Retreat Center Program & Communications 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.

• 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, retreat ant 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

• 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 Link Tree
  • 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 Word Press 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…