• Develop the Panigram Spa Manual corresponding to the Panigram spa menu and treatment protocols
• Oversee the recruitment, induction, training development, appraisal and discipline of all spa colleagues
• Ensure that the Spa operations meet with the standards described in the Spa Manual.
• Ensure that the spa operation comply with all of the Health and Safety Policies and Procedures
• Maximize customer satisfaction with unique hospitality and services
• Assure financial and business performance of the Spa
• Develop and execute the spa marketing plan

Applicants shall have the following experience, qualifications and skills:

• Minimum of 3 years relevant experience in the Hotel or related Industry
• Minimum 3 years as therapists
• Minimum 2 years in management role
• Relevant therapy qualifications (anatomy and physiology, a minimum of three international therapies including Ayurveda spa therapy)
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Second language preferred
• Able to perform treatment, train therapists, conduct yoga or Tai Chi class as require
• Excellent negotiation, presentation and interpersonal skills
• Fully computer literate
• Budgetary and financial analysis capabilities are a must

Should you be interested in applying for this position, we invite you to send us (at hr@panigram.com) your resume along with a letter of motivation telling us why you believe your recruitment would contribute to the rapid positioning of Panigram as one of the most renowned spas in the world. Make sure to emphasize how, as a proven industry expert, you have provided a true competitive advantage to the properties you have worked for. The cover letter is as important as your resume, so please take care in writing it and make sure all documents you submit have been proofread. Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.

Location: Jessore

Responsibilities

• Providing construction documents and construction information from the respective consultants to the construction manager.
• Receives information from the respective supervisors through the construction manager on requested changes and as-built information.
• Maintains the record of final on-site changes for final as-built documents
• Turns over the site and all of the as-built information to the operations team
• Signs off on running bills, stage bills, and final bills (progress claims)
• Verification of samples provided by the construction manager
• Provides clarifications on the drawings for the supervisors
• Coordinating between the various consultants during the design phase
• Review the weekly reports from the construction manager and notify the consultants as necessary when their work is affected.
• Production of finish details and materials selection during construction

Qualifications

• At least a bachelor’s degree in architecture or engineering; construction management or project management training preferred
• Excellent communicator; fluent in English and Bangla; has the ability to communicate with many different types of people.
• Must have on-site experience on at least two projects of a similar scale and complexity
• Relevant computer skills are essential (i.e. MS Office, AutoCAD, project management software, etc.)
• Familiarity with industry standards for resort construction is desirable
• Knowledge of vernacular architecture and access to research facilities

This “hands on” position will be located in Jessore. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Application Information:
Should you be interested in applying for this position, please fill out the online application form here. Please be sure to include your resume and a cover letter telling us how your previous work experiences make you the ideal candidate for this position (give specific examples). The cover letter is as important as your resume, so please take care in writing it and make sure all documents you submit have been proofread. Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.

To apply, please click here.
Questions can be directed to: hr@panigram.com.

Location: Jessore

Responsibilities

• Interpretation of consultant’s drawings for the contractors
• Supervising electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractors on site
• Coordinating with the procurement and the stores
• Coordination with the consultants through the on-site design manager for clarifications, site-based revisions, sample approval, and change requests
• Quantity calculations for procurement purposes
• Measuring and verifying the contractor’s billable quantities and maintaining the measurement book
• Provide all on-site change information to the design manager for as-built records
• Acquire and collect all operations and equipment manuals to turn over to the operations/ maintenance team
• Scheduling of plumbing, electrical, and mechanical installations
• Coordinate the timing and installation of plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems with the other supervisors

Qualifications

• At least a 3 year diploma in electrical engineering
• Experience in a similar supervisory  role in at least two major projects with similar technical complexity (preferably hotels, hospitals, or airports)
• Competent in English
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and accounting software is desirable
• Familiar with industry standards for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical services

This “hands on” position will be located in Jessore. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Application Information:
Should you be interested in applying for this position, please fill out the online application form here. Please be sure to include your resume and a cover letter telling us how your previous work experiences make you the ideal candidate for this position (give specific examples). The cover letter is as important as your resume, so please take care in writing it and make sure all documents you submit have been proofread. Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.

To apply, please click here.
Questions can be directed to: hr@panigram.com.

Location: Jessore

Responsibilities

• Interpretation of consultant’s drawings for the contractors
• Supervising the civil construction contractors on site (verify term)
• Coordinating with the procurement and the stores
• Coordination with t he consultants through the on-site design manager for clarifications, site-based revisions, sample approval, and change requests
• Quantity calculations for procurement purposes
• Measuring and verifying the contractor’s billable quantities and maintaining the measurement book
• Provide all on-site change information to the design manager for as-built records
• Scheduling of structural and building shell construction
• Coordinate the timing and installation of the structural and building shell construction with the other supervisors

Qualifications

• At least a 3 year diploma in civil engineering
• Experience in a similar supervisory  role on at least two major projects with similar technical complexity (preferably residential villa construction or resorts)
• Competent in English
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and accounting software is desirable
• Familiarity with industry standards for resort construction is preferred

This “hands on” position will be located in Jessore. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Application Information:
Should you be interested in applying for this position, please fill out the online application form here. Please be sure to include your resume and a cover letter telling us how your previous work experiences make you the ideal candidate for this position (give specific examples). The cover letter is as important as your resume, so please take care in writing it and make sure all documents you submit have been proofread. Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.

To apply, please click here.
Questions can be directed to: hr@panigram.com.

Location: Jessore

Responsibilities

• Interpretation of consultant’s drawings for the planting contractor; supervising the planting contractor on site
• Establishing an on- or off-site nursery; procurement or wild collection of planting material; establishment and propagation of large quantities of specified plant material.

Qualifications

• Five years experience supervising in farms, nurseries, or plantations
• Familiar with botanical names of plants
• Good knowledge of local, native, and wild plants
• Well versed in nursery propagation, maintenance, and planting techniques
• Competent in English

This “hands on” position will be located in Jessore. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Application Information:
Should you be interested in applying for this position, please fill out the online application form here. Please be sure to include your resume and a cover letter telling us how your previous work experiences make you the ideal candidate for this position (give specific examples).

To apply, please click here.
Questions can be directed to: hr@panigram.com.

While in Bangladesh you can take an excursion to the nearby Sundarban forest, a world heritage site, and local archaeological sites. You will also have ample opportunities to take boat rides on the river, fish, and bicycle. We are looking for native English speakers who will teach classes 4-5 hours a day, five days a week starting in October 2011.

Click here for more information.

This would be your office...

Location: Jessore, Bangladesh

Duration: 3 – 12 months

Job Description:
Are you an artist who wishes you had more time to hone your craft? Are you sick of the rat race and are looking for a quiet retreat? Have you just finished a career and want to give back? Is the idea of working on a river next to a pottery village appealing to you? Would you like to have mango trees in your office? If so, come to Panigram! We are currently looking for two instructors to teach our villagers English; friends and couples are encouraged to apply. We will host you in our lovely five bedroom house with a private garden, orchard, and pond in Jessore city. A maid will do your laundry, clean your home, make your bed, and cook three meals a day for you. You will be able to enjoy the beautiful countryside each day as your own rickshawala takes you to and from the project site.

While in Bangladesh you can take an excursion to the nearby Sundarban forest, a World Heritage site, and local archaeological sites. You will also have ample opportunities to take boat rides on the river, fish, and bicycle. We are looking for native English speakers who will teach classes 4-5 hours a day, five days a week starting in October 2011..

Qualifications:

• Native English speaker
• Great with people
• Adventurous
• Desire to be completely immersed in another culture

If this appeals to you, please send us a letter explaining who you are, what motivates you to apply, and what teaching methodology you would use. Letters should be address to “Human Resources Manager” and sent to hr@panigram.com.

We taught the kids the names of the body parts by singing "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes".

Friday, in the Muslim country of Bangladesh is observed as the holy day, and is therefore the day these children don’t have to attend classes.  Instead of the American tradition of weekend cartoons and sugary cereal, they are up and anxiously waiting for their voluntary day of learning.  As we arrive for the morning class, we are greeted by twenty-or-so children running after our rickshaw and screaming our names: “hi Jan, hi Meeley, hi Braley!”

Having no set skill level or age group, our students vary from the very young (whom I am still not sure even speak Bangla yet), to advanced teenagers, to their grandparents who try to get a glimpse of the lesson through the protection of the doorway.  Between the varied set of students and our combined teaching history (consisting only of a few sports such as swimming and soccer), we have had an interesting time trying to prepare and teach these lessons.  Starting with the basics, we covered 1,2,3s and ABCs.  At the first sound of counting or the alphabet, all of the children erupt to yell the sequences they have already memorized, as quickly and loudly as possible, creating a crazy mess of indecipherable words with some sort of skewed, underlining rhythm.  Fortunately, they all understand the sweeping motions of the breast stroke (perfected in my years teaching swimming lessons), and know to slow down and repeat after us, when signaled.  Teaching in a large, mixed group has proven efficient in that it advances correct pronunciation for the older students, while bringing the little ones up to pace, as they have a large set of teachers to learn from.  A few of the older students help translate parts of the lesson to the rest of the student body, which will hopefully improve their own understanding of the language.

Even though it is their only day off from school, the kids still put on their school uniforms and came to learn English from us.

While repeating phrases and writing on the chalkboard have been successful teaching tools, we have found drawing and singing to be more productive.  It is clear that the students learn more when we are having fun and teaching through methods we enjoy.  This past Friday was particularly interesting to us, as the children drew pictures of their homes and families, and we were able to examine their pictures in comparison to the traditional western childhood drawings we did growing up.  In place of the family dog was often a cow, and the male and female symbols which adorn public bathroom doors don’t exactly translate to the traditional Bangladeshi culture.  “Heads, shoulders, knees, and toes” is currently the biggest hit in town.

Each class leaves us exhausted, but with a big smile.  The children are more cute and loving than one could possibly imagine, and it is wonderful to see how enthusiastic they are to learn.  It is a pleasure to work for such a good cause.

Jen and I with our class. (Millie is behind the camera.)

A Bangladeshi classroom! We love the murals painted on the walls. Previous interns apparently taught the English lessons on the pavilion, but it is really too small to accomodate so many kids. Plus, with construction starting soon, Kristin wants to start training the villagers not to wander onto the project site for their safety. This school is an easy walk from the Panigram site. It is the same place where Josie used to show the Friday movies.

Some eager children waiting in the classroom for the lessons to start.

Me and some of my students.

Bangladeshi trucks are usually painted in very bright colors.

The daily, hour-long commute from our urban apartment to the Panigram site is usually a bumpy affair in an auto-rickshaw, spent drowning in exhaust fumes and being deafened by incessant beeping. However, recently, our rickshaw has turned out to be less than reliable. Initially, breaking down (often conveniently close to tea-stalls) was a welcome break for our numb legs and our nerves, but repeated mechanical problems increasingly left us stuck in the middle of nowhere, waiting for the engine to cool down.

One such incident left us stranded at the side of the road for over an hour. As is generally guaranteed in Bangladesh, we were not alone for long. Within 5 minutes a group of school girls had gathered on the opposite side of the road to have a good look. Courageously, they edged closer to further their inspection and, after a while, even uttered a few barely audible greetings. Ever the multi-faceted business woman, Kristin took on the impromptu role of English teacher, while Jen entertained the less academically inclined with a magic trick. An hour later and our crowd had grown, but our patience was diminishing, and our replacement rickshaw was still nowhere to be seen. We jumped on the back of a passing nosimon and proceeded full speed ahead to Panigram.

The nosimon is a three-wheeled, motorized affair, with a flat wooden trailer at the back that is usually concealed by large loads of vegetables, wares, or Bangladeshi families. The driver sits perched up on a motorbike-cum-tractor above the noisy engine, recognizable by its relentless put-put-put sound. Without the cover of the auto-rickshaw, overtaking vehicles feel closer than ever (especially when your own limbs are at stake), and even the minor bumps in the road send you flying into the air. And so we clung in trepidation to the flat wooden seat, hypnotized by the panoramic views of the passing Bangladeshi countryside. After an hour long journey, we reached Panigram, with our legs slightly bruised and battered, but thankfully still intact.

Panigram sits idyllically at the confluence of two waterways, which the heavy monsoon rains have been working to fill to the brim. This has made for a welcome addition to our journey as we have to take a short boat trip to reach the site. In comparison with the loud and jerky nosimon experience, nothing could have felt more tranquil, as we approached the site through the calm, glassy waters. After a productive day’s work on site, we took to the water once again, preparing our nerves for another noisy nosimon trip. The dark monsoon clouds loomed overhead. After about half an hour bouncing around (I nearly lost my camera to one particularly perilous pothole), the heavens opened. We pulled over into a concrete shelter and waited for the next bus back to Jessore.

For the first time that day, we didn’t have to wait for long. Having clambered aboard (Jen doing so as the driver pulled away), we relished in the luxury of cushioned seats. Sitting at the back of the bus, however, leaves you susceptible to the inevitable discomfort of the bumpy roads. The bus conductor sitting next to me was kind enough to apologize intermittently for the state of the Bangladeshi roads, whilst simultaneously restraining me to keep me from shooting head first down the aisle. We slammed to a halt and descended just a short Easy Bike ride away from home; a relieving quiet and smooth conclusion to our day’s adventure.

My personal favorite way of getting around is on foot, with a chance to enjoy the scenery at a slower pace. Being monsoon season, and a country with limited paving, smaller roads are often more like the trenches of the Somme. You can’t go under it, you can’t go over it, you have to go through it; slipping and sliding barefoot through the mud as it squelches and oozes between your toes. Nevertheless, every minute spent travelling in Bangladesh is an exhilarating experience. There is no better confirmation that we are miles from home (and a world away from western bus timetables, traffic laws, pavements and multi-lane highways) than the Bangladeshi circulation system.

A vangari, autorickshaw, bus, and pedestrian all in one photo!

A young boy hauling katal fruit to the market on his vangari.

An older boy taking his goat for (let's assume!) a joy ride in his makeshift vangari truck...

A rickshaw from Dhaka! (The ones in Jessore are not quite as colorful...)

We take a boat to the project site every day.

Me in our autorickshaw. Our driver, Rafik, is int he background.