Retreat Support Associate (RSA) - Extra Hire

Spirit Rock Meditation Center; California; On-site; USD 38,000 - 51,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Room and board

Free lunches on shift days

Paid sick leave

Bookstore discount 30%

EAP program

Staff retreat discounts

Lottery? no

Job summary

Spirit Rock Meditation Center is seeking experienced insight meditation practitioners to provide as-needed coverage for the Retreat Support Associate (RSA) role. RSAs stay on campus during residential retreats and support the well-being of retreatants in intensive practice.

Extra Hire RSAs work alongside full-time RSAs, with shifts shared to ensure 24/7 coverage during retreats. Compensation is daily at $240, meals and lodging provided.

Qualifications

• Insight meditation retreat experience in Theravada tradition; long-term or recent retreat at Spirit Rock, IMS, or Insight Retreat Center preferred.
• Ability to recognize when retreatants need support and to communicate effectively with teaching teams and staff.
• Calm under pressure, quick rapport, and sound decision making.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with teachers and staff.
• Flexible with overnight hours and short-notice requests.
• Discretion handling sensitive information; respect for confidentiality.
• Ability to interact respectfully with people of all backgrounds.
• Ability to write clear, concise reports.
• Proficient using a smartphone for calls/texts, Slack, Gmail, and Google Workspace; basic Office skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the physical and emotional welfare of retreatants during residential retreats.
• Serve as on-call RSA during scheduled shifts, including overnight hours.
• Coordinate with teaching teams and Retreat Operations staff on medical or psychological concerns.
• Follow protocols for early departure of retreatants due to illness or urgent circumstances.
• Complete incident and follow-up reports and participate in debriefs.
• Coordinate shift handoffs with full-time RSAs for continuous coverage.
• Attend staff and teacher lunches during retreats to discuss needs.
• Attend meditation instructions and dharma talks to stay aware of instructions.
• Complete RSA training (virtual and in-person) before independent shifts.

Skills

Meditation retreat

Composure

Communication

Teamwork

Adaptability

Confidentiality

Cultural sensitivity

Documentation

Technology

Driving

Tools

Smartphone usage

Slack

Gmail

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary of Job

Spirit Rock is seeking experienced insight meditation practitioners to provide as-needed coverage for its Retreat Support Associate (RSA) role. RSAs stay on campus during residential retreats and support the physical and emotional well-being of retreatants engaged in intensive meditation practice.

Extra Hire RSAs work alongside our full-time RSAs. Shifts are shared, with the two RSAs alternating as the primary point of contact so that support is available around the clock while retreats are in session.

About Extra Hire Status

This is a temporary, as-needed position for someone with a flexible schedule who would like to be part of the Retreat Operations team on a part-time basis. Shifts are offered based on retreat needs and may range from a single overnight 24 hour shift to the full length of a retreat. Hours are not guaranteed.

Responsibilities

• Support the physical and emotional welfare of retreatants during residential retreats. This may include picking up prescriptions, accompanying a sick or injured person to urgent care or the emergency room, or helping ease a retreatant’s distress (for example, talking over tea, taking a walk, or sitting together in silence) so they can either continue their retreat or leave to return to the support of family or an appropriate care setting.
• Serve as the on-call RSA during scheduled shifts, including overnight hours, and respond to requests ranging from practical assistance to emergencies.
• Work closely with teaching teams and Retreat Operations staff regarding any current or potential medical or psychological concerns involving retreatants.
• Follow departmental protocols, including those for supporting the early departure of retreatants due to illness, injury, or other urgent circumstances.
• Complete clear, timely incident and follow-up reports, and take part in post-incident debriefs.
• Coordinate shift handoffs with full-time RSAs to ensure continuous coverage.
• Attend staff and teacher lunch meetings during retreats to discuss retreatant needs.
• Attend some meditation instructions and dharma talks to be a familiar presence for retreatants and stay aware of the instructions being offered.
• Complete RSA training (virtual and in-person) before working independent shifts.

Required Qualifications

• Meditation retreat experience: Insight (Vipassana) meditation retreat experience in the Theravada tradition. Long-term retreat experience and recent retreat experience at Spirit Rock, IMS, or Insight Retreat Center are preferred.
• Understanding of retreat states: Familiarity with the physical, psychological, and emotional states that can arise during intensive meditation practice, and the ability to recognize when a retreatant may need additional support.
• Composure: Ability to stay calm, build rapport quickly, and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Communication and teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with teachers and staff.
• Adaptability: Comfort with changing needs, priorities, and schedules, including overnight hours and short-notice requests.
• Confidentiality: Discretion and sound judgment in handling sensitive, private information.
• Cultural responsiveness: Ability to interact with care and respect with people of all backgrounds.
• Documentation: Ability to write clear, concise reports.
• Technology: Comfortable using a smartphone for calls and texting, Slack, Gmail, and Google Workspace. Familiarity with Microsoft Office is helpful.
• Driving: Valid driver’s license and a driving record that meets Spirit Rock’s insurance requirements. The role requires driving for urgent situations, sometimes with retreatants as passengers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Training that builds capacity to support people in distress, such as counseling, chaplaincy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), trauma-sensitive practice, somatic experiencing, and/or nonviolent communication.
• Previous on-call or crisis-response experience.
• Background in psychology or the mental health field.
• Training in diversity, equity, inclusion, or cross-cultural issues.
• Participation in a Vipassana meditation training program, such as Spirit Rock or IMS Teacher Training, Community Dharma Leader, or Dedicated Practitioner Programs.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Moving around Spirit Rock’s 411-acre campus, including paved and unpaved outdoor paths, in varying weather.
• Being available on campus for the full shift, including overnight, and responding promptly when called.
• Driving a vehicle, including at night and in adverse weather, and safely operating campus golf carts.
• Reading and writing reports on a screen and on paper.

Reports To

Assistant Retreat Operations Manager

Employment Status

Extra Hire (temporary, as-needed); non-exempt; no guaranteed hours

Schedule

Variable and as needed; shifts follow the retreat calendar and may be scheduled on short notice.

Compensation

daily rate of $240/day (8 hours at $30/hr equivalent); plus meals and lodging provided while on shift

Benefits and Opportunities associated with this position

• Room and Board is provided while on shift
• Free healthy, organic lunches on shift days
• Paid sick leave
• Participation in Spirit Rock retreat that you are supporting.
• Participation in Spirit Rock's staff dharma program
• 30% discount on all Spirit Rock bookstore purchases
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 8 free therapy sessions annually, plus coaching and resources for leadership development, child & elder care, legal and financial matters (extended to dependents)
• After 6 months: discounted staff rate for up to 7 nights/year at Spirit Rock retreats and free daylong and class series access when space allows
• Spirit Rock is set on 411 acres of oak woodlands and open meadow in West Marin, offering a rare, quiet landscape for work.

Spirit Rock is an equal opportunity employer, and we place a high value on workforce diversity; qualified candidates who self-identify as a Person of Color and/or are part of the LGBTQIA+ community are encouraged to apply.

Please note, our organization is unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.

We are unable to accommodate pets in residence.