Program and Communications Manager

Knoll Farm is a nationally known retreat center based on a thriving organic family farm in central Vermont. On the National Register of Historic Places, Knoll Farm has been feeding people and building community since 1804. Since 2002 it has also operated a nationally respected learning and retreat center devoted to hosting dialogues that matter and transform. We are in service to organizations and individuals doing land justice work and in need of a holistic, inspiring and nurturing place to empower and lift up the struggles of our times. 

We seek a partnership with an experienced, mature individual to play a very important role as our Program and Communications Manager.  Most broadly, this role is a key part of what we do in practicing radical hospitality and making refuge for people at Knoll Farm and beyond. This role is also about furthering our success, through outreach and efficient business practices, as a small but thriving for-profit business with a strong social mission. 

The Program Manager is our point of contact for clients, whether it’s a group of Better Selves Fellows coming from around the country, a nonprofit leading a staff retreat, a yoga retreat, or a family celebration. Being our program manager means running the admissions office for our national and regional fellowships and assuring the quality of that program. Being our communications manager means translating our values and our work into compelling newsletters, posts, and publications. This position works closely connecting all parts of Knoll Farm, its staff and its constituencies.  

Specific job responsibilities include:

• Managing the Better Selves Fellowship Program and Be a Refuge Weeks at the farm –  including soliciting and accepting applications, helping with our admissions process, corresponding with applicants, helping fellows with travel logistics and orienting them ahead of their arrival, and being a point person during their stay at Knoll Farm. 
• Booking new retreat clients, managing their contract, deposits, and account, and orienting them to our facility before they arrive. 
• Mapping out staff shifts, orienting our staff to who is coming, how to support them in terms of dietary needs, program schedule, etc. 
• Setting up schedules and templates for a regular online newsletters and other on and off-farm communications pieces. 
• Keeping social media up to date with news and events, building social media presence, expanding reach to new readers and maintaining mailing lists. 
• Maintaining our online calendar and posting public events on our website and beyond.
• Helping to organize special events at the farm including concerts, annual fundraising campaigns, farm-to-plate dinners.
• Doing administrative work such as maintaining donor contact systems, sending out donor acknowledgement letters, answering general queries through phone and email, updating online accounts, collecting accounts payable and receivable for our accountant. 

Qualifications

We are looking for a warm ambassador for our values who is drawn to working with people but is also detail-oriented, very organized and excited to keep up with the many daily small tasks of organizing a program. Must be a willing and quick learner and a team player, where no task is too big or too small. A friendly, inviting, cooperative manner and excellent communication skills both in person and in writing is essential. A personal commitment to, practice around, and language for social justice is required. A high degree of skill and experience working with people from all cultures, races, and backgrounds is extremely important. They will need to enjoy keeping things in order while also being out meeting people. Ideally, they have experience working in a residential or retreat setting, managing clients needs, and in a small team setting. Flexibility and adaptability are key, as is a sense of humor and love of people. Facility with Excel, Word, Adobe and social media essential; ability to work in WordPress or other website modules a plus. 

This is a part-time position (25 hours per week), year-round. Some flexible hours and working at home is possible, depending on the time of year. 

Universal acceptance for everyone, everywhere is at the heart of what we do. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, or citizenship.