Bhumisparsha Teacher-Student Liaison

Please note: The window for submitting applications for this position has closed. We intend to communicate with applicants to request an interview by August 19.

Beginning September 2021

$833/mo, 5-10 hours per week

This will be an independent contractor position accountable to the General Circle, Bhumisparsha’s main coordinating body, which includes the General Coordinator and four active sangha volunteers.

We are a small, dynamic organization offering Tantric Buddhist teaching, practice and social change opportunities for people seeking to be awake in our dynamic, multicultural world. Our community is growing, and we are creating a new position to facilitate more connection between our teachers and students. We are emerging as we grow and looking for a person who enjoys designing and implementing processes to connect people, organizing meetings, and building relationships. The Teacher-Student Liaison position is for you if you are flexible, creative, and energized by building something new. 

Organizational Statement of Purpose: 

Bhumisparsha supports students in authentically awakening in our dynamic, multicultural world by drawing upon tantric Buddhism, integrating multi-faith practices, and bridging spiritual practice and social change.

Through regular retreats and online teachings by our Founding Teachers, both trained and authorized as Lamas in the Karma Kagyu Buddhist lineage, we offer instructions on meditation, visualization, and ritual practice grounded in this lineage and adapted for contemporary relevance, as well as text study, gatherings, and supportive community organizing that aim to empower the sangha to bring the fruits of this work into the wider world.

Job Description:

Core Objective: Develop and actively manage communication and systems to ensure timely communication, definition and fulfillment of commitments, as well as mutually supportive relationships, between the Founding Teachers and their students.

Objective Overview:  The Teacher/Student Liaison will be responsible for organizing and overseeing student/sangha members meetings with the Founding Teachers. This will include one on one meetings between Founding Teachers and their Students as well as small group meetings. 

Responsibilities include:

  • Set up and monitor personal Bhumisparsha email accounts for the Founding Teachers including a general email account for sangha members to email practice questions or concerns.

  • Set up and manage a system to schedule meetings with the Founding Teachers, including questionnaires to store and track relevant information.

  • Coordinate small student groups for the Founding Teachers to meet with each month.

  • Develop guidelines for individual and small group student meetings with Founding Teachers. 

  • Assist in formalizing Bhumisparsha student/teacher ethics statement.

  • Coordinate teaching and course schedule offered by the Founding Teachers.

  • Additional responsibilities as required.

Technical Skills:

Contractor’s hardware computing platform should include compatibility with current versions of apps and software in use at Bhumisparsha. The position will involve the use of the following software:

  • Zoom

  • Crowdcast

  • Slack

  • Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Calendar, G Drive)

  • Squarespace

  • Vimeo

  • Trello

  • Airtable

Performance Skills:

  • Leadership: oversee processes, guide initiatives, and steer both formal and informal work groups toward achievement of shared goals.

  • Transparency: clearly see and manage relationships with individuals in any role with a focus on openness, care, and honesty.

  • Organization: planning, delegating, program development, and task facilitation to meet stated objectives.

  • Oral and Written Communication: clearly, concisely, and in a fashion consistent with organizational goals, produce both written and oral documentation/guidance/policies/procedures/informal discussions.

Performance Experiences:

  • Familiarity with decentralized governance (e.g., Sociocracy/Dynamic Governance, Worker Self-Led Nonprofit, Worker-owned Cooperative).

  • Experience and demonstrated effectiveness in a fully remote work environment. 

  • Experience with translocal organizing is a plus.

To apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter to General Coordinator Alex Rodríguez via email at alex@bhumisparsha.org by Wednesday, August 4th. Related inquiries may also be directed to him at that email address.