Program and Expansion Lead

About the role

Vida Volunteer is seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial, and hands‑on leader to join the senior management team and drive the next stage of growth. The role will oversee programmatic and geographic expansion, initially focusing on Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Key responsibilities

• Lead Vida’s programmatic and geographic expansion strategy in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Identify, evaluate, develop, and launch new programs and service‑learning opportunities aligned with Vida’s mission.
• Evaluate and develop opportunities for expansion into new communities, regions, and countries.
• Lead and develop the teams responsible for operations in Guatemala and Costa Rica, progressively incorporating new programs and geographies as Vida grows.
• Build strategic relationships with communities, universities, public institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other partners.
• Ensure existing and new programs maintain Vida’s standards for community impact, student learning, quality, safety, and cultural experience.
• Monitor program and operational performance, budgets, risks, and key indicators to support effective decision‑making and continuous improvement.
• Develop scalable processes and models that allow Vida to grow sustainably while maintaining program quality and organizational culture.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, International Development, Public Health, Social Sciences, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience, including team leadership, project or operations management, and program development.
• Proven ability to take initiatives from concept through implementation and evaluation.
• Experience leading and developing teams, preferably across multiple locations.
• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, education, international volunteering, or community‑impact programs is a plus.
• Strong relationship‑building skills with communities, organizations, and institutions.
• Strategic, analytical, entrepreneurial, and hands‑on mindset.
• Advanced English and Spanish proficiency.
• Willingness to travel within Guatemala, Costa Rica, and future expansion locations.

Required skills

• Proficiency in Google Workspace.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape Vida’s future growth and develop new programs from the ground up.
• Work in a multicultural, bilingual, mission‑driven organization.
• Full‑time hybrid role with initial focus on Guatemala and Costa Rica.