IHP Student Support Coordinator

School for International Training (SIT) was founded in the early 1960s as a training center for the first Peace Corps volunteers. For nearly 60 years, SIT has prepared students to be effective changemakers and global citizens through experiential education focused on the world’s most critical global issues. SIT Study Abroad offers accredited summer and semester undergraduate programs in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs on multiple continents. SIT Graduate Institute offers global and hybrid certificates, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

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• Pre-arrival Attend meetings with staff and students to plan student arrival, receive training and study the program schedule, movements and requirements.
  • Student arrival Assist staff with arrival logistics, onsite welcoming and orientation of students.
    • Community building sessions
      • Develop and lead community building sessions that promote group cohesion and cooperation.
      • Build rapport and manage student expectations about available support and resources.
        • Homestay experience support
          • Monitor students’ homestay experiences and discuss them with the Homestay Coordinator.
          • Advise/collaborate with the Country Coordinator to address challenges related to homestay experiences.
            • Student health, safety and wellbeing support
              • Identify and report to the CC any logistical challenges or cross-cultural challenges that may affect individual or collective students’ everyday ability to participate successfully in the program (e.g., dietary challenges, environmental adjustments, homestay conflicts, financial hardship).
              • Provide health, safety, and well-being support both for the group as a whole and for students individually. This includes ensuring required health protocols, accompanying students to pharmacies, doctors, clinics, or hospitals, and providing everyday support for health and safety concerns, as needed.
              • Be available to engage with students on a one-on-one basis for contextual support if required and consented to – this role is limited to support for, and NOT the therapeutic treatment of, issues that include but not limited to cultural or contextual adjustment, group dynamics, and personal health or wellbeing challenges.
              • Ensure that all support complies with SIT’s Department of Student Health, Safety, and Well-being policies and procedures.
              • Offer culturally appropriate strategies and advice to maximize safety and well-being.
              • Report necessary information/feedback to the Country Coordinator after each health-related visit.
              • Be available to attend to student needs during regular and irregular hours, as well as on an emergency basis.
              • Remain in close physical proximity to the student group and the program location to be able to attend to emergencies quickly.
                • Monitoring program activities Be available during class sessions and out-of-classroom sessions (including museum visits, site visits, rural stays, and guest speaker lectures), to provide necessary immediate support and/or to monitor students’ wellbeing and assess outcomes.
                  • Program coordination Assist the country team with program coordination tasks during site visits in which the Student Support Partner takes part, or in responding to issues of student health, safety and wellbeing as required.
                    • Financial reporting Submit to designated staff a record of all program-related expenses, including receipts, slips, and invoices, for expenses required undertake the tasks above.
                      • Incident reporting Report to the Country Coordinator any crime / sexual harassment / assault / illness / injury / crises / mental health challenges / natural disaster / perceived or real threats as soon as you become aware of them.
                        • Staff meetings and training Attend any staff meetings and training sessions as scheduled during the period of engagement to stay informed about policies, procedures, and duties.
                          • Other tasks
                            • Complete any additional tasks assigned by the Country Coordinator or Program Director.
                            • Includes travel with students to rural stays on IHP Health and Cities programs.
                            • Minimum education requirement: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
                            • Minimum number of years of experience required: 2 – 5 years of experience working in an educational or non-profit setting, preferably in a position of responsibility for students’ well-being and safety.
                            • Must be authorized to work in South Africa. REQUIRED SKILLS
                              • Office administration skills. Required Competencies
                                • Excellent communication and social skills to easily establish connections with students, other staff and the host families.
                                • Good organizational skills – must be able to manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
                                • Knowledge of host communities.
                                • Professionalism and approachability in dealing with homestay family and student concerns.
                                • Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity.
                                • Be flexible and demonstrate sound work ethics.
                                • Ability to work independently as well as with a team.
                                • Communicates a “can do”” attitude and positive outlook