Job Openings

Current Job Openings Enjoy meaningful service while supporting Vallecitos as we prepare to reopen for in-person retreats in 2022. Registration...

Current Job Openings

Enjoy meaningful service while supporting Vallecitos as we prepare to reopen for in-person retreats in 2022.

For Volunteering Opportunities, please visit our Volunteer Page.

*Given CDC recommendations and state guidelines, the only way to ensure we are a safe container is to be certain all (including staff) who come to the land this year are vaccinated. For the safety of our guests and staff, we err on the side of caution, especially given the remote nature of Vallecitos and our communal facilities. Like many retreat centers, we are feeling our way as we consider how to safely reopen. We are excited that we are able to reopen within the ongoing pandemic. We have deeply and thoroughly considered this decision, and we recognize there is no one decision that is inclusive for everyone who wishes to practice at Vallecitos.

 

Registration & Development Manager

Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center, a remote Buddhist based retreat center, is seeking a part-time Registration & Development Manager to execute a variety of administrative tasks. Responsibilities include managing all aspects of participant registrations, communication for all guest inquiries, handling all scholarship applications as well as supporting fundraising efforts.  This person reports to the Executive Director.

Enjoy flexible hours while working from home making a difference in the Dharma. Approximately 15-20 hrs/wk. $19-22/hr depending on skills and experience.

Responsibilities:

  • Managing all guest registrations including payments, pre-retreat notices, cancellations, transfers, discounts, room assignments, travel logistics, special diet requests and more through Retreat Guru software.
  • Loading all program and registration information into our Retreat Guru software.
  • Managing and tracking all scholarship applications and awards with a keen sense of diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Manage the Vallecitos phone as emergency contact for retreat opening days.
  • Provide support for the teachers with travel questions, registration lists, lottery and waitlist requests.
  • Coordinating offsite logistics such as shuttle and travel day emergencies.
  • Managing all guest relations including responding to the organization’s general email, phone, and website requests.
  • Assisting the Executive Director with fundraising campaigns and development efforts.
  • Tracking sustaining donors monthly gifts, following up on any lapsed donors.
  • Manage importing and exporting data into our donor management system.
  • Generating thank you letters for donor gifts and conducting designated thank you calls.
  • Tracking calls and information in our donor management system. 
  • Travel to the retreat center a few times a season to stay overnight as support for staff and to become familiar with onsite operations.
  • Assist Executive Director with projects as appropriate.

Requirements:

  • An understanding of Dharma and Buddhism
  • Must have attended at least one silent meditation retreat
  • Must have an understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion work.
  • Strong interpersonal (written and oral) skills with sensitivity to race, age, gender, ability, class…
  • Team oriented with the ability to work independently
  • Detail oriented with ability to hold many tasks at once (strong planning and organizational skills)
  • Solid computer skills. Will use at a minimum Microsoft Office, Retreat Guru registration software, Bloomerang donor management software.

Availability:

  • This position is open immediately. Position is year-round with more responsibilities falling in the spring and summer due to our retreat schedule.

Benefits:

  • We offer fair compensation as a W2 employee.
  • Staff is offered one retreat per season at Vallecitos at no charge.
  • Vallecitos covers the cost of approved training.
  • Flexible hours and ability to work from home.

Interested parties please email a letter of interest and resume to director@vallecitos.org. Please include:

  • Why you believe you are an ideal candidate for the position
  • If you have ever been to Vallecitos before or your connection with the organization
  • Your related experience
  • Your availability
  • Your contact information

Posted 11/3/21  |  Updated 1/11/22

Facility Manager

Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center, a remote Buddhist based retreat center, is seeking a seasonal full-time Facility Manager to tend to and oversee the care and maintenance of the retreat center. Responsibilities include managing all maintenance of the land and facilities, overseeing onsite staff and safety, coordinating projects and resources for the land, as well as caring for guests facility based needs during the retreat season. This person reports to the Executive Director.

Job is partially based at the retreat center (half time during season May through October) and the rest is based at home with very few requirements for nearly five months of the year. Enjoy tending to this beautiful refuge while making a difference in the Dharma. Retreat center is in northern NM. Annual salary of approximately $40,000-$48,000 depending on skills and experience.

Responsibilities:

  • Oversee all land and facility maintenance and projects (135 acres and approximately 35 structures including tents, yurts, casitas and outbuildings) 
  • Hiring, training, managing and scheduling of maintenance staff (people to back up the facility manager when not on site and for project work)
  • Acting as On Site Manager for all onsite staff.
  • Researching solutions, sourcing vendors, and getting bids for any work needed
  • Coordinating vendors (propane, solar, inspections, etc.)
  • Responsible for safety measures including emergency plan updates and execution as well as onsite medical inventory
  • Coordination and management of opening and closing the center each season
  • Coordination and management of volunteer work weekends 
  • Ensuring proper maintenance and function of irrigation, water/well, vehicles, solar systems, generators, etc.
  • Driving guest shuttle on opening and closing day of retreats (30 minutes each way)
  • Play an active role in supporting grants for the land and workers (i.e. Americorps)
  • Assisting retreat manager with timely guest response/communication with facility related needs
  • Conducting/coordinating two weekly town runs (1-1/2 hours each way to transport laundry, food, trash, recycle, supplies, etc.)
  • Tree management in high traffic areas including collecting and ensuring enough firewood for operations 
  • Monitoring trash, recycle and compost efforts
  • Maintaining barbed wire fencing of the property
  • Trail maintenance and familiarity with trail system
  • Active member of the land committee

Requirements:

  • Welcoming disposition and ability to interact with guests and staff with varying needs and expectations
  • An understanding of mindfulness and willingness to practice 
  • Team oriented with the ability to work independently and manage others
  • Solid planning and organization skills given our remote location 
  • Good knowledge of the skills, equipment and materials needed to maintain the retreat center facilities and keep the center in good working order. (using a chainsaw, tractor, generator, power tools, etc.)  
  • Fully participate in staff training/resources to support creating a community of belonging, with sensitivity to identities that include race, gender, sexual orientation, and more.
  • CPR/Wilderness First Aid Certified or ability to acquire
  • Position requires lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds or more.

Availability:

  • Position starts in April of 2022. 
  • Position is seasonal with the vast majority of responsibilities falling between mid April and early November due to our retreat schedule and location. There is very little work November through March.
  • This person is required to live at the retreat center approx 50% of the time between late April and the end of October. The remainder of the job is performed from home. 
  • When this position is not onsite, essential onsite duties are performed by a maintenance staff person. Flexibility is required to create a mutually agreed upon schedule to ensure coverage at the center and appropriate breaks off site.  

Benefits:

  • We offer fair compensation as a W2 employee.
  • Onsite staff is provided gourmet vegetarian meals and single occupancy heated accommodation. (Please note there is no electricity to any of the accommodations at Vallecitos.)
  • Staff is offered one retreat per season at Vallecitos at no charge.
  • Staff is invited to attend sits/talks during retreats when teachers allow.
  • Vallecitos covers the cost of approved training (CPR, Wilderness First Aid, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and more).

Interested parties please email a letter of interest and resume to director@vallecitos.org. Please include:

  • Why you believe you are an ideal candidate for the position
  • If you have ever been to vallecitos before or your connection with the organization
  • Your related experience
  • Your availability
  • Your contact information

Posted 11/16/2021  –  Updated 1/10/22

Head Cooks

 

The Retreat Head Cook is a seasonal, contract position in a beautiful remote wilderness retreat center. Our center is open from mid-May through mid-October. We employ multiple head cooks to share the season with only one head cook and one assistant cook scheduled for each retreat. The head cook position requires upfront planning as the center is far from any store or resources, runs entirely from solar power and there is no cell service. Most of the retreats are held in noble silence and all staff is required to respect this container by remaining silent anywhere that guests may be able to overhear. 

Requirements:

  • Experience and skill cooking in the restaurant industry or large-scale kitchen including safe knife handling, food safety and sanitation, minimization of food waste, order preparation and the ability to keep a clean inventory.
  • Experience cooking for special diets (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, soy free, etc.)
  • Experience preparing orders for large vendors such as UNFI and Albert’s Organics.
  • Experience using a host of local, seasonal produce for meals.
  • Experience cooking in other retreat centers will be very advantageous.
  • Basic food safety course required for all cooks.

Qualifications:

  • Ability to plan menus, order and cook for large groups of 15-50 people
  • Must be able to adapt to an environment with very limited storage, no walk in cooler, single oven, no dishwasher, must make effort to store food appropriately to eliminate waste.
  • Must live in residence at the retreat center during work periods.
  • This is a physically demanding position. Must be physically fit and able to lift up to 35+ lbs and perform various kinds of physical labor as part of job responsibilities.
  • Excellent problem solving skills. Ability to “think on your feet.”
  • Ability to communicate and work with diverse groups of people. Sensitivity to issues of race, gender, class and sexual orientation.
  • Sensitivity to working with retreats that are silent and an ability to reduce noise coming from kitchen during these retreats.
  • Must keep a very clean environment
  • Must be able to work well with others in a small team and able to direct an assistant cook and volunteers in a professional, kind, clear and compassionate manner.

Responsibilities:

  • Plan daily menus considering existing inventory and spoilage and preparing appropriate quantities to minimize excessive overage.
  • Prepare and place food orders with VMRC Retreat Managers
  • Prepare and serve vegetarian meals for staff, retreat participants and group rentals including accommodation for special dietary restrictions.
  • Prepare special diet foods and observe strict cross contamination protocol if there are guests in attendance with food allergies and sensitivities.
  • Maintain food stores in the kitchen, pantry, teachers quarters and snack bar areas.
  • Coordinate with and provide direction to assistant cooks.
  • Shop for food locally on occasion when not available from our vendors when coordinates with your next trip into the retreat center.
  • Keep kitchen facility clean, orderly and safe for staff and guests.
  • Regular check in with retreat managers to ensure smooth operations and address any needs that arise.
  • Conduct kitchen inventories as needed.
  • Conduct kitchen related Work Meditation Job Training the first morning of each retreat.
  • Observe mindful silence, conducting kitchen work with the minimum amount of noise necessary.
  • Attend staff meetings as needed.
  • Have a sense of humor and be flexible!

Availability:

We staff this position from mid-May through mid-October. We employ multiple cooks to share the season with one head cook and one assistant cook scheduled for each retreat. I work with all staff to create a schedule that is agreeable for everyone. We ask for cooks to work a minimum of at least 3 retreats. We cannot guarantee a place to stay when it is not a staff members scheduled work period.

Benefits:

  • We offer a daily rate compensation as an independent contractor plus gourmet vegetarian meals and single occupancy heated accommodation. (Please note there is no electricity to any of the accommodations at Vallecitos.)
  • Staff who work five retreats or more are offered one retreat per season at Vallecitos at no charge when availability allows.
  • Staff is invited to attend sits/talks during retreats when teachers allow.
  • We cover the cost of approved training (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and more).

How to Apply

All interested parties please email a letter of interest to director@vallecitos.org. You must include:

    • Why you believe you are an ideal candidate for the position
    • If you have ever been to Vallecitos before or your connection to the organization
    • Your related experience
    • Your availability
    • Your contact information

 

 

Posted 12/14/21

 

 

Assistant Cooks

The Assistant Cook is a seasonal, contract position in our beautiful remote wilderness retreat center. Our center is open from mid-May through mid-October. We employ multiple cooks to share the season with only one head cook and one assistant cook scheduled for each retreat. The center is far from any store or resources, runs entirely from solar power and there is no cell service. Most of the retreats are held in noble silence and all staff is required to respect this container by remaining silent anywhere that guests may be able to overhear.

Requirements:

  • Must have an interest in cooking and enjoy preparing meals for others.
  • Helpful to have awareness and sensitivity to special diets (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, soy, etc).
  • Must live in residence at the retreat center during work periods.
  • This can be a physically demanding position at times. Must be physically fit and able to lift up to 35+ lbs and perform various kinds of physical labor as part of job responsibilities.
  • Ability to communicate and work with diverse groups of people. Sensitivity to issues of race, gender, class and sexual orientation.
  • Sensitivity to working with retreats that are silent and an ability to reduce noise coming from kitchen during these retreats.
  • Must be able to adapt to an environment with very limited storage, no walk in cooler, single oven, no dishwasher, must make effort to store food appropriately to eliminate waste.
  • Must keep a very clean environment.
  • Must be able to work well with others in a small team and able to support/assist the head cook as needed.
  • Basic food safety course required for all cooks.

Responsibilities:

  • Prepare and serve vegetarian meals for staff, retreat participants and group rentals including accommodation for special dietary restrictions as directed by the head cook.
  • Prepare special diet foods and observe strict cross contamination protocol if there are guests in attendance with food allergies and sensitivities as directed by the head cook.
  • Maintain food stores in the kitchen, pantry, teachers quarters and snack bar areas.
  • Keep kitchen facility clean, orderly and safe for staff and guests.
  • Regular check in with retreat managers to ensure smooth operations and address any needs that arise.
  • Conduct kitchen inventories as needed.
  • Shop for food locally on occasion when not available from our vendors when this coordinates with your next trip into the retreat center.
  • Conduct kitchen related Work Meditation Job Training the first morning of each retreat.
  • Observe respect for mindful silence, conducting kitchen work with the minimum amount of noise necessary.
  • Attend staff meetings as needed.

Availability:

We staff this position from mid-May through mid-October. We employ multiple cooks to share the season with one head cook and one assistant cook scheduled for each retreat. I work with all staff to create a schedule that is agreeable for everyone. We ask for cooks to work a minimum of at least 3 retreats. We cannot guarantee a place to stay when it is not a staff members scheduled work period.

Benefits:

  • We offer a daily rate compensation as an independent contractor plus gourmet vegetarian meals and single occupancy heated accommodation. (Please note there is no electricity to any of the accommodations at Vallecitos.)
  • Staff who work five retreats or more are offered one retreat per season at Vallecitos at no charge when availability allows.
  • Staff is invited to attend sits/talks during retreats when teachers allow.
  • We cover the cost of approved training (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and more).

How to Apply:

All interested parties please email a letter of interest to director@vallecitos.org. You must include:

    • Why you believe you are an ideal candidate for the position
    • If you have ever been to Vallecitos before or your connection to the organization
    • Your related experience
    • Your availability
    • Your contact information

 

 

Posted 12/14/21

Retreat Managers

Vallecitos is seeking additional Retreat Managers to join our team! Work on site at this beautiful, remote, off grid location in northern NM. Gain experience in customer service, dharma practice, retreat management, remote living and more. We employ multiple retreat managers to share the season with only one retreat manager scheduled for each retreat.

Requirements:

  • Must have attended a silent residential retreat in the past.
  • Ideal if candidate has retreat management experience.
  • Welcoming demeanor with strong customer service skills.
  • Solid verbal communication.
  • Must have Diversity, Equity and Inclusion exposure/training.
  • This can be a physically demanding position at times. Must be physically fit and able to lift up to 35 lbs and perform lots of walking and various kinds of physical labor as part of job responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

  • Preparing the retreat center for guests
  • Conducting registration on opening day
  • Greeting and Supporting Teachers
  • Timely guest communication
  • Inventory and ordering of supplies
  • Coordinating and directing volunteers
  • Conducting orientation talk, donation talk, work meditation job instructions to each retreat group.
  • Anticipating and responding to guests needs.
  • Maintaining a clean and welcoming environment.
  • Conscious of guest safety.
  • Maintain good communication with offsite staff.

Availability:

We staff this position from mid-May through mid-October. We employ multiple retreat managers to share the season with one retreat manager scheduled for each retreat. I work with all staff to create a schedule that is agreeable for everyone. We cannot guarantee a place to stay when it is not a staff members scheduled work period.

Benefits:

  • We offer a daily rate compensation as a W2 employee plus gourmet vegetarian meals and single occupancy heated accommodation. (Please note there is no electricity to any of the accommodations at Vallecitos.)
  • Staff who work five retreats or more are offered one retreat per season at Vallecitos at no charge when availability allows.
  • Staff is invited to attend sits/talks during retreats when teachers allow.
  • We cover the cost of approved training (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and more).

How to Apply:

All interested parties please email a letter of interest to director@vallecitos.org. You must include:

    • Why you believe you are an ideal candidate for the position
    • If you have ever been to Vallecitos before or your connection to the organization
    • Your related experience
    • Your availability
    • Your contact information

 

 

Posted 12/14/21

Maintenance Staff

Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center, a remote Buddhist based retreat center, is seeking seasonal, part-time Maintenance Staff to tend to the care and maintenance of the retreat center. Responsibilities include supporting the Facility Manager with maintenance of the land and facilities, ensuring a safe environment, as well as caring for guests facility based needs. This person reports to the Facility Manager.

Responsibilities:

  • Tend to/Maintain the land and facilities per the direction of the Facility Manager (135 acres and approximately 35 structures including tents, yurts, casitas and outbuildings)
  • Back up the Facility Manager when they are not on site
  • Ensure a safe environment at the center. Responsible for execution of the emergency plan when Facility Manager is not on site.
  • Possible support for opening/closing and work weekends in addition to retreats
  • Monitoring proper function of irrigation, water/well, vehicles, solar systems, generators, etc.
  • Assisting retreat manager with timely guest response/communication with facility related needs
  • Driving guest shuttle on opening and closing day of retreats (30 minutes each way).
  • Conducting/coordinating two weekly town runs (1-1/2 hours each way to transport laundry, food, trash, recycle, supplies, etc.)
  • Monitoring trash, recycle and compost efforts
  • Maintaining barbed wire fencing of the property
  • Trail maintenance and familiarity with trail system

Requirements:

  • Welcoming disposition and ability to interact with guests and staff with varying needs and expectations
  • An understanding of mindfulness and willingness to practice
  • Team oriented with the ability to work independently
  • Solid planning and organization skills given our remote location
  • Good knowledge of the skills, equipment and materials needed to maintain the retreat center facilities and keep the center in good working order. (using a chainsaw, tractor, generator, power tools, etc.)
  • Support creating a community of belonging, with sensitivity to identities that include race, gender, sexual orientation, and more.
  • CPR/Wilderness First Aid Certified or ability to acquire
  • Position requires lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds or more.

Availability:

  • Position starts in May of 2022.
  • Position is shared by multiple Maintenance Staff starting in May and running through October. We have either the Facility Manager or one Maintenance Staff member present at all times May through October. Maintenance Staff is scheduled appropriately to give the Facility Manager breaks away from the center. At times, both the Facility Manager and Maintenance Staff will work onsite together to best support the projects at hand.
  • Flexibility is required to create a mutually agreed upon schedule to ensure coverage at the center and appropriate breaks off site.

Benefits:

  • We offer fair compensation as a W2 employee.
  • Onsite staff is provided gourmet vegetarian meals and single occupancy heated accommodation. (Please note there is no electricity to any of the accommodations at Vallecitos.)
  • Staff is offered one retreat per season at Vallecitos at no charge (must work a minimum of 4 weeks).
  • Staff is invited to attend sits/talks during retreats when teachers allow.
  • Vallecitos covers the cost of approved training (CPR, Wilderness First Aid, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and more).

Interested parties please email a letter of interest and resume to director@vallecitos.org. Please include:

  • Why you believe you are an ideal candidate for the position
  • If you have ever been to vallecitos before or your connection with the organization
  • Your related experience
  • Your availability
  • Your contact information

Posted 1/4/2022