Groundskeeper

This is a full time (30 hours/week) hourly position that includes on-site room and board, paid

leave, health, vision and dental insurance and support for retreat attendance. The hourly rate is $18/hr. Southern Dharma’s retreat season goes from March-early January and staff go on winter respite typically starting early January thru end of February. Insurance benefits continue during this time off.

Together with the Facilities Manager, the Groundskeeper is responsible for the routine maintenance of property owned by Southern Dharma Retreat Center, as well as the Center’s buildings and infrastructure, and vehicles.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lawn mowing, weed whacking, brush cutting, raking, composting, garden development, and general grounds maintenance
• Helps maintain our road, parking areas, and trails
• Helps to remove small trees; chipping, cutting, splitting, and stacking firewood
• Manages wood burning stoves and firewood supply
• Carpentry, light construction, painting and staining
• Helps troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electrical and plumbing systems
• Helps with seasonal tasks including winterizing plumbing systems, snow and ice removal breaking down/setting up/maintaining canvas tents
• Assigns tasks and supervises retreat volunteers during working meditation periods
• Collects recyclables and garbage for transport to county sanitation facility as needed
• Works closely with relevant part-time staff, long and short-term volunteers on service retreats
• Helps guests park and move luggage to and from guest rooms; transports guests as needed between Southern Dharma and other locations
• Assists with in-person and remote programs, supporting on-site guests and retreatants
• Helps to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electrical, propane and plumbing systems
• Various tasks during retreats to support colleagues as  needed (e.g. washing dishes, housekeeping)
• Supports and protects silent retreat environment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Two or more years of relevant work experience
• Good to excellent driving record (must obtain a North Carolina driver’s license within 30 days of employment)
• Basic knowledge of Buddhist teachings and practice
• Multi-day meditation retreat experience
• Desire to live in intentional community with fellow practitioners and a commitment to personal  development
• Reading, writing, and oral proficiency in English required, must be comfortable with communicating with staff, retreatants, and teachers professionally
• Ability to handle stressful situations with kindness, calm, and focus
• Computer skills, including knowledge of the Google Suite, and/or video conferencing
• Must be open to and have respect for diverse spiritual traditions and cultures
• Active interest in the integration of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into the workplace and the Dharma teaching & learning ecosystem
• Willingness to work weekends and holidays

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior work experience in construction, maintaining buildings and grounds or other life experience in these areas
• Experience designing and completing basic landscape design, carpentry and painting projects
• Knowledge of native and adaptive landscaping methods appropriate to a Southern Appalachian mountain property
• Experience with safe operation of various machines and power equipment including chainsaws, table saws, lawn mowers, grass trimmers, wood splitters, snow blowers, pick-up trucks, utility vehicles
• Basic plumbing, electrical, and carpentry skills
• Basic knowledge of motor vehicle and equipment maintenance
• Experience with a large tractor or a willingness to learn
• Conflict resolution skills and knowledge of NVC (nonviolent communication) tools