Program Manager Costa Rica (San José)

About Expanish

Expanish is an award-winning Spanish language school and study abroad provider with locations in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Málaga (Spain) as well as Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Costa Rica. For over 20 years we have offered high-quality Spanish language programs and academic & cultural experiences for students from all around the world.

Conditions

• Position Name: Program Manager Costa Rica

• Position type: Part-time, including on-site group accompaniment, occasionally on weekends.

• Location: San José, Costa Rica. Flexibility to travel around the country.

• Contract: temporary.

• Availability: Immediate

• Reports to: Director Expanish

Your Role at Expanish

As part of the Operations team, you will plan, coordinate, and oversee our group programs in Costa Rica end to end - agencies, partner universities, faculty-led, study abroad, and special programs - from the commercial proposal to the post-program close-out. Your goal is to deliver an outstanding and safe experience for students, faculty, and partners while ensuring service quality and keeping every program on budget.

We’re looking for a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented person who enjoys managing several projects at once, is comfortable with numbers, budgets and negotiations, and stays calm under pressure. You will work closely with the Sales / University Relations team and the Global Operations team, as well as with local partners and suppliers across Costa Rica. If you’re passionate about international education, love making complex logistics run smoothly, and thrive in a multicultural environment, this role could be a perfect fit!

Key Responsibilities

• Program Design: Build custom itineraries, field trips, academic components, business visits, and cultural activities with faculty and local partners.

• Budgeting & Logistics: Manage program budgets, negotiate with suppliers, and handle contracts.

• Risk Management: Lead orientations, health & safety protocols, emergency response, and insurance coordination.

• Stakeholder Relations: Be the go-to contact for partner universities, local suppliers and on-site teams.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

Before the program

• Prepare proposals, pricing and budgets with the Sales / University Relations team.

• Design final itineraries and book accommodation, transport, activities and guides.

• Coordinate the academic component, business visits and pre-departure webinars.

• Hire and brief program coordinators, and prepare program documentation.

• Support students with visas when required.

During the program

• Accompany groups, run on-site orientations and deliver the cultural program.

• Respond to emergencies, incidents, complaints and special requests.

• Track the budget in real time and prepare program reports.

• Organize farewell events.

After the program

• Close each program’s finances with the Accounting department.

• Run satisfaction surveys and evaluations, and review results with Sales / University Relations.

• Evaluate suppliers to improve future programs.

• Keep the group’s master file up to date and contribute to the area’s quarterly OKRs.

How Success Is Measured

• Group NPS

• Budget compliance per group

• Achievement of the area’s quarterly OKRs

• Students' and faculty’s initial and final evaluation satisfaction

What We're Looking For

• Experience coordinating group programs in Study Abroad, International Education, faculty-led programs, or educational travel in Costa Rica.

• Good knowledge of Costa Rica’s destinations, suppliers, and logistics.

• Strong organizational and project management skills: able to run several programs at once with attention to detail.

• Confident with budgets, pricing, cost control, and supplier negotiations.

• Excellent communication skills with students, faculty leaders, partner universities, agencies, and suppliers.

• Calm under pressure and able to respond to emergencies; available to accompany groups on-site, occasionally on weekends.

• Native-level Spanish and advanced English.

• Proficiency in Google Suite

• Work permit for Costa Rica.