Temple Manager

Employment Position

About Tara Mandala

Tara Mandala is a vibrant international Buddhist Community with groups around the world. It was established in 1993 by Lama Tsultrim Allione and her late husband, David Petit, to foster the development of innate wisdom for the benefit of all beings. The hub of the Tara Mandala community is the 700-acre dharma center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Through the center and the Satellite Sanghas, Tara Mandala offers a complete path of meditation practice, study, and deep retreat in the tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. Tara Mandala is dedicated to bringing people to realization through Buddhist teachings. Tara Mandala is committed to fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all people to explore the teachings of the Buddha, and we are committed to cultivating a community that values diversity and inclusion.

“Tara Mandala was created to bring people together to support each other, practice, and do retreat in order to reach realization. The second purpose of Tara Mandala is to be a temenos for the emergence of the sacred feminine, through the lens of Vajrayana, leading to the balance of genuine partnership between the masculine and feminine in our world.”

– Lama Tsultrim Allione

Tara Mandala seeks candidates who are familiar with and live by Buddhist principles, including the 5 precepts and the 10 virtuous actions. We strive to have an open heart, cultivate compassion and empathy for others whether co-workers, visitors, or retreatants. We are here to serve the Dharma first and foremost.

Tara Mandala’s Leadership Values can be reviewed here

Job Summary

The Temple Manager position is an exempt employee position that maintains the overall environment of the Temple, which includes but is not limited to the cleanliness and organization of the temple both during and after retreats, the daily upkeep of the shrines, and reporting of any maintenance or repair issues. The Temple manager will keep the temple clean and will have it prepared for all events. The Temple Manager will also be responsible for the preparation of any pujas on the land. The Temple Manager should be organized, friendly, welcoming, helpful, and a problem solver. In addition to the following duties and
responsibilities, the Temple Manager can be called upon and expected to perform other various tasks and assignments as requested.

Essential Job Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Overall temple management, organization and cleanliness
Coordinate and oversee retreat set up and break down.
Coordinate the preparation of rooms, venues, and sites for teachings and events, including cushions, tables, teacher spaces, texts, supplies, etc.
Setup/breakdown for pujas and special practices and events. Including tsog, sang, stupa lightings, fundraising events, etc.

Oversee general temple operations, including cleaning, karma yoga, submitting maintenance repairs, communication (signs, notices, info, etc.), and use of spaces.

Coordinate supply ordering and manage inventory (operational including paper products, cleaning supplies, etc. and ritual, including tealights, rice, liquor, incense, overseas supplies, etc.).

Track Temple purchasing and expenses.
Manage karma yogis, LDAs, and paid staff assigned to the Temple.
Coordinate tasks and events with other temple staff, i.e. lama service, tsog, etc.
Handle all special projects as assigned
Practice and Ceremony Support
Oversee regular care of shrines, ritual items, and practice spaces.
Coordinate practices – arrange who umze/chopon, location, times, materials, etc.
Coordinate pujas – including ritual aspects, tormas, seating, special needs/accommodations, ritual items, instruments, and texts. This includes pujas both in the temple on land

Update the practice calendar, keep the community informed of all practices/events
Butter lamp Coordinator – Receive requests from the Accounts Manager for light lamps.
Keep prayer and Zhitro lists updated and printed for daily use texts
Communicate with the retreat manager and text-translation manager about text needs
Manage Temple inventory, track production costs, and collect cash dana and provide to
finance department.

Print and collate retreat folders with all printed materials not printed at printers.
This position does not include any regular direct reports but does require managing karma yogis and Living Dharma Apprentices as well as occasional paid staff.

Essential Job Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Able to work alone and collaborate well in a team context, as well as oversee the work of others.
Similar experience with Tara Mandala or another Tibetan Buddhist organization
Experience with retreat or events
Experience and ability to work within budgetary constraints
Customer service experience
Proficient with Google Suite, MS Office, and other computer-based apps
Ability to follow directions
Outgoing and able to communicate clearly, confidently and warmly via phone, email
and in-person
High level of literacy and professional writing skills
Team player that is levelheaded, flexible and compassionate

Other Requirements

Weekend work hours are required for this role.
Has a dedicated Buddhist practice, including a daily practice.
Strong connection to the lineages at Tara Mandala preferred.
Strong understanding and demonstrated ability to work professionally while upholding Buddhist values and conduct.
Upholds Tara Mandala’s Leadership Values and Code of Conduct, which is available for review here.
This job requires being available at odd times throughout the 24 hours of the day and days of
the week, based on the needs of the retreat and Center.
Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
Includes moving furniture and other equipment

Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time as needed by the organization.

Tara Mandala is an equal opportunity employer that seeks diversity in terms of race, religion, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical abilities.