The Caretaker is a part of the Land Team whose primary goal is to maintain our 70 acres of land and off the grid retreat facilities including buildings, electrical system, plumbing, roads, and utilities. The Caretaker is primarily responsible for carrying out general maintenance, repairs, and small projects. They should be great at following the Land Manager’s lead, and just as comfortable working independently or within a team based on project demands. This position is truly a hands-on position, which allows one to work on many varying projects.
We are looking for a kindhearted, mature and spiritually orientated person who values harmony and can, therefore, live and work in a contemplative environment with a community of practitioners made up of retreaters and staff members. This individual must be service minded and understand how their role serves the needs of the Vajrapani Institute community. There is a requirement to work one weekend day each week, the ideal schedule would be Sunday to Thursday.
As we are a retreat center with most of the staff members living on the land, the Land Caretaker is required to live on the property.
Responsibilities
Maintain and upkeep land, trails and campsites.
Maintain and upkeep roads, drains and culverts.
Assist in maintenance and repair of buildings.
Prune and trim trees, shrubs, using shears, pruners or chainsaw.
Supply firewood and kindling to all needed areas.
Managing trash, recyclables, and compost.
Prepare land for individual retreaters or group arrivals.
Monitor all utilities, including electric, water, and propane usage as needed.
Assisting with work-study students and volunteers on small land projects as needed.
Dinner service as needed.
Attend weekly staff meetings and all staff training.
Flexibility with assisting other departments as center needs arise.
Qualifications
Experience of using hand tools including chainsaws, rakes, pruning saw, saws, hedge trimmers, axes and weed eaters.
Basic knowledge of the following: plumbing, carpentry, electrical, land stewardship.
Ability to lift 50 lbs
Experienced in general maintenance and comfortable with power tools, etc.
Able to work independently and enjoys working in a team environment.
Knows how to work with propane, especially in checking for leaks.
Mechanical skills - able to diagnose simple vehicle maintenance issues
Able to assist in an emergency or urgent situation when they arise
Understanding off-grid power systems a plus
A spiritual practice/orientation
Familiarity with Buddhism
Approved to work in the U.S.
Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. We at Vajrapani Institute know there is no such thing as a “perfect” candidate. Here we look for exceptional people who want to make a positive impact through their work and help create a place where they, and others, can have spiritual growth. So whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this role would make you excited to come to work every day!
To apply for this position and see the full job description: https://vajrapani.org/employment-and-volunteering