Communications Program Manager

Retreat Center Programs & Communications Manager
Southern Dharma Retreat Center, Hot Springs NC

Southern Dharma Retreat Center offers rustic and intimate teacher-led retreats grounded in Buddhist practice traditions with a unifying thread of meditation, contemplation, and silence.

We are currently seeking a Retreat Center Programs & Communications Manager (P&C Manager) to join our community beginning on March 15, 2026. The P&C Manager is responsible for all aspects of retreat-related logistics, center marketing and communication and reports directly to the Retreat Center Director (RCD). This position collaborates closely with the RCD for Program Operations, and provides support to Southern Dharma’s RCD and Executive Director (ED) in the broader communications and marketing areas.

Programs Duties & Responsibilities (75% time)

Builds strong working relationships and communications with the Retreat Center Director, Executive Director, and all retreat center staff

Supervises Retreat Managers and/or acts in the role of Retreat Manager when identified by Retreat Center Director: including selection, training, scheduling and on-call advising

Participates in the selection and mentoring of on-site residents and volunteers

Manages logistics-related communications with teachers and teaching assistants before and after retreats, including retreat schedule planning. (Final retreat schedule approval resides with the RCD and ED)

Collaborate with the RCD to coordinate on-site and online retreat planning and organization, and ensure timely processing of all retreat-related tasks including: set-up, arrival and check-in, orientation, closing announcements, dana (voluntary contribution) instructions and processing, and check-out

Creates and manages on-site team schedules to ensure seamless retreat support, ability to cover shifts in all operational areas as needed

Manages general inquiries and feedback from teachers and retreatants, responds to concerns with kindness and compassion. Escalates and de-escalates issues as needed.

Assists with some day-to-day accounting tasks associated primarily with dana collection and fundraising

Supports online registration and donation management platform functions

Establishes programs-related operations procedures and recommends changes to policies to ensure staff, retreatant and teacher satisfaction

Maintains and updates relevant online databases

Completes general office-related tasks

Supports and protects silent retreat environment

Participates in daily staff meditation practice

Communications Responsibilities

Collaborates with the Executive Director to write, edit, and send monthly newsletters via Mailchimp

Should go out to public monthly

Draft reviewed/edited by E.D.

Other email campaigns via Mailchimp, e.g.,

Planned Giving

Renovations

General Announcements

Social Media review and management

Facebook and Instagram through Meta Business Suite; Also LinkTree

Designs images and flyers through Canva Pro account

Post a minimum of 1x/week, including when:

Retreat titles/descriptions are announced

Retreat registration opens

There are open spots for different retreats (once every quarter)

Introduction of new teachers

Pictures from sangha events - work retreats / community lunches

Solicit/write blog posts (lower priority)

Website maintenance/adjustment via WordPress to maintain and improve content & collaboration with site management company

Contribute to creating blog content, social media posts, and external communications

This is a full-time (32-40 hours/week) salaried position that includes on-site room and board, paid leave, support for retreat attendance, and medical, dental and vision insurance. Your schedule will allow for significant flexibility in the scheduling of time off. Scheduling of days off, paid leave, and any additional unpaid leave shall be at the discretion of the Retreat Center Director and will be subject to the needs of the organization.

Compensation: A bi-weekly salary of $1,575.20 plus room and board (estimated value of $950 per month) for 11 months and benefits as described below.

Full premium paid in group health insurance plan (Blue Cross Blue Shield NC), including dental and vision coverage;

Paid Time Off (PTO): 18 days, plus Thanksgiving, per year;

Participation in ongoing staff training opportunities;

One complimentary Southern Dharma retreat of up to 5 days per calendar year;

On the anniversary of each full year of service in a full-time staff position, employees are awarded $1000 toward expenses associated with attending one pre-approved retreat at any location of their choosing;

Quarterly retention bonus for full-time staff: $200 after the first full quarter of service, increasing by $100 per quarter until a maximum bonus of 2% of quarterly salary is awarded for all quarters of full-time service thereafter;

Employees accrue ½ day of post-employment retreat time per month of employment.

Winter Respite
This position is anticipated to begin March 15 at the earliest. The retreat center closes for Winter Respite each year from the first week of January to mid March. During that time, benefits are maintained for full-time employees, but in that window staff do not remain onsite and are not compensated.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

2 or more years of proven leadership experience

Basic knowledge of Buddhist teachings and practice

Multi-day meditation retreat experience, ideally in a number of different practice traditions

Desire to live in intentional community with fellow practitioners and a commitment to personal development

Strong management skills, ability to appropriately assign or delegate work and authority to others

Ability to set daily and weekly priorities for on-site staff team

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, Quickbooks Online, retreat booking platforms, and/or video conferencing software

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

Preferred: Retreat/wellness/hospitality industry experience

Preferred: Experience in financial accounting, external communications tools, and/or personnel supervision

Preferred: Conflict resolution skills and knowledge of NVC (nonviolent communication) tools

Southern Dharma Retreat Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. SDRC encourages submissions from historically underrecognized candidates.

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