Company description

New Learning Journey, Inc. Operates "The Refuge". The Refuge is a retreat center in a spectacular, private setting that has a long history of changing how people think and work together. Offering space for deep conversation, reflection and celebration, the Refuge is located on our working farm amid organic gardens and ceremonial, hand-crafted spaces that encourage inspiration and renewal.
The Refuge is available from May 15 to October 15 for retreats, conferences, celebrations, events and countless other day-long to multi-day uses. If you are attracted to a stunning natural setting, inspiring green buildings, and a land-based community a bit off the beaten track of mainstream America, we encourage you to get in touch with us. We are all about co-creating transformative experiences, and we’d love to hear about the vision you want to manifest.
We are proud that our Refuge has consistently created a safe harbor where issues of class, race, power and privilege are seriously engaged, and all people are welcomed and honored. Such spaces are sadly all too rare, and our home and refuge are an expression of what we work toward in the larger world. A rich history of change-making continues here through those of you who join us each year and benefit from what the Refuge has to offer.

Job description

Operations Manager

For more than two decades, Knoll Farm in Waitsfield, VT has been a place of learning and refuge for organizers working in social justice as well as a working family farm, both of which have transformed the field of place-making. The heart of Knoll Farm is the deep belief that powerful change—whether for communities, the environment, or individuals—begins in relationships with each other and the land.

We invite applicants seeking purpose-driven work and who are called to support an organization rooted in equity, change-making, courageous dialogue, and radical hospitality. Our alumni include more than 4,000 leaders working for the health of people and the land in the fields of climate justice, immigration, land justice, Indigenous rights and advocacy, and land conservation. In addition, more than 75 organizations working on various aspects of transformational community leadership have brought their work here to take it further.

About the Role

As Operations Manager, you will be the backbone supporting our mission and daily work by running our office and supporting our refuge operations. This position combines day-to-day management with care of people and programs. You’ll foster an inclusive, caring environment; ensure organizational systems match our values; and help fellowships and retreats blossom for national and local change-makers.

Salary: $45,000 annually (full-time equivalent).

Key Responsibilities:

Human Resources
Compassionately manage the recruitment, onboarding, and support of permanent and seasonal staff and volunteers committed to social and environmental justice. Champion Knoll Farm’s ethos in all aspects of HR practice. Run staff meetings to ensure excellent office-wide communications and program coordination; run staff retreats to ensure organization-wide teamwork going into our retreat season and promote an environment where leadership and learning thrive.

Office and Community Care
Maintain welcoming, organized physical and digital spaces. Oversee systems that enable transparency, collaboration, and a sense of belonging in all operations.

Program & Refuge Management
Working closely with our director, take the lead in developing and managing our internal workshops: facilitating change, spoon carving, shepherd’s retreat, courage and voice, and others, including admissions and participant experience. Potential also to oversee the day-of activities of our summer music series. Working with our Retreat Manager, provide logistical and relational support to our refuge program overall by being the acting retreat manager 3-4 times per year when our existing retreat manager is unavailable, and provide support as needed to the retreat manager to ensure good client relations. Coordinate community gatherings at Knoll Farm, as needed.

Shared Success
Track budgets, facilitate internal communication, and prepare reports that uplift the work of the team and that keep our donors and clients informed. Ensure our resources and systems serve the whole community and our mission.

Position location:

This position is based at Knoll Farm in Fayston, Vermont. From May 15 – November 1 the position requires 5 days per week at the farm. From November 1 – May 14, the position can be remote for 3 days per week as long as 2 consecutive days of our election are at the farm. An initial training and orientation period of two months requires 5 days per week at the farm.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $35,568* - $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline