Retreat Program Assistant

About the role

The Retreat Program Assistant is a key position at OAEC, supporting environmental and social movement leaders in feeling at home when they come to OAEC for organizational retreats, trainings, or alliance meetings. The Retreat Program Assistant is supervised by the Retreat Program Manager and serves the Retreat Program through a combination of administrative and logistical support and hands-on retreat hosting. The Retreat Program Assistant also supports the team of hourly Retreat Hosts (primarily residential interns) throughout the retreats, especially when the Retreat Program Manager is not on site. In this capacity, they serve as the lead contact for groups and provide essential support to the hosting team.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the point person for groups staying at OAEC.
• Complete standard hosting tasks, including but not limited to: greeting guests, orienting facilitators to the Meeting Hall, orienting groups to the guest housing and the land, updating inventory of supplies, tidying spaces used by retreat groups, making coffee/tea, monitoring the toast bar, restocking the kitchenette, supporting groups with A/V, setting up and tending the fire circle, and general support when the groups are on site.
• Engage with the groups in a professional, service-oriented manner, being mindful and respectful of their needs, the cultural context of their home communities, and the work they are doing.
• Attend to retreat groups’ emergent needs and any changes to the plan, with support from the Retreat Program Manager.
• Answer questions about OAEC policy that a group may ask and navigate challenging situations.
• Follow OAEC’s Emergency Action Plan when faced with emergencies/safety issues.
• Work closely with the Retreat Program Manager to ensure the hosting calendar and shifts are filled.
• Work closely with the Retreat Program Manager to train and support Retreat Hosts throughout the year.
• Communicate with OAEC’s Beauty Way (housekeeping), Kitchen, Facilities, and Office staff to ensure smooth operations.
• Provide ongoing review and feedback of the Retreat Program to continually improve and respond to guest input.
• Aid the Retreat Program Manager with communicating information about upcoming retreats to the OAEC Staff and Residential Community.
• Assist with light housekeeping and food prep as needed in the Meeting Hall.

Qualifications

• Ability to independently handle a wide range of problem-solving for both OAEC and our guests.
• Experience in hospitality or customer service with proven reliability, professionalism, and grace.
• Excitement in assisting the diverse groups of activists working for racial, social, and environmental justice who come to OAEC from all over the world.
• Ability to work well alone and take initiative, and also work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability and interest in being highly flexible with hours and work assignments throughout the year.
• A valid driver’s license & clean driving record.
• Comfortable with responding to emergent needs, emergencies, and safety issues.

Compensation, Location, and Work Environment

The annual salary for the Retreat Program Assistant, at an average of 40 hours/week, is $66,836 annually. OAEC offers a paid health and wellness benefit, currently set at 100% of the value of a Kaiser Permanente Silver HMO Plan for each employee. We intend to offer a full organizational health insurance plan for all salaried staff beginning in 2027 - this will replace the current health and wellness benefit. OAEC offers generous family leave and disability leave, as well as an employee-only contribution 401(k) option and a cell phone plan stipend of $50/month. OAEC offers generous paid time off: a total of 5 weeks and 3 days per year of vacation and floating holidays combined, as well as 10 paid sick days (plus an additional week for those with dependents).

All staff may enjoy the use of OAEC’s beautiful facilities, including our swimming pond, hot tub and sauna, and wildlands. Staff are invited to harvest from the extraordinary array of organic produce, flowers, and fruit grown in our Mother Garden and orchards. Staff may attend the various theater performances, small concerts, talks, and celebrations happening on site throughout the year. We welcome visits from family and friends.