Site Manager - Tena

Job Description

Manna Project International, an Orlando-based nonprofit operating in Ecuador, Nicaragua and the USA, fosters communities of talented young leaders to become the next generation of social change agents by engaging in collaborative, on-the-ground service with international communities in need. At our international sites, groups of 3 to 12-month volunteers live and work together implementing a range of health, education, and economic livelihood community development projects in geographically defined areas. These volunteers also help manage summer intern volunteers (5-10 weeks) and short-term groups (1-week volunteers, typically for Spring Break). For more background on MPI, please visit our website, www.mannaproject.org. 

The Site Manager (SM) leads a team of several 3-12 month volunteers (Program Directors) on the ground in Shandia, a rural Kichwa community just 10km from the Amazonian city of Tena, in the realization of MPI’s mission, vision and goals. In practice, he/she serves as director of the organization in the Tena region, and is responsible for both the daily management and long-term planning of the organization there. As MPI is a small organization in Ecuador, the SM role ranges widely, from grassroots details and menial tasks, to high level strategy and personnel/legal judgments. The SM reports to MPI’s Executive Director, based in the U.S. The SM will live in the Tena area, and work most work days in Shandia, overseeing community programs, and mentoring and supporting the foreign volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with: 

  • Strong relationship-building skills

  • Fluency in English and Spanish

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

  • A passion for and experience in mentoring and supporting U.S. college student volunteers

  • Experience leading, and a passion for, community development and/or community organizing (preferably experience starting a new, major community development program employing local staff)

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

  • A visionary mind and an entrepreneurial initiative

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

  • Personal experience as an international volunteer (preferred)

  • Experience in the classroom (preferred)

  • Experience fundraising for grants, and for donations from individuals and businesses (preferred)

  • A minimum two-year commitment

  • A Bachelor’s degree required

The SM’s daily responsibilities include any and all tasks necessary to maintaining and improving the operations of the organization in Tena, Ecuador, including but not limited to:


Description of Responsibilities

1. Manage & support international volunteers (45%)

Oversee volunteers’ housing, food, local transport, health & safety, COVID protocols, professional & cross-cultural development, and all aspects of volunteer living.

The SM manages all aspects of foreign volunteers’ living, including safe & appropriate housing, food, local transport and cultural experiences. The SM creates an annual budget for all volunteer living. The SM leads team building and is in daily contact with the volunteers. The SM conducts bimonthly, one-on-one meetings with volunteers to support their professional development, needs, and personal & emotional well-being.

The SM oversees and executes MPI’s 24/7 emergency response, by  coordinating shifts between themselves and other staff to be on-call during evenings and weekends, in the rare event of serious illness, injury, crime or natural disaster faced by volunteers.

The SM facilitates several monthly meetings and professional development trainings for the volunteers. The SM communicates relevant information from the volunteers to the rest of MPI’s staff, and represents the organization’s policies and decisions to volunteers. The SM also serves as a resource who can seek out and present fresh perspectives on issues and ideas, founded in MPI’s experience, partner organizations, and community development best practices. The SM oversees & supports the volunteers in their organizational roles, such as house manager, finance manager, social media coordinator, grant writer, leader of summer interns and short-term group trips, and volunteer recruitment coordinator, etc.

The SM is a key part of the volunteer recruitment process, conducting interviews with applicants and helping decide which candidates to accept.

2. Oversee grassroots community development programs in Tena, Napo Province (40%)

In addition to setting up community programs for the new site, the SM is MPI’s main leader in Tena, and oversees all aspects of community program operations.

The SM builds relationships for MPI with local residents, partner organizations, local leaders and vendors. The SM creates operational plans and budgets for all community programs, and drafts contracts and agreements to be secured with local partners and authorities.

The SM makes sure foreign volunteers conduct community programs, both MPI-operated & community partner ones, in a goal-oriented, culturally sensitive way, and that those programs are in line with the mission of MPI. The SM visits visits community programs weekly, serving as a constant coach & mentor for volunteers’ leadership development and program improvement. The SM leads monthly trainings for foreign volunteers on leadership, community development, cross-cultural skills, and more, in accordance with MPI’s training plan. The SM also facilitates onboarding and quarterly retreats for the volunteers.

In Tena, the SM launches a new, major, WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) community program that MPI will implement with local partner organizations, locally hired staff, and foreign volunteers. The WASH program, consisting of building water filtration systems, testing and treating related illnesses, and educating the community about water & hygiene, should result in high impact for the underserved community, and high appeal to donors and foreign volunteers to support. The SM plans & oversees several other community programs, led by foreign volunteers, such as: teaching English to adults and kids; youth development through arts, physical education and positive life skills; health education; other programs as determined by the needs of the community and the capacity of MPI.

3. Manage organizational, legal & administrative operations (10%)

Manage on-site finances, and report regularly to the Executive Director and volunteers.

The SM creates and manages the Tena site annual budget and operational plan, and oversees all other financial and administrative tasks in Tena. The SM reports on the state of programs and volunteers in Tena to the Executive Director, and serves as the primary channel between volunteers and the ED for questions, concerns, and ideas. The SM is in regular contact with the Executive Director regarding finances, legal issues, programs, policies, and the needs of the organization in Tena.

Participate in organization-wide planning and development.

As a member of MPI’s staff team, the SM actively participates in MPI’s staff calls (weekly), organization-wide vision and strategy planning, resource mobilization, and operational assessment.

4. Fundraise (5%)

For Tena community programs, the SM helps write grant applications and supports fundraising to existing and new donors, to help generate sustainable financing especially for the WASH program, and other community programs.

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

Additional Information: 

Salary:  $18,000 to $26,000 per year, depending on experience & qualifications

Location:  based in the Tena area of Ecuador, about 3 hours from Quito and its airport.

Benefits: 

  • 2 weeks paid vacation, plus 11 Ecuador national holidays paid

  • Up to $100/month (taxable income) towards the premium for employee-purchased medical insurance

  • 100% Reimbursement, up to $330 per contract year, for Emergency Travel Insurance (covers emergency medical care & evacuation), paid by MPI to SM at end of the contract term.

  • 100% Reimbursement for Visa fees and background check, up to $550 per contract year, to live/work in Ecuador for the duration of employment with MPI, paid by MPI to SM at end of the contract term.

  • Leadership & professional development

  • Coverage of all work-related travel (transport, accommodations, not food) expenses.

MPI does not provide the following, which are the responsibility of the SM:  

  • International flights

  • Employee share of income taxes

  • Health insurance

  • Housing

  • Food

  • Transport to and from home to work site (MPI pays for on-the-job transport)

  • Cell phone & local usage plan


Start Date:  November 2022

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.