Residential Full Time Facilities and Grounds Manager Needed in Beautiful WNC

Full Time Facilities Manager

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 insurance.

Starting Date: April 2026

The Facilities Lead is responsible for overseeing the management and routine maintenance of property owned by Southern Dharma Retreat Center, as well as the Center’s buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles.

Compensation:  $22/hr plus room and board (estimated value of $950 per month) and benefits as described below:

Benefits: 

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

• Paid Time Off (PTO): 21 days (168 hours)

• 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 $1,000.00 toward expenses associated with attending one pre-approved retreat at any location of their choosing;

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

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversees the functioning of all facilities on the main campus, as well as a 3-bedroom residence located a mile down West Road, with support from a skilled Handyman

• Helps troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electrical and plumbing systems

• Manages seasonal tasks including winterizing plumbing systems, breaking down/setting up canvas tents

• Lawn mowing, weed whacking, brush cutting, raking, composting, and general grounds maintenance 

• Supervises the maintenance of our road, parking areas, and trails

• Felling small trees; chipping, cutting, splitting, and stacking firewood 

• Manages wood burning stoves and firewood supply

• Assigns tasks and supervises retreat volunteers during working meditation periods, coordinates work crews of ten or more participants at least four times per year

• Designs and installs outside signage

• Collects recyclables and garbage for transport to county sanitation facility as needed

• Manages a program budget

• Supervises relevant part-time staff, long and short-term volunteers on service retreats, in addition to outside contractors

• Tracks utilities consumption, suggesting conservation, and sustainability measures

• 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

• Participates in organizational outreach and communications efforts, including social media

• Supports and protects silent retreat environment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

• 2 or more years of relevant work experience

• Good to excellent driving record

• Basic knowledge of Buddhist teachings and practice

• Multi-day meditation retreat experience, ideally in a number of different contemplative 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

• 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 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

• Willingness to work weekends and holidays

• Must obtain a North Carolina driver’s license within 30 days of employment

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