Summary

The Retreat Program Coordinator’s primary purpose is to program and coordinate mission-centric, balanced Residential Retreat calendar(s) in collaboration with the Programs and Online Operations team, co-Guiding Teachers, and the Guiding Teachers Committee (GTC). These efforts expand and deepen Spirit Rock’s impact, influence, and effectiveness in bringing the Dharma to diverse practitioners, in alignment with the organization’s goals and commitments to various stakeholders. This Coordinator works closely with the Program Manager and Director of Programs and Online Operations to cultivate and nurture relationships with our diverse teacher communities and support Spirit Rock’s commitment to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).

Key Accountabilities

RESIDENTIAL RETREAT COORDINATION

• Coordinate systems flow of all Residential Retreats in support of the Spirit Rock mission
• Work closely with teachers to plan and schedule retreats that reflect Spirit Rock’s priorities and that are aligned with practitioner interests
• Serve as the point person for all residential teacher communication pertaining to their retreats during the planning and scheduling phases.
• Coordinate all administrative tasks related to residential retreat planning, to include communication with team, scheduling meetings, tracking correspondence, and maintaining schedule and database(s)
• Play a key collaborative role and in coordinating interdepartmentally with various teams

GENERAL PROGRAM COORDINATION & ADMINISTRATION

• Coordinate and support general programming as needed, both onsite and online
• Support programming onsite as needed, including Special Events, Benefits, Hybrids, and Family program offerings
• Support Governance Administrator with governance duties as required
• Coordinate sharing survey results for all programs to teachers
• Coordinate, modify, and track all teacher LOAs
• Update teacher contact info and tracking
• Monitor team inboxes for participant correspondence and inquiries
• Process programs team monthly credit card expenses
• Schedule and host departmental team meetings
• Prepare documents, spreadsheets, and calendars outlining retreat themes, teacher engagement, scheduling and other data, as needed.
• Provide support to the Programs team for planning and reporting activities and other aspects of the department, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong knowledge of core Buddhist/Insight Meditation teachings and values, retreat/meditation practice experience and a passion for dharma, a sincere interest in the exploration of bringing mindfulness to all activities of daily life, and a strong interest in continued learning required.
• Minimum of 3 years’ professional experience with accountability for program/project planning and management.
• Tech/computer skills (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, email clients).
• Strong organizational and time management skills, time management and attention to detail and prioritize multiple deadlines.
• Ability to come on site occasionally as needed (around once a month.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefer experience with LMS, CMS, Raiser’s Edge, NetCommunity, WordPress, and Adobe Acrobat, ASANA or related systems.
• An ability to support the organization in its efforts to create inclusive and safe containers for teachers and participants.
• Ability to collaborate with a wide range of people and constituencies in diverse communities, including internal external customer service skills.
• Familiarity with Spirit Rock and/or Buddhist offerings, culture, and teachers strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of and commitment to DEI principles and practices

For all Spirit Rock positions:

Spirit Rock Meditation Center is a spiritual practice center devoted to the teaching of Insight Meditation in the Buddhist tradition. We strive to create a work environment that reflects the Buddha’s teachings with a special emphasis on seeing our work as an essential aspect of our spiritual practice. As such, we seek employees who have a sincere interest in and commitment to the exploration of bringing the practice of mindfulness to bear on all activities of daily life.

The following qualities and abilities are expected of all employees at Spirit Rock:

• Ability to work well with people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• The ability to work collaboratively.
• Flexibility and the ability to compromise.
• Honesty and integrity.
• Active listening skills.
• The ability and willingness to express appreciation to others.
• Openness to constructive feedback.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• The ability to lead, follow, take initiative, or take direction and the judgment to know when each is appropriate.
• The ability to delegate both responsibility and authority appropriately.
• Reliability.
• Efficient time management skills including the ability to prioritize effectively.
• The ability to differentiate between one’s role in achieving Spirit Rock’s goals as defined by one’s specific job description vs. one’s own personal objectives and spiritual growth.
• Physical: Occasionally required to lift, carry, push or pull objects up to 30 pounds. Frequently required to perform moderately difficult manipulative tasks such as typing, writing, etc. Excellent typing and computer skills are required (word processing and data entry). Must be able to sit, walk or stand for extended periods.
• Sensory: Frequently required to read and write documents, financial reports and plans. Must be able to distinguish normal sounds with some background noise, as in answering the phone, interacting with residents and staff, etc. Must be able to speak clearly and understand and be understood using the English language.
• Cognitive: Frequently required to concentrate in considerable detail with occasional interruption. Must be able to attend to a task/function through to completion. Frequently required to understand and relate to specific ideas, several at a time. Must be able to remember multiple tasks and assignments given to self and others over a period of days and months. Must be able to shift priority and move from one task to another with ease, including the ability to multi-task.
• Equipment: Ability to drive a car. Occasionally required to drive to work functions at other locations or make pick-ups and deliveries. Must maintain a valid driver’s license. Frequently required to use equipment such as copiers, telephone, and fax machines.