Program Manager
Job Description
July 2009

This is a 40 hour per week, permanent position, reporting directly to the Executive Director. Job duties include:

Program Planning

• Create the annual on-site program in collaboration with Lama Tsultrim and the Executive Director
• Act as liaison to visiting teachers: write invitations, work out contractual agreements, arrange travel, hire translators, etc.
• Administer away events sponsored by Tara Mandala: work out contractual arrangements with rental facilities, serve as main contact with local liaison, manage promotion, recruit adequate support staff, etc
• Manage allocation of all tasks related to programs taught by Lama Tsultrim off-land, not sponsored by Tara Mandala, working closely with Educational Director
• Gather tour materials including marketing and fundraising brochures, package them, and send them for away events
• Work with Lama Tsultrim to organize and facilitate pilgrimage trips

Outreach & Marketing

• Execute marketing plan to continuously increase TM’s exposure
• Participate in the design, creation, and dissemination of all marketing materials, including the program guide, advertisements, flyers, TaraNets, Words of Wisdom, calendar listings and brochures
• Work closely with Executive Director to develop ad/flyer plan
• Create timelines for all ads/flyers and place all reservations
• Insure payment of all ads
• Communicate with designer regarding ad deadlines, copy, revisions
• Research new venues for advertisement and publicity
• Work closely with Director/s to develop publicity write-ups/articles
• Network in the local community
• Develop and maintain distribution network for program guide, flyers, and other publicity materials
• Collect materials for and send out weekly Words of Wisdom emails

Retreat Management
The Program Manager participates in the planning and managing of all Tara Mandala retreats. Areas of responsibility include:

• Plan retreat set-up, schedule, staffing, karma yoga
• Communicate with teacher or assistant teacher regarding specific retreat needs and ensure that associated tasks are completed
• Recruit and manage volunteer and paid staff to run all aspects of retreats
• Actively recruit summer staff; coordinate application/interview process
• Help plan and execute summer staff orientation
• Manage summer staff during retreat season
• Ensure that retreatant coordination addresses needs of retreatants to ensure overall well-being and positive experience
• Oversee preparation of texts and other materials for retreats
• Manage proper flow of information between teacher/s, staff and retreatants concerning all relevant aspects of retreat schedule and logistics

Qualifications:
Applicant must have:

• Experience with people and administrative work, excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritize tasks and needs. 
• Experience in management.
• Experience, aptitude and ease with public speaking; clear and concise communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team and collaborate on projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Efficient time management skills.
• Ability to be consistent and levelheaded under pressure.
• Ability to be flexible, patient, gracious and supportive in difficult and stressful situations.
• Ability to deal with emergencies with unflappable clarity, decisiveness and common sense.
• Excellent telephone manner, computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.  Familiarity with Sambhoda preferred.
• Good health and be able to walk up and down steep hills and carry heavy items.

All resident staff of Tara Mandala are expected to participate in all community karma yoga (building clean up, rotating retreatant shopping), staff meetings, and group practice sessions (weekly or daily during the off-season, daily during the retreat season).

Compensation: Annual salary of $20,000, housing on the land, health insurance stipend after 6 months of employment, food during retreat season, two weeks of paid vacation are allotted per year, in addition to Tara Mandala holidays, and 5 sick days per year.  An additional 1 week of vacation will be added each year of employment, up to 4 weeks total.  Permanent staff can attend any Tara Mandala retreat at no cost.

Time commitment:
A minimum commitment of 2 years is requested.  All employment is on “At Will” basis.