KCC is Hiring: Rural Retreat Center Staff Member
Kagyu Changchub Chuling seeks to fill a full-time (35 hours/week), non-exempt residential position based at KCC’s rural Buddhist retreat center located on 240 wooded acres near Goldendale, Washington.
SCOL retreat facility is a 240-acre property located in the high desert foothills of the Simcoe Mountains seven miles north of Goldendale, WA. Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche, heart son of Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, was the initial inspiration for building this retreat center and gave it the title Ser Chö Ösel Ling — “Land of the Clear Light Golden Dharma.” SCOL is designed to foster long and short-term spiritual retreats for both individuals and group practice.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
Available now: an opportunity to deploy hand-on skills doing meaningful work on a beautiful, peaceful property with abundant wildlife.
This position averages 40% outdoor work, 50% indoor work, and 10% offsite work. Indoor work is a combination of computer tasks and building maintenance. Outdoor work is a mix of light and heavy labor and may be solitary. Fire is a concern, and much of the outdoor work involves implementation of fire mitigation strategies. When retreat events are in session, staff support is provided in both an outdoor and indoor setting.
SCOL rural staff members are supervised by the KCC Executive Director and work with the SCOL Team, based largely in Portland. Together this team of rural staff and urban volunteers is responsible for:
- Monitoring and maintaining buildings and infrastructure
- Supporting individual and group retreats and teachers
- Administration of day-to-day operations and long-term projects
- Care and stewardship of 240 acres of high desert forest
- Training and supporting volunteers
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Willingness to live and work in a rural area
- Willingness to work outside in all weather conditions
- Ability to create your own schedule and work independently while regularly reporting on work activities and results
- Ability to welcome and support visitors
- Ability to maintain a positive work environment through effective communication
- Willingness to learn to use and work around: chainsaws, tractors, and power tools
- Ability to make common household repairs
- Ability to lift 30 pounds
- Have a valid driver’s license and good driving record
KCC is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected status in accordance with local, state and federal law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.
The position will be open until filled. If you wish to apply, please send a cover letter and resume to KCC Executive Director at . Further questions can be sent to the same email address. More information about SCOL
Retreat Center can be found on the KCC website https://kcc.org/scol/ .
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Job Description: Rural Retreat Center Staff Member
Hours: 35 hours per week Location: Goldendale, WA
Status: non-exempt Supervisor: KCC Executive Director
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1976, Kagyu Changchub Chuling (KCC) is a center for Buddhist meditation in the Tibetan tradition located in Portland, Oregon. We offer meditation opportunities for students at all stages of practice, with a mission to support them in their process of spiritual awakening. In addition to its urban center in Portland, KCC owns a residential retreat center located on 240 wooded acres near Goldendale, Washington. Known as Ser Cho Osel Ling (SCOL), our retreat land allows for spiritual retreats in lengths of a weekend to a year or more.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
SCOL rural staff members work with the SCOL Team and KCC Executive Director, based largely in Portland. Together this team of rural staff and urban volunteers is responsible for:
- Monitoring and maintaining buildings and infrastructure
- Supporting individual and group retreats and teachers
- Administration of day-to-day operations and long-term projects
- Care and stewardship of 240 acres of high desert forest
- Training and supporting volunteers
ACTIVITIES
- Monitoring and maintaining buildings and infrastructure
- make sure everything is in proper working order
- make necessary repairs or arrange contractors
- maintain SCOL vehicles
- Follow safety protocols
- Supporting individual and group retreats and teachers
- keep shrine rooms, cabins, and kitchen clean and ready for use
- organize and train volunteers
- support and shop for cooks during retreats
- Administering day-to-day operations and long-term projects
- create and prioritize daily and monthly schedules
- plan and execute larger maintenance projects
- respond to emails, write reports, assist with retreat registrations
- Stewardship of 240 acres of high desert forest
- Work with local agencies on conservation projects for the property
- reduce fire risk to buildings
- trail maintenance
- monitor property and forest health
- Training and supporting volunteers
- plan work parties
- determine tasks where volunteer work is useful
- train volunteers to accomplish tasks and follow safety procedures
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Willingness to live and work in a rural area
- Willingness to work outside in all weather conditions
- Ability to create your own schedule and work independently
- Ability to welcome and support visitors
- Ability to maintain a positive work environment through effective communication
- Willingness to learn to use and work around: chainsaws, tractors, and power tools
- Ability to make common household repairs
- Ability to lift 30 pounds
- Have a current driver’s license and good driving record
- A criminal background check is required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience using chainsaws and power tools
- Specialized experience in building maintenance and repair
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Housing and a food allowance are provided in addition to a modest salary.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
This position averages 40% outdoor work, 50% indoor work, and 10% offsite work. Indoor work is a combination of computer tasks and building maintenance, supporting visitors and teachers during retreats, assisting and shopping for retreat cooks. Outdoor work is a mix of light and heavy labor and may be solitary. Wildfire is a concern in this rural environment and much of the outdoor work involves implementation of fire mitigation strategies. When retreatments and visitors are on-site, support is provided in both an outdoor and indoor setting.
The environment contains a mix of oak and pine forest and grasslands. The elevation ranges from 2000-2200 feet above sea level. Summers are hot, humidity is low, and it often snows in winter. This beautiful property is peaceful and remote with abundant wildlife.
EEO POLICY
KCC is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected status in accordance with local, state and federal law.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoffs, recalls, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
APPLICATION
Please send a cover letter and resume to KCC Executive Director at . To request more information, you can inquire at the same email address. This position will remain open until filled.
