SPIRIT ROCK
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 
 

ABOUT SPIRIT ROCK

Set among 411 acres of serene oak woodlands, just west of Fairfax, in West Marin County, California, Spirit Rock Meditation Center is a refuge from everyday life where it's truly possible to quiet the mind, soften the heart and see life in a new way.

Spirit Rock Meditation Center provides teachings and Buddhist Insight Meditation residential retreats, practice programs, trainings, and study for new and experienced students from diverse backgrounds.  The Center is deeply committed to being a place of welcoming and belonging for all.  Spirit Rock increasingly has a diverse group of practitioners, teachers and staff.

Spirit Rock operates a large meditation center annually offering forty-eight residential retreats from 3 -60 days. Spirit Rock is continuously offering retreats throughout the year, from their residential retreat center that has 96 practitioners, beds, and offers three meals a day. In addition, Spirit Rock offers drop-in classes, study, practice, and training programs both in-person and online.  

Spirit Rock is recognized as one of the foremost Insight Meditation Center in the west.  The Center is beginning work now in creating a Dharma Institute which will offer an expanded array of study, practice and training programs both in-person and online.

In the current year, over 4,000 practitioners will attend residential retreats, and over 50,000 practitioners will attend various online programs.  Spirit rock is a $9 million a year operation, and is in a strong financial condition with healthy reserves.

Teachers/Program Staff

As a teaching organization, the Guiding Teachers are charged with deciding who teaches and the programming content for Residential Retreats and the programming parameters for non-residential retreats. Dharma Vision

There is a very close working relationship between the Executive Director, the Director of Programs, and the Co-Chairs of the Guiding Teachers Council.  

Building Campaign

Spirit Rock is embarking on a new major initiative to design and build new residential and learning facilities.  This will represent a major campaign both from a fundraising and oversight perspective. The Concept Design will be complete late this year.  The anticipated costs will be between $25- $35 million. The program is being developed with a collaborative partnering approach that engages teacher leaders and staff.   
For more information, please visit https://www.spiritrock.org/ 

OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Lead a world class meditation center in beautiful Woodacre, CA

  • Oversee and manage the building of a major expansion to the Center

  • Work with world renowned Buddhist educators

  • Salary range $210,000 – $250,000

  • Excellent benefits including health insurance and opportunities to participate in retreats

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Executive Director provides leadership to enable the Board, teachers, and staff to effectively work towards the realization of Spirit Rock’s vision and mission. The Executive Director should have strong organizational leadership skills, the ability to oversee the operation of a large retreat center and robust online offerings and be a natural team builder. Also, the Executive Director should have strong DEI competencies, and a deep commitment to ensuring Spirit Rock is a place of welcoming and belonging for all.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and works closely and collaboratively with teacher leaders (Co-Chairs of the Guiding Teachers Council), the teacher community, the Board, community members, and donors. The Executive Director provides mentorship, guidance, and leadership to 50 talented and dedicated staff.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Leadership

    • Provides leadership of staff organization and works closely with teacher leaders (Co-Chairs of the Guiding Teachers Council).  

    • Represents Spirit Rock’s values and establishes and maintains trusting relationships with Spirit Rock staff, teachers, Board, and community.  

    • Promotes and champions Spirit Rock’s DEI goals and values

    • Maintains a balance between involvement in day-to-day operational details and long-term strategy.

  • Management

    • Manages and oversees a staff of 50.  

    • Builds a positive and collaborative team environment.  

    • Effectively supervises, develops, and motivates managers as well as creates and maintains the conditions for successful performance.  

    • Continues to refine Spirit Rock’s organizational structure and staffing patterns within the limits of approved operating budgets.    

    • With the support of the Deputy Executive Director supervises the Campus Operations team that manages Residential Retreats. 

  • Design and Build 

    • Responsible for the successful design, construction, and on-budget completion of a new second retreat center. 

    • The ED will lead and support a collaborative approach throughout the design and construction program. 

    • The Board is creating a Building Committee which includes board members, staff, teachers, and community members.

  • Financial Management

    • Provides consistent oversight and reporting and is accountable to all Spirit Rock constituents for the stewardship of the organization’s resources. 

  • Fundraising

    • Provides oversight of Development.  

    • Cultivates relationships with major donors and prepares organization and resources for a capital campaign. (A new capital fundraising program will be initiated soon in support of a major construction program to support the new Dharma Institute.

  • Program Management

    • Provides oversight of Programs and ensures a smooth and successful working relationship between Program staff and teachers.  

  • Communications/Marketing

    • Provides oversight of Marketing and Communications and regularly and effectively communicates with Spirit Rock constituents (Board, teachers, staff, donors, volunteers, wider sangha) verbally and in written form, individually and in groups, regarding Spirit Rock’s vision, mission, and activities.  

  • Board of Directors

    • Participates in Board recruitment, orientation, and training.  

    • Manages the planning and preparation of all meetings and reporting for the Board, Executive Committee, and other committees, as needed.  

    • Ensures that Spirit Rock is committed to a transparent style of reporting and communication.  

    • Uses effective and appropriate decision-making processes that reflect Spirit Rock’s values and cultural standards.

  • Strategic Planning

    • Partners with the Board of Directors, Guiding Teachers and senior Management in the development and execution of short and long-term goals.  

    • Provides leadership in planning processes and reviews.  

    • Translates approved strategic directions and goals into actions and oversees their effective implementation.  

    • Establishes a sense of stability while encouraging everyone to explore the question “how can we do this better?”

  • Culture

    • Nurtures an organizational culture that reflects Spirit Rock’s values and helps realize the mission.  

    • Actively supports the staff dharma programs. 

    • Supports the integration of workplace and dharma practice and supports a culture of a Learning Community and dharma-centric decision making.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Ten years or more of successful executive level management experience managing teams of 25 or more

  • Strong financial and systems management

  • Fundraising experience, specifically individual major gifts work

  • Ability to manage a complex construction project

  • High level of emotional intelligence

  • Ability to lead by example 

  • Excellent listener and communicator, both orally and in writing

  • Trust builder

  • High level of diplomacy

  • Technology proficiency including MS Word, Google Suite, project management software, and CRM experience

  • Self-awareness of and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice work

  • Lived experience in Buddhist practices preferred

  • Commitment to the mission of Spirit Rock

Qualifications Required of All Spirit Rock Employees

  • Ability to work well with people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds

  • The ability to work collaboratively

  • Flexibility and the ability to compromise

  • Honesty and integrity

  • Active listening skills

  • The ability and willingness to express appreciation to others

  • Openness to constructive feedback

  • Strong interpersonal skills

  • The ability to lead, follow, take initiative or take direction and the judgment to know when each is appropriate

  • Comfort with and aptitude for technology including MS Suite, Google Suite, CRMs, financial and project management software

  • The ability to delegate both Responsibility and authority appropriately

  • Reliability

  • Efficient time management skills including the ability to prioritize effectively

  • The ability to differentiate between one’s role in achieving Spirit Rock’s goals as defined by one’s specific job description vs. one’s own personal objectives and spiritual growth

  • Frequently required to perform moderately difficult manipulative tasks such as typing, writing, etc. Excellent typing and computer skills are required. Must be able to sit, walk or stand for extended periods.

  • Sensory: Frequently required to read and write documents, financial reports, and plans. Must be able to distinguish normal sounds with some background noise, as in answering the phone, interacting with residents and staff, etc. Must be able to speak clearly and understand and be understood using the English language

  • Cognitive: Frequently required to concentrate in considerable detail with occasional interruption. Must be able to attend to a task/function through to completion. Frequently required to understand and relate to specific ideas, several at a time. Must be able to remember multiple tasks and assignments given to self and others over a period of days and months. Must be able to shift priority and move from one task to another with ease, including the ability to multi-task

  • Equipment: Ability to drive a car. Occasionally required to drive to work functions at other locations or make pick-ups and deliveries. Must maintain a valid driver’s license. Frequently required to use equipment such as copiers, telephone, and fax machines

SALARY, BENEFITS, & REQUIREMENTS

The salary range for this position is $210,000 to $250,000 plus benefits, some of which are highlighted below:

Annually:

  • 15 paid vacation days

  • 12 paid sick leave days

  • 10 paid holidays

  • Medical insurance through Kaiser Permanente

  • 100% vision and dental

  • Long term disability

  • 403b with annual match of $500

  • Free daily vegetarian lunch

  • Bookstore discounts

  • 10 residential retreat nights per year

TO APPLY

To apply for this position, or for additional information on the opportunity, please send a copy of your resume with a cover letter to Victoria Silverman at apply@cooksilverman.com.

All applications and inquiries will receive a response and be kept strictly confidential.

Spirit Rock Meditation Center is a spiritual training institution in the Insight tradition grounded in the Buddha’s teachings in the Pali discourses.

  • Our vision: Bring people to a depth of realization of the Buddha’s path of liberation through direct experience.

  • Our mission: Provide practitioners with teachings to manifest wisdom and compassion in all aspects of their lives, for the benefit of all beings.

Our offerings: We achieve this purpose through providing Dharma teachings and Insight meditation retreats, programs, trainings, and study for new and experienced students from diverse backgrounds.