Support Extracurricular Programs by Optimizing Operations and Planning - Volunteer Position - Onsite in //h2[text()="Country"]/following-sibling::p[1]//text()[normalize-space()]
Peace Corps
Operations, Customer Service
United States
Posted on May 18, 2026
Start date
August 4, 2026
End date
December 15, 2026
Duration
19 weeks
ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Activity/project background
In recent years, the National Directorate of Student Affairs within the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) has incorporated new program areas aimed at expanding opportunities for student participation in sports, cultural, and social activities. These additions reflect MEDUCA’s commitment to strengthening student engagement and enriching the educational experience beyond the classroom. However, the rapid introduction of these initiatives has not been accompanied by a comprehensive update of the directorate’s internal processes, operational models, or organizational structure.
As a result, the directorate and its small, five-person team have been functioning reactively, without a clearly defined operational focus or a cohesive framework to guide planning, coordination, and execution across its various areas. The absence of updated processes and clear roles has limited its ability to manage new responsibilities effectively, ensure consistent standards, and measure the impact of its programs. This context highlights the need for a systematic review and redesign of the directorate’s structure, workflows, and performance mechanisms to strengthen its capacity and ensure sustainable, high-quality service delivery.
The National Directorate of Student Affairs within the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) is seeking the support of one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to optimize processes, operations, and planning for new education programs. The VSPP will engage in small scale action planning, primarily with the National Director of Student Affairs, but also support and collaborate with the entire team of five staff, including the Development and Leadership Coordinator, two music coordinators, and one sports coordinator.
The organization has previously collaborated with The Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.
Engagement and tasks
The VSPP will carry out the following tasks, in collaboration with its host country partners:
Online collaboration usually happens between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Panama time. During the orientation, specific schedules will be determined.
The host country counterpart will have access to WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.
Optional Additional Activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
Essential Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in public administration, organizational development, or NGO management
Language: Advanced Spanish
Experience: 1 year developing strategic plans, leadership coaching, or related experience
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
August 4, 2026
End date
December 15, 2026
Duration
19 weeks
ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Activity/project background
In recent years, the National Directorate of Student Affairs within the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) has incorporated new program areas aimed at expanding opportunities for student participation in sports, cultural, and social activities. These additions reflect MEDUCA’s commitment to strengthening student engagement and enriching the educational experience beyond the classroom. However, the rapid introduction of these initiatives has not been accompanied by a comprehensive update of the directorate’s internal processes, operational models, or organizational structure.
As a result, the directorate and its small, five-person team have been functioning reactively, without a clearly defined operational focus or a cohesive framework to guide planning, coordination, and execution across its various areas. The absence of updated processes and clear roles has limited its ability to manage new responsibilities effectively, ensure consistent standards, and measure the impact of its programs. This context highlights the need for a systematic review and redesign of the directorate’s structure, workflows, and performance mechanisms to strengthen its capacity and ensure sustainable, high-quality service delivery.
The National Directorate of Student Affairs within the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) is seeking the support of one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to optimize processes, operations, and planning for new education programs. The VSPP will engage in small scale action planning, primarily with the National Director of Student Affairs, but also support and collaborate with the entire team of five staff, including the Development and Leadership Coordinator, two music coordinators, and one sports coordinator.
The organization has previously collaborated with The Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.
Engagement and tasks
The VSPP will carry out the following tasks, in collaboration with its host country partners:
- Co-assess the organizational and operational functions of the National Directorate of Student Affairs, including three program areas: music, sports, and leadership; draft a diagnostic report with key findings, gaps, and areas for improvement
- Co-design an organizational structure proposal and strategic plan, aligned with diagnostic results. Define roles and functions for program areas
- Co-develop proposals to strengthen processes, operations, planning, and execution of management activities across all program areas
- Co-create simple key performance indicators to measure the impact of each programmatic area
- Co-evaluate the development of new initiatives to strengthen the work of all program areas.
Online collaboration usually happens between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Panama time. During the orientation, specific schedules will be determined.
The host country counterpart will have access to WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.
Optional Additional Activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Essential Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in public administration, organizational development, or NGO management
Language: Advanced Spanish
Experience: 1 year developing strategic plans, leadership coaching, or related experience
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually