LANGUAGE AND CROSS-CULTURAL COORDINATOR (LCC)

PSC Position Title: Language and Cross-Cultural Coordinator (LCC)
Reports To: Deputy Director, Programming & Training (DDPT)
Contract Type: Intermittent – Not to Exceed 190 days per year
Supervises: None
SOW Review Date: August 2026

1. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

At a minimum, the successful candidate’s CV must demonstrate the following:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in a field of study relevant for training and adult education.
• Experience: At least six years in progressively more complex roles in training and management, curriculum development, adult learning strategies, local language training and interculture assessment, preferably with an international, cross-cultural organization or business.
• Experience and knowledge of planning, implementation and facilitation of local language, cross-cultural, community assessment, operational, and/or required specialty training events and programs.
• Ability to work on a regular Monday through Friday schedule with occasional evening and weekend hours when necessary.
• Must be legally able to work in Uganda.

2. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience: Eight years in progressively more complex roles in training and management, preferably with an international, cross-cultural organization or private organization.
• Cross-cultural training experience with Americans.
• Study and/or experience in community development, community health, teaching or teacher training are added advantages.
• The LCC should be a dynamic and experienced professional person.
• Excellent command of English, both spoken and written, with native ability in spoken and written at least two Ugandan languages.

3. BACKGROUND

The U.S. Peace Corps is an agency of the United States Government, which sends American volunteer development workers to assist in capacity building and technical assistance activities in more than 60 countries worldwide. It operates in Uganda by the invitation of the Government of Uganda and has a memorandum of understanding with government ministries that outline broad areas of agreement of cooperation regarding the work of Peace Corps Volunteers in Uganda.

Volunteers are assigned to government and non-governmental agencies and organizations, community-based organizations, colleges and schools who, in partnership, enable Volunteers to provide capacity building in Education and Health, including community economic development activities. Peace Corps also aims to build cultural understanding between Americans and Ugandans.

Peace Corps Uganda is located at 48 Malcolm X Avenue, Kololo, Kampala. The Post Office box numbers are 29348 or 7007 Kampala, Uganda.

The work of a Peace Corps Personal Services Contractor (PSC) does not limit itself to the role. Active support of the Peace Corps mission is paramount to the job because contractors are representatives of Peace Corps in the country.

4. OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

The Language and Cross-Cultural Coordinator (LCC) is responsible for preparing, implementing, and assessing all language and cross-cultural training for Peace Corps Uganda.

Primarily, these topics are addressed during:

• Pre-Service Training (PST)
• Mid-Service Training (MST)
• Close of Service Conference

As part of these responsibilities, the LCC designs and conducts an overall orientation to language and cross-cultural training methods for Peace Corps staff during Training of Trainers (ToT) events.

The LCC is also responsible for preparing trainers and testers for Language Proficiency Interviews (LPI) in alignment with Peace Corps guidance.

The LCC is responsible for daily oversight of Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitators (LCFs) and also works closely with other Training and Programming staff.

The services to be performed will be subject to the ultimate responsibility and authority of the Peace Corps Country Director, who is responsible for all Peace Corps activities in Uganda.

5. TASKS & DELIVERABLES

A. Training Design, Implementation and Assessment

• Designs and delivers a comprehensive Language and Interculture training program, including creating and conducting any necessary needs assessments.
• Conducts community assessments to identify new and/or review existing venues for PSTs and ISTs.
• Participates in the planning, designing and scheduling of Volunteer Trainings, ensuring that Language and Interculture competencies are adequately addressed. This includes contributing to Continuum of Learning and Assessment (CLA), Learning Development Plans (LDP), and the Calendar of Training Events (COTEs).
• Works closely with the Programming, Training and Evaluation (PTE) staff to plan, monitor and implement Volunteer trainings.
• Stays abreast of PC/Washington Language and Interculture guidance for post and ensures these are tailored, incorporated and implemented at post as needed.
• Provides documentation which supports decisions to recommend or not recommend Trainees to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, based on the Language and Interculture eligibility and other post requirements.
• Ensures that safety and security competencies are integrated in the Language and Interculture curriculum learning experiences, competencies and materials and resources.
• Leads the assessment of Trainees’ language and intercultural competencies against set benchmarks and ensures that the Trainees are supported to meet the eligibility criteria for Swearing-In. Provides documentation for Trainee Assessment results.
• Supports, where needed, technical training and other training activities outside the scope of Language and Interculture as needed in order to ensure integration.
• Oversees and develops Peace Corps-specific language materials which integrate relevant training components. The materials may include manuals and audio/visual materials.
• Prepares schedules for Language Proficiency Interviews (LPIs) and prepares refresher workshops for language testers to ensure quality testing.
• Makes recommendations to the DDPT and DPT on each Trainee’s suitability for service based on their language ability as measured by the LPI and other eligibility criteria established by post.
• Designs all language program assessment and evaluation tools, trains the LCFs on how to use them and monitors their usage throughout training.
• Analyzes language performance data with its related variables for baseline information to assist in strategic planning and training.

B. Human Resources

• Assists the DDPT and Training Specialist in the recruitment process of the Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitators (LCFs).
• Provides the DDPT and Training Specialist with timely appraisals and updates about LCF performance.
• Regularly observes Language and Interculture sessions, provides feedback to session facilitators, works with staff to adapt sessions and learning strategies, and teaches some classes as needed.

C. Staff Training

• Leads the design and implementation of a Language Training of Trainers (LTOT) to ensure that Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitators are able to achieve planned competencies and implement practical learning experiences for Pre-Service Training (PST) and In-Service Trainings (ISTs).
• Works closely with the DDPT and Training Specialist in developing and delivering orientation, onboarding and a professional code of conduct to LCFs and other PST staff to enhance the smooth running of their work.
• Ensures LCFs’ familiarity with the Community Based Training (CBT) language teaching methodology and teaching materials such as language manuals, word lists, dictionaries and other teaching aids.
• Designs and trains LCFs and other PST staff in developing skills in adult teaching methods, designing lesson plans, lesson delivery, tailored and modified lesson plans, learners’ assessments, training evaluations, providing coaching and feedback, among others.
• Promotes cross-sectoral collaboration and clarifies to LCFs their role as technical facilitators where needed and works toward strengthening integration of all training components.
• Coordinates the training or refresher of LCFs in language testing skills using the Peace Corps LPI guide.
• Designs and conducts introductory Interculture and basic language sessions for new hires, American or otherwise, to greatly benefit staff in cross-cultural understanding and integration at many levels with colleagues and partners in the field.

D. Reports and Documentation

• Develops and submits regular reports on language training activities and PCV/Ts’ progress as determined by Peace Corps Uganda and the DDPT.
• Prepares annual reports for language scores for submission to headquarters according to the required formats.
• Enters scores in VIDA as guided by PC/W.
• Keeps essential Language and Interculture records in Peace Corps Language repositories.

E. Volunteer Ongoing Support

• Supports PCVs to identify language tutors and develops a robust program for the orientation and onboarding of language tutors to align with the Peace Corps language training process.
• Develops and maintains a Language Tutoring database with identified tutors for vetting and support.
• Working closely with LCFs and Trainees, supports the development of Trainees’ individualized self-study plans.
• Throughout the year, provides support to PCVs for ongoing language learning, site tutoring and providing input and support on language learning strategies.
• Encourages ongoing language learning by emphasizing its benefits in observing Peace Corps Goals.
• Designs a strategy on how to encourage LPI testing for ISTs and COSing volunteers.
• Provides support to PCVs in addressing any Intercultural issues that arise from time to time for PCVs, and any current socioeconomic and political issues that may affect their intercultural adjustment.
• Assists the DDPT in developing, assessing and redesigning competencies and training sessions as required.
• Evaluates and reports Volunteer/Trainee acquisition of required safety and security competencies.
• Immediately communicates Volunteer safety and security concerns and issues to the Safety and Security Manager (SSM) and DDPT.
• Supports the safety and security systems that are in place for pre-service training, including reinforcing Trainee roles and responsibilities related to personal safety and security.
• Is knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.

6. STANDARD ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. OMH: Occasional Money Handler

Occasional Money Handler may be requested to courier cash and/or purchase orders to various vendors who furnish supplies and/or services to PST/IST training sites or other locations as directed by the Contracting Officer.

The PSC may also be requested to courier cash to PC trainees or volunteers. The PSC will not be functioning as a procurement or disbursing official but will only be acting as an intermediary between the Contracting or Disbursing Officer and the recipient.

In the case of dealing with vendors, the PSC will not exercise any procurement discretion concerning the supplies or services to be purchased or the cost limits of these purchases. These will be determined by the Contracting Officer.

B. S&S

• Works with drivers to ensure that Safety and Security standards are met for appropriate Peace Corps vehicle operation and maintenance.
• Coordinates with the Safety and Security Manager (SSM) to ensure that emergency radios or other communication devices are in good working order.
• Supports the SSM in planning and conducting fire drills and duck and cover drills.
• Supports completion of necessary safety and security upgrades to the office, USDH staff residences and other Peace Corps facilities.
• Is knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.
• Immediately communicates Volunteer safety and security concerns and issues to the Safety and Security Manager (SSM) and Country Director (CD).

C. Other Flexibilities

If there is a time at post, due to a pandemic or for any other reason, when there are limited or no Peace Corps Trainees and/or Volunteers, the PSC may be temporarily assigned during that period, as determined by the Peace Corps Country Director (CD), to carry out additional duties and responsibilities in furtherance of the goals of the Peace Corps.

This temporary assignment may require the PSC to provide services and/or support beyond what is listed in the current Statement of Work (SOW). The services and/or support may include, but are not limited to:

• Training
• Administrative assistance
• Technical assistance
• Medical assistance
• Operational assistance
• Building on host country programs

The temporary assignment may also require the PSC to provide these services and/or support to individuals or organizations other than those listed in the current SOW, such as host country government, partner organizations, community members, staff and contractors.

7. SUPERVISION, LOGISTICS & LEVEL OF EFFORT

• Supervision Received: Supervised by and receives day-to-day guidance from the DDPT. One-step-over supervision will be from the Director of Programming and Training under the overall stewardship of the Country Director. For new, difficult or unusual tasks, supervisors give directions on objectives and suggested procedures. The LCC is expected to take the initiative to meet established deadlines and document and communicate procedures to management.
• Duty Station: The main office is located in Kololo, Kampala, with training venues in and out of Kampala and frequent travel outside Kampala within Uganda.
• Working Arrangement: This position is an intermittent role with a Not to Exceed number of 190 working days per year. The candidate will be expected to carry out their duties during a 40/48-hour work week. Events require occasional work in the evenings, on weekends and holidays.
• Available Guidelines:
  1. Peace Corps Manual
  2. Foreign Affairs Manual
  3. Instructions provided by the Director of Programming and Training and the Country Director
• Exercise of Judgment: Broad exercise of judgment within the confines of job responsibilities.
• Authority to Make Commitments: The LCC is expected to research, negotiate and suggest solutions within the confines of the job responsibilities.