Managers Job Description

Light on the Hill Manager(s) Job Description

With responsibility for the smooth operation of the Center, the Manager(s) will be self-directed, with an ability to work with others to bring a vision to fruition. They will have skills in management, communication and outreach, and hospitality. Living on the land, on site, is a requirement, and the Manager(s) must be available to work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. It is important that they embody the mission to support people who wish to engage in deep inner work and pursue a spiritual life themselves.

Spiritual Support

• Participate in weekly meditations with the Spiritual Directors and other staff
• Listen with supportive attention to individual retreatants or other visitors who disclose challenges or spiritual questions they have
• Work towards creating a sacred space, observing boundaries and silence (e.g., no chatting or sharing information about the outside world)

Management

• Develop systems to facilitate personnel management, scheduling, communications, advertising, and other needs
• Manage all aspects of the food preparation, including contracting and overseeing cooking staff, food safety, and accommodation of group leaders’ special food requirements
• Contract and oversee cleaning staff for the lodge, 3 cottages, 2 huts and chapel
• Manage and oversee the work of Caretaker/groundskeeper(s), and perform as necessary, maintenance of buildings and grounds, including emergency response to any needs as they arise
• Oversee the financial operations of the center, including maintaining records, entering income and expenses in Quickbooks, preparing documents for tax purposes and audits, and submitting regular reports to the Board
• Ensure appropriate and accurate financial reporting, record keeping, compensation, and employer practices in all matters concerning employees

Operations

• Monitor, with the caretaker, the online Google maintenance calendar for regular maintenance tasks such as window washing, servicing of generators and HVAC, water systems, trail clearing, etc.
• Meet with fire safety inspectors, health inspectors, and other professionals who oversee standards
• Check and initial fire alarm logs in lodge
• Oversee food stores for lodge and cottages, placing and picking up wholesale food orders or purchasing groceries as needed
• Maintain supplies/parts for mechanical systems as appropriate
• Coordinate and sometimes perform repairs and improvements to buildings as needed

Hospitality

• Work with leaders and retreatants before they arrive to prepare them for their visit
• Prepare the lodge and cottages before groups and individual retreatants arrive
• Greet arriving group leaders and individual retreatants, welcoming them to the property and introducing them to the facilities
• Be available to answer questions as needed
• Prepare meals as needed and deliver dinners to individual retreatants in their cottages

Communication and Outreach

• Respond to all personal and electronic inquiries about retreats, programs, and facilities
• Maintain calendar, including scheduling of individual and group retreats and discerning which programs are suitable for LOH
• Create and sign written contracts with group leaders using the facilities
• Maintain and update the LOH website and Facebook page
• Communicate with the LOH community via special flyers and regular mailings, including promotion of program offerings, announcements, newsletters, and possible reflection pieces
• Develop effective marketing to grow the LOH mailing list, attract spiritual leaders/teachers to hold their workshops at the center, and increase attendance at events in the lodge
• Cultivate a meaningful relationship with our loyal supporters, including providing small donations to local Van Etten community, acknowledging all gifts, and reaching out to the community for support
• Help with fundraising

Qualifications

• Practice on a spiritual path and interest in supporting others on their path
• Self-directed, organized, and attentive to detail
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple, sometimes competing needs at the same time
• Excellent communication skills for interface with the public, retreat leaders, and managing staff
• Desire to live in a rural setting
• Experience with building maintenance, landscaping, vegetarian cooking, record keeping/bookkeeping, marketing, social media, fundraising, and hospitality

Compensation

A total compensation package of approximately $52,000, including salary, health insurance, housing, some utilities, and meals.

• Salary of $36,000/year, with an initial 3-month trial period set at $33,000/year
• Healthcare coverage of up to $3,000/year
• Housing provided
• Meals during group retreats at the lodge
• Utilities are subsidized as follows: internet and phone service fully paid by LOH; propane fully paid by LOH; one-half electrical costs paid by LOH; firewood provided within reason, as long as sufficient firewood stores exist for cottages and lodge firepit, but Managers may need to purchase their own firewood as well