Southern Dharma Retreat Center is a rural mountainous retreat center, where staff and volunteers live and work together. Full-time staff benefits include medical coverage, a monthly salary, two weeks of paid time off, housing, food and the opportunity to sit in on retreats. Staff support one another along the Path through spiritual community and friendship, operate and maintain the Center, provide for guests, and conduct retreats.
Southern Dharma is committed to creating an inclusive community of individuals of different backgrounds, gender identities, races, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages.
If you are interested in applying for a staff position and you have not sat a retreat at Southern Dharma, we ask that you visit the site either in person or virtually so that we can get to know one another. Please email [email protected] for more information about this option.
Staff Positions
Full-time, Residential, Salaried Positions
We have no positions available at this time.
Full-time/Part-time, Residential/Non-residential, salaried
Facilities Maintenance (Part-time)
Southern Dharma is currently seeking 1-2 part-time experienced facilities maintenance professionals to support the operations of our retreat center throughout the year. Individuals must be available to respond to emergency needs outside of regular work hours and ideally be able to reach the site within an hour in the most urgent cases. Facilities maintenance staff are responsible for supporting the routine maintenance of property owned by Southern Dharma Retreat Center, as well as the Center’s buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, and roadways.
No prior knowledge of or experience with meditation practice or Buddhist retreats is required.
Compensation: $500 monthly base wage for up to 20 hours plus additional hours as needed at $30/hr. Optional group insurance benefits may be available including accident, vision, dental and cancer coverage.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supports the Retreat Center co-manager in ensuring the functioning of all facilities on the main campus, as well as a 3-bedroom residence located a mile down West Road
- Tasks will depend on needs and skills and can include any or all of the following:
- Troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining electrical, propane and plumbing systems
- Seasonal tasks including winterizing plumbing systems, snow and ice removal
- Maintaining our road, parking areas, and trails
- Felling small trees
- Chipping, cutting, splitting, and stacking firewood
- Maintaining the proper functioning of our wood burning stoves and firewood supply
- Creating and installing outside signage
- Carpentry, light construction, painting and staining
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Good to excellent driving record
- Willingness to work weekends, holidays, and evening hours as needed
- Comfort with overseeing the work of outside contractors and service providers
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Experience operating a tractor for basic road grading and maintenance tasks
Other requirements:
- Reliable personal transportation to get to and from the retreat center in variable weather conditions, including severe precipitation
- Ability to work in steep and rugged terrain
- Comfort with lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds
- Willingness to respect silent retreat environment when programs are in session
- Must pass a criminal background check
To apply: Email [email protected] or leave a message at our main phone line: 828-622-7112. In either case, provide your name and a good way to reach you.
Part-time, Residential/Non-residential, Hourly Positions
Housekeepers
Housekeepers are responsible for overseeing the upkeep and cleanliness of the living, eating, meeting and practice spaces in all property owned by Southern Dharma Retreat Center. Most of the work is focused on preparing the main Lodge, cabins, bathrooms, and meeting spaces for upcoming residential retreats, though tasks may vary from one week to another depending on needs. Work may be performed on a regular schedule (e.g. every Monday), or on a flexible schedule according to the preferences of the employee. Flexibility in scheduling is preferred but not required.
No prior knowledge of or experience with meditation practice or Buddhist retreats is required.
Compensation:
- Starting hourly wage of $17/hr, scheduled quarterly raises of $0.50/hr up to $20/hr maximum
- Optional group insurance benefits may be available including accident, vision, dental and cancer coverage
- Compensation can include residential retreat credit for a reduced hourly rate. Kindly indicate your interest in this option during the initial interview and further details will be provided.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Physical ability to operate cleaning equipment such as: vacuum cleaners, brooms, mops, spray bottles, washing machines, dryers
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills with ability to multitask
- Excellent follow-through and attention to detail
- Willingness to accept supervision and take direction when asked
- Self-starter able to see what needs to be done and do it
- Ability to use a smart phone-based messaging app for on-site communications
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- 1-2 years experience working in a retreat center or other hospitality environment
- Knowledge of environmentally friendly cleaning agents and procedures
- Experience with conflict management approaches, including but not limited to NVC (Nonviolent Communication)
Other requirements:
- Willingness to work on average at least one full day per week, March through New Year’s
- Reliable personal transportation to get to and from West Road in variable weather conditions. Note: A shuttle from the paved section of the road can be arranged for those whose vehicles are not well-suited to the gravel portion.
- Ability to work in steep and rugged terrain
- Comfort with lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds
- Must pass a criminal background check
To apply: Email [email protected] or leave a message at our main phone line: 828-622-7112. In either case, provide your name and a good way to reach you. A short phone interview will be conducted with anyone who expresses an interest. We hope to hire and train all new housekeepers before the end of the first week in April.
