Latin America Caribbean Region - Administrative Assistant MIF-STC
This position will be based in Seattle, WA, USA where the implementing organization is based. Applicants outside of Seattle will only be considered if a suitable local candidate is not found.
***This position was originally posted to be closed on April 30th, but due to a higher than anticipated interest level the closing date has been moved back to April 16th. Please ensure that your formal application is in by 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time.***
OBJECTIVES
WHLC works with the product providers in the developing world (mostly the smaller local hotels, guesthouses and tour / activity operators) to assess market readiness (readiness for groups like whl.travel, Expedia, Orbitz and others to sell online); to develop high quality digital content needed for global distribution in the online world; to build capacity; leverage renewable energy practices; and to assist with access to finance. WHLC also has a strong commitment to sustainable travel and has built a focus on sustainable development into all the consulting products and programs in practice. WHL Americas and WHLC have recently been awarded a project with the Inter-American Bank
Multilateral Investment Fund Sustainable Tourism Cluster (MIF STC). With the MIF STC, WHLA is implementing a project in the Latin America Caribbean region, specifically one destination in Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala and the Bahamas. The goal is to provide tools to MSME product owners to be able to participate in the global online marketplace through a variety of activities and tools unique to WHL and WHLC. The WHLC tools to be employed are Market Readiness Assessments, Content Collection Exercises and Market Access Training Seminars. In addition, WHL Americas will be constructing e-commerce websites.
The administrative assistant is expected to assist the project manager with the day-to-day operations of managing and administering the project.
SCOPE OF WORK
Working closely with the appointed WHL Americas Project Manager, tasks the consultant will undertake, will include:
- Subcontractor coordinating. There will be a number of sub-contractors required in this project (professional photographers, travel writers, market readiness assessors) who will need to report back to the office with status updates and coordinating assistance. The administrative assistant will field these reports and subsequently liase with the Project Manager with summary updates. In addition, the administrative assistant will be tasked with compiling field status updates into draft monthly reports to be submitted to the MIF.
- Project financial reporting. The project is financed in part by the MIF and in part with in-kind and cash counterpart contribution from the WHL Group. The administrative assistant will be required to assist the project manager with the bookkeeping for the project, tracking counterpart contributions, collecting and collating invoices and documentary evidence of money spent in preparation for disbursement requests from the MIF.
- Materials preparation. In some cases the administrative assistant will be required to assist with preparing marketing materials or workshop training documents by printing, coallating and assembling the materials.
- Other duties. This position will report directly to the Project Manager and at times may require other related duties in addition to those stipulated above.
The work done by the individual will be performed at the individual’s home base with the individual’s own computer and Internet connection. The position may require one or two visits to the WHL Americas office in Miami or the WHL Consulting office in Seattle or MIF headquarters in Washington, DC. Preference given to candidates based in one of these three locations.
QUALIFICATIONS
Successful Applicants should:
- Have a relevant university degree and 2-3 years of project coordination experience.
- Have excellent organizational skills.
- Able to work flexible hours and manage their own time efficiently.
- Preferably have experience working with MSME tourism enterprises.
- Be able to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable development.
- Regular access to email and Skype for correspondence, coordination and virtual training with WHLC prior to and during implementation.
- Proficient in desktop computer applications (email, Internet CMS, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Acrobat, etc.)
For more information on this position, please email openings@whlconsulting.com stating the position of interest and we will forward you a full description with instructions for application.
