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Lifelong Learner Voyage Coordinator - Spring 26

Semester at Sea
Full-time
On-site
United States
$6,000 - $6,000 USD yearly

Salary Range:$6,000.00 To 6,000.00 Annually

Job Position: Lifelong Learner Voyage Coordinator - Spring 2026 Voyage

Reports To: ISE Director of Participant Success (pre-voyage and during voyage) and the Dean of Student Life (during voyage)

Assignment Type: Temporary, full-time 

Location: Shipboard position. Sailing on the MV World Odyssey, embarking on or around Janaury 2, 2026 and disembarking on or around April 20, 2026. Itineraries are always subject to a variety of changes both major and minor, before and during the voyage. Please reference semesteratsea.org for the most updated itinerary.

Organization Description

Established in 1963, the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) is a 501(c) non-profit organization. In collaboration with academic partner Colorado State University, ISE delivers the Semester at Sea® program, one of the longest operating higher education study abroad programs. Semester at Sea® provides its students a global comparative education through classroom and experiential learning in the field. The Semester at Sea® floating campus, the MV World Odyssey, carries around 550 students plus faculty, staff, and others. The duration of the semester voyage is typically 105 days, including visits to 8-10 countries. ISE conducts two semester voyages annually. See semesteratsea.org for more information.

Mission

Journeys of discovery that spark bold solutions to global challenges

Position Description

The Lifelong Learner Voyage Coordinator is primarily responsible for the formation of a cohesive community of Lifelong Learners that is well-integrated into the larger shipboard community. The Lifelong Learner Voyage Coordinator is the voice of the Lifelong Learners among the voyage faculty and staff.

The goals of the Lifelong Learner Voyage Coordinator include:

  • Provide unparalleled service to our Lifelong Learner population, ensuring a smooth transition into the general shipboard population and an exceptional experience throughout the voyage;
  • Plan and execute daily programming for Lifelong Learners;
  • Serve as the on-ship liaison for Lifelong Learners.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

The individual in this position must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation:

Prior to the voyage 

  • Participate in regularly scheduled training and orientation calls with ISE partner
  • Participate in the Student Life Team training in person in Fort Collins, CO
  • Participate in all scheduled training and orientation calls with HR and your fellow Staculty members
  • Communicate with Lifelong Learners (beginning about three months prior to the voyage)

During the voyage

  • Plan and facilitate daily Lifelong Learner meetings while at sea
  • Respond to the needs of Lifelong Learners and assist them in seeking resolution
  • Assist in various programming efforts intended to enhance the Lifelong Learning community
  • Plan special orientations and events for Spotlight Voyage Lifelong Learners joining mid-voyage
  • Oversee the Extended Family Program, a ship-wide community engagement initiative, which requires extensive planning and attention to detail during the first month of the voyage
  • Attend regular meetings with the Student Life team
  • Liaise with other Staculty members on behalf of the Lifelong Learners, including but not limited to the Academic Advisor/Registrar, Assistant Executive Dean, Field Office team, specific Faculty members, and the voyage crew
  • Assist the Student Life team with community-wide programming and/or other duties as needed
  • Manage three to five student assistants

Requirements

  • Be available for a full semester assignment
  • Have valid U.S. work authorization
  • Have or be able to obtain a valid passport and required visas, as well as any vaccinations as directed by a health care provider or required by the program; this applies to the faculty/staff member and any accompanying companions 
    • Passports must be valid for 6 months post voyage
    • It is recommended that U.S. passport holders have no fewer than 15 blank passport pages
  • Be able to successfully pass a background check

Minimum Qualifications and Skills 

  • Support the mission of ISE; reflecting ISE values, candidates are expected to have a demonstrated ability to advance the SAS commitment to support diverse and inclusive community-building
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to support culturally diverse communities
  • A combination of 5+ years of experience either working with adults (ideally in a travel and learning environment) or experience in higher education or customer service/customer success
  • Bachelor's degree in appropriate discipline
  • Experience in volunteer management and the ability to delegate tasks
  • A professional demeanor and the ability to provide a high level of customer service
  • The ability to create an environment where Lifelong Learners and student volunteers feel comfortable to ask questions and obtain assistance
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the capacity to relate effectively with all voyage constituents
  • Must be detail-oriented, with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a complex and dynamic environment
  • Ability to exercise good judgment and flexibility on a range of tasks, including conflict resolution

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

  • Training and/or participation in diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives 
  • Semester at Sea alumna/alumnus (strongly preferred)
  • International travel experience, event planning experience, and/or outreach experience

Working Conditions 

  • Initial Adjustment: Shipboard life can be stressful for some voyage participants, particularly those with anxiety issues and those who require a longer period of acclimation to highly stimulating and fast-paced environments.
  • Environment: This job position requires work performed on a moving ship for which there are narrow doorways, and tight, enclosed quarters. There may be odors or noise. The temperature on the ship can be cool or warm, depending on many variables. There may be periods of rough seas, making it harder to move on the ship.  
  • Health: A health team (physician, PA/NP, counselors) is available on the ship. The medical capabilities while at sea are focused on urgent care and temporary stabilization of emergency medical and mental health conditions using basic medical supplies and equipment with a limited formulary. Very limited medications may be available; voyagers are expected to bring sufficient current medications for the entire voyage. In some regions, there may be no access to emergency evacuation. While in port, local healthcare system resources are utilized, which can vary widely in capabilities. Counseling services typically focus on short-term, solution-oriented interventions to address situational issues. Owing to the unique semester schedule divided between port and sea days, counselors cannot meet with voyage participants on the equivalent of a week-to-week basis. Extended psychological or psychiatric services are not available on the ship and are limited in quantity and quality in different ports. Voyagers who present a risk to themselves or others will likely be required to leave the ship to receive more extended and appropriate care as this cannot be provided on the ship.
  • Sea Conditions: It is not uncommon for participants to experience sea-related conditions, including but not limited to loss of balance and potential risk of falls; seasickness; vertigo; nausea; and difficulty concentrating
  • Accessibility and Accommodation: On the vessel, elevators may not always be accessible. There are a limited number of wheelchair accessible cabins. Some field programs/classes may not be accessible to those with physical disabilities. Depending on the port facilities, tides affecting the gangway, and weather, those with physical disabilities may not be able to always disembark the ship.
  • Privacy: Faculty and staff can expect to be in the company of students, lifelong learners, and dependent children when in public areas on the ship. Overall, privacy Is very limited aboard the vessel. 
  • Food & Dining: It may not be possible for the ship to accommodate certain dietary restrictions onboard or in the field. Dining is limited to brief windows of time & facilities are typically busy.
  • Time Frame: There are over 100 days of travel on a 700+ passenger ship. The 100 days are divided between time at sea and time on land in foreign ports. There may be voyage segments that include long stretches at sea. Classes are held nearly every day at sea; there are no regular ‘weekend’ breaks.
  • Field Program: Travel and sometimes significant walking are required for Field Programs/Classes. Field programs are optional fee-based in-country experiences organized by ISE available to all voyagers. Field classes are led by faculty members and are required, eight-hour, in-country components of each course. They account for 20% of each student’s grade in that course.

Physical Demands of the Job

  • Computer work is required
  • Extended walking and standing, sometimes on uneven surfaces, is required
  • Lifting/carrying/bending/moving objects up to 25lbs
  • Climbing stairs to embark and disembark the ship, in the port terminal, and in-country may be required

Compensation

  • Stipend of $6,000, paid in three equal installments during the voyage;
  • Travel assistance to help defray the cost of travel to and from the ship. More information to be provided once embarkation details are confirmed;
  • The opportunity to request to sail with an adult companion and dependent children (5 years old+)/teenagers for an additional fee. Note that requests for companions and dependent children/teenagers are subject to availability and contingent upon health, safety, and capacity regulations;
  • Opportunity to apply to be a Trip Liaison (a faculty or staff member who works with providers on our field programs to ensure expectations are carried out by the providers as planned, to serve as a point of contact for field program participants, and to evaluate and respond to any health or safety issues while on the field program), and receive ISE in-country field programs for a free or reduced price;
  • Passage, room, and board on the Vessel during the Term of the Agreement; and
  • Medical Emergency and Evacuation insurance coverage.

Application Deadline: Please submit your application on or before Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Application Advice

  • Use Google Chrome as your web browser. It interfaces with ADP better than other web browsers
  • Please complete and save your prepared documents in advance of beginning the online ADP application
  • Allow plenty of time to complete the application, upload materials, and submit the application
  • Work cannot be saved; applicants cannot return to in-progress applications at a later time
  • Once an application has been submitted, it cannot be altered or changed

Application Instructions

To receive full consideration, please submit your application materials as follows:

  • Submit both a cover letter and a resume; your cover letter should address your interest in the position and your qualifications as aligned with the requirements of the position
  • Submit your cover letter and resume as a single file in the following order: cover letter first followed by your resume
  • Submit your single document as a PDF file, not as a Word document or other file type
  • Save your PDF document with the file name, “LastName,FirstInitial_VoyageJobTitle” (i.e. Smith,J_SP26LLLVoyageCoord) and upload to the “Resume” option
  • Do not submit additional documentation; additional documentation is not requested at this time and will neither be reviewed nor considered

Failure to submit your application according to any or all of the above criteria may limit consideration for the position.

Please direct your position-specific questions to Human Resources at hr@isevoyages.org. Please, no phone calls. 

The Institute for Shipboard Education|Semester at Sea® is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage anyone, regardless of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, marital status, or any other classification protected by law, to apply.