” Obama said. “Through a lifetime of service, Aaron Williams has embodied the very best of that American ideal. I am grateful for his service and honored to nominate him to direct the critical work of the Peace Corps.” Williams currently serves as Vice President for International Business Development with RTI International. He has previously served as senior manager at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), where he attained the rank of Career Minister in the US Senior Foreign Service.

As USAID Mission Director in South Africa, Williams led a billion dollar foreign assistance program during President Nelson Mandela’s administration. Additionally, he has done work with strategic design and management of assistance programs in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Further, Williams served on the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid at USAID, and has been awarded the USAID Distinguished Career Service Award and the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service twice. Williams also currently is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, the Board of Directors of CARE, and the Board of Directors of the National Peace Corps Association. From 1967-1970, Williams served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. Upon completing this service, he became the Coordinator of Minority Recruitment and Project Evaluation Officer for the Peace Corps in Chicago from 1970 to 1971. Read more.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Global Narcotics Affairs, released the following statement after the President announced his nomination of Aaron Williams, Vice President for International Business Development with RTI International, to be the Director of the Peace Corps. Dodd, a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, who served in the Dominican Republic, recently introduced the Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009, which would combine a reform with growth strategy in order to achieve the goal of doubling the size of a reformed, streamlined and more effective Peace Corps.

“I am excited by Mr. Williams’ nomination to be the new Director of the Peace Corps,” said Dodd. “It’s exciting to have a nominee who served in the Peace Corps and also has experience in international development and management. I look forward to discussing the urgent need for broad based reform at the Peace Corps with Mr. Williams at his confirmation hearing and to working with the Obama Administration to strengthen and expand the Peace Corps.” Williams served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1967-1970. After completing his service, he became the Coordinator of Minority Recruitment and Project Evaluation Officer for the Peace Corps in Chicago for a year. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Peace Corps Association.