Northern California Shambhala Regional Director

Job Description

Overview. The Director of Northern California Shambhala (NCS) is appointed by the Kalapa Court. The director is a regional representative of the Sakyong, holds a seat on the Mandala Council and is accountable to the Executive Director of Shambhala. The Director chairs the regional NCS Council and the Regional Council of Center Directors and has the authority to appoint NCS Council members and working group chairs to organize regional activities. The Director is available to all of the regional Shambhala Centers, Meditation Groups and practice gates as an information and staff resource. The Director is an advisor for all Center councils in the region and participates in new director selections for the Centers.

The Director works closely with the NCS Council and the Shambhala leadership to create and oversee implementation of a regional strategic plan. The plan focuses the community’s resources in key areas toward the goal to grow stronger and to share the Shambhala teachings with the world, e.g. by identifying services that the NCS regional office can provide to help the NCS community and its centers including pooling human and financial resources.

The Director holds the vision of Shambhala enlightened society while simultaneously joining this vision with practical details of managing finances, recruiting and managing volunteers, mentoring Shambhala center leadership, raising funds, working with community issues, deciding what activities are most beneficial regionally, and raising the windhorse of the leadership and entire community.

Priorities for NCS Regional Director.

1. To develop and articulate a vision of growth and richness for the NCS community based on guidance of the lineage.
2. To act as a communications conduit for the Sakyong’s wishes for the Region, and for Shambhala mandala departments.
3. To lead central governance: coordinate among Centers and Groups; facilitate communication and provide oversight; chair NSC Council and Regional Council of Center Directors; consultation and training for Center Directors and Councils; coordination of regional programs and activities; support regional outreach, publicity, fundraising, membership development, education and practice.
4. To maintain synergy with Program Development and Production – e.g. Sakyong’s programs, Follow Your Inspiration series, children’s programming, leadership/internship programs. Oversight of Practice and Education programs such as Guides, Weekthun, MI training, Rigden, and Sacred Path.
5. To lead the way in exploring and developing Shambhala community/society beyond programming.
6. To plan and oversee projects that are beyond the scope of single Centers or Groups to implement, e.g. real estate purchases, retreats, gatherings for NCS community
7. To bring forth resources, insights, and best practices available to the NCS community,
8. To support initiatives for increasing diversity.
9. To ensure financial wellbeing of the region, e.g. Centers, Sharchen Dzong, by providing support in stewarding membership and patronage,  support of the region’s participation in Unified Giving , and writing grants.
10. To support Marketing for Center and Regional activities, such as website, newsletter, email campaigns, posters, brochures, social media, calendars.

Qualifications

• Shambhala Practice. Minimum 4 years of experience as a practitioner of the Shambhala tradition. Sadhaka and Rigden Abhisheka preferred (if not completed, is there plan for completion). Exhibits familiarity with Shambhala traditions and forms
• Shambhala Leadership. Demonstrated ability to lead and manage projects, organize people, events and programs within the Shambhala community. Understands Shambhala governance to be a significant part of the path of a practitioner.
• Achieve Outcomes. Ability to set goals, establish priorities and achieve outcomes within a designated timeframe.
• Communication Skills. Strong written and spoken communication skills including the abilities to effectively speak, listen and write to individuals, and large groups; skillfully interact with diverse populations; listen and invite input from the community and make decisions for the future of NCS based on input; motivate others to work together cooperatively; and work with conflict and strong divergent opinions.
• Specific Experience and Enthusiasm. Evidence of both strategic and hands on operational experience in a nonprofit or entrepreneurial setting; financial and business planning and management; publicity and marketing; fundraising and development.

Availability Requirements

• Flexible work hours
• Daytime and evening participation
• Attendance at quarterly meetings of NSC Council and Regional Council of Center Directors; special occasions when appropriate, e.g. teacher visits, ceremonies, teacher greetings, including travel to all NCS centers and relevant international meetings.

Term. The Regional Director position is a 3 year position with an option to renew by mutual consent of the Director and Kalapa Court. Performance evaluations will be done annually and the term limit assessed at the end of 2.5  years.

Salary and Benefits. The post is a part-time paid position (25 hours/week) with a salary of $30,000 per year and reimbursement of travel expenses.  Up to $300/month towards healthcare expenses. The Director receives two weeks of paid vacation and two weeks of paid retreat time annually. Retreat costs are not covered.

Regional Director Role & Responsibilities

1. Heaven

• Demonstrates a commitment to the mission of the Shambhala Centers: to manifest and propagate the view, teaching, practice and community of Shambhala in Northern California.
• Connects our local community to the sacred outlook and expansive vision of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in regards to his desire for the future of the Northern California community.
• Acts as a liaison between our Northern California community and Shambhala for issues that pertain to the entire Northern California Region.
• Serves as public spokesperson and community liaison for the organization in a wide range of settings.

• Works with the Board to articulate a vision for the Northern California Shambhala community to grow beyond its present size in order to extend the teachings and practice of Shambhala.
• Leads the Board of Directors in a strategic planning process to define the vision and mission of the organization. Identifies and implements ways to build organizational capacity. Designs systems, policies, and a staffing model to fulfill the mission. Gathers community input and raises support for strategic initiatives.
• Works with leadership of Shambhala Centers and Meditation Groups to articulate their own local vision.
• Fosters camaraderie and cooperation among members of the different Northern California centers/groups.
• Manifests as a warm, approachable leader who will serve as a champion for the Sakyong’s vision and the community’s collective vision. The Director will hear the needs of the community, magnetize energy of others, and radiate energy out to help the community engage in all accomplishing activity.
• Policy: Works with the NCS Board to create and recommend adoption of policies and systematic procedures that facilitate regional cooperation and benefit.

Human

1. Program Planning and Coordination

• Supervises the planning and execution of educational programs and contemplative retreats.
• Encourages the Northern California community to identify projects and priorities which the community has the resources and motivation to support.
• Proposes project priorities and budgets to the NCS Council for its approval.
• Assure that projects and activities approved by the NSC Council are appropriately staffed, budgeted, managed and executed, and report the results of the project to the Board.
• Facilitates communication among community members & Shambhala center leadership.
• Shares “best practices” among centers.
• Facilitates good communication between Shambhala and the Northern California community.

Practice & Study

• Works with practice and education leaders to better coordinate program offerings, program scheduling, program attendance, and teacher visits at all the centers.

Publicity

• Works with local center/group contacts to coordinate publicity activities and public programs for the Northern California community.
• Directs the creation of a marketing strategy to make Shambhala a better known organization that is accessible and open to anyone interested in meditation.

Human Resources

• Recruits, mentors, and supervises a large and diverse team of volunteers and staff.
• Trains organizational leaders in management and leadership skills, conflict resolution, communication, group motivation and decision-making.
• Helps define and create teams or committees to accomplish regional goals.
• Creates staff positions for Northern California Shambhala as needed.

Membership Growth

• Plans ways to steward existing members and reach out to potential new members and open our doors to the communities we are in—consistent with the stewardship materials provided as part of Unified Giving.
• Available to work with Center/Group leadership on membership.

Earth

Financial Planning

• Oversees fiscal management, creates and exercises financial controls.
• Works with the Controller and Council to design a long-term financial plan for Northern California Shambhala. (Figures out where to put current money to generate more money.) and participation in Unified Giving.
• Designs a multifaceted fundraising & development strategy.
• Recommends to the Council what and where financial resources are needed to achieve particular goals.
• Proposes a Northern California operating budget and works with comptroller to provide financial reports to Board quarterly.