Employment Opportunities
Co-Manager Position
Dhamma Dena Meditation Center is dedicated to supporting and awakening our capacity to love unconditionally and wisely. Through silent retreats, work retreats, self-retreats or as staff we orient towards building the strength to live our lives free of the clouds of anxiety, fear, obsessions, depression and confusion. We understand that the practice of transforming these energies benefits ourselves, our loved ones and our immediate communities, and ripples outward to the world. We care about ending ignorance and injustice in societal institutions and policies that sustains inequity, disenfranchisement, and the destruction of the earth.
Dhamma Dena is committed to building accessibility by supporting all those who want to come to the center, those who are people of color, transgender, gay, lesbian, queer, gender non-conforming, those who have immigrated, those who live with physical disability, those with chemical sensitivity, and those without financial resources. We are dedicated to building beloved community where all parts of ourselves feel welcome and honored. We are also committed to practicing Nonviolent Communication and upholding the 5 Precepts.
Benefits
Daily meditation at 7:30am and 7:30pm
Once a week Sutta study and community check in with the guiding teacher is present
Open Community Meditation and Dharma talk on Thursday evenings
Individual support once a week with Guiding Teacher when she is in residence
One free retreat per year
2 days off per week
3-4 weeks off in the summer
Room and board
$500 stipend + Dana from retreats
It is a large facility and there is some flexibility about where you choose to live.
A Typical Day
The day begins with a community meditation from 7:30-8:15am. There is time for breakfast and then we gather at 9am for a work meeting and the allotment of tasks for the day, and end by sharing the merit of our practice.
We gather back as a community for lunch at 1pm. Sometimes there is a rest period for those who like to rest after lunch and some continue to work until 5pm. We gather in the meditation hall at 7:30pm for meditation until 8:15pm.
A note from current managers:
“This position is a good fit for someone looking to deepen their practice. It requires an energetic individual who is passionate about co-creating a Dharma Center. This person must have the ability to be flexible when unexpected tasks arise. It has been a goal while serving the center to create an organized environment and a structure that provides the manager with two days off in a week, a clean & organized office space, and guidebooks for any questions that may arise.”
“This is a great opportunity for someone interested in communal living in a rural area, who is committed to Buddhist practice, social justice, and non-profit management. The center is in transition and it’s an exciting time to co-create its future.”
Job Description
(shared between two managers)
Administrative
Monitor phone messages, return calls, and follow up
Check and respond to emails
Post updates to the sangha through weekly mass email and social media
Participate in Board meetings and communications
Assist with program development and outreach
Financial
Track financial information through our bookkeeping program Zoho
Analyze retreat income and expenditures
Track insurance and utility payments and deadlines
Work & Solo Retreat Management
Recruit and supervise volunteers
Collaborate with guiding teacher on projects and tasks
Coordinate individual retreats
Housekeeping (These tasks can be given to volunteers)
Set up various living spaces for retreatants.
Keep communal areas clean and stocked
Water plants
Laundry
Retreats
Set up grounds prior to retreat (This task can be given to volunteers)
Shop for groceries and other essentials in Yucca Valley
Manage registration
Assist with marketing
Assist in running the retreats
Serve as liaison to teachers, cook, volunteers, and retreatants
Organize and provide shuttle service to/from airport in center van
Property Maintenance
Assist with basic repairs
Hire contractors as necessary
Qualifications
Administrative and computer skills (Word, Outlook, Excel); 3+ years working in an office environment
Exceptional relational skills, experience working cross-culturally and the ability to collaborate
A strong, established dharma and sitting practice in a Buddhist tradition; at least one residential retreat
Strong communication skills (written, verbal, interpersonal)
Strong supervisory skills
Honesty and integrity
Flexibility and willingness to compromise
Openness to constructive feedback
Ability to prioritize effectively & handle multiple tasks and assignments over a period of weeks and months
Willingness to work in a community, fluctuating between leading and following depending on the needs of the situation
Awareness of one’s privilege and willingness to learn and grow in the context of relating across difference.
Position open now.
One year minimum commitment.
Please answer the following questions in your cover letter and also include a resume:
Tell us some details about your meditation practice.
What retreats have you attended in which traditions and when?
Have you done work or training around racism, sexism, classism or homophobia?
Are you comfortable alternating working closely in a team and being self-directed?
How do you handle interruption and change?
Do you have a driver’s license? A vehicle?
We will contact you after we receive your materials.
The Land
The desert is a wonderful place to practice mindfulness. From the extremes in temperature to the magnificent skies and landscapes there is always something to contemplate and be aware of. The high desert in this part of California is a special place with a unique ecological system. There are coyotes, rabbits, lizards and a wide variety of birds. You will notice the smell of the creosote bushes on cold damp mornings or the sound of the wind during the winter months. Dhamma Dena is located on the occupied territories of the Cahuilla, Serrano, Chemehuevi and Mohave homelands. The land in what is now called Joshua Tree is important to several Indigenous groups: Cahuilla, Serrano, Chemehuevi, and Mojave. We give deep thanks to these ancestors and their living descendants for their care taking of the land and the prayers and blessings that have passed to us from their lineage.