Director of Operations

PENDLE HILL is a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center located on 24 beautiful acres in unceded Lenni-Lenape territory. We are a mission-driven organization that seeks to create peace with justice in the world by transforming lives through learning opportunities, retreat, and community created on our campus and in virtual settings. We work to be inclusive, respectful, and supportive of all people, striving for peace and justice.

This is a highly collaborative staff community featuring responsive leadership and many community-building opportunities, like biannual staff retreats for fun, growth, and connection, monthly fun activities as part of staff meeting, and the opportunity to serve on various committees. We also have monthly community work mornings, which provide variety with the opportunity to lend a hand on another team’s project or lead one for staff in your own work area. Learn more about Pendle Hill at https://pendlehill.org/.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Operations ensures that Pendle Hill is a hospitable and functional environment in which guests can explore, study, and practice. The Director of Operations provides leadership in all areas of Guest Services including Dining Services, Conference Sales, Hospitality, and Housekeeping. Departmental functions include sales and event planning; registration and food service and maintaining comfortable spaces and services for visitors. The campus has 13 buildings and a guest/resident population that may be as few as ten or as many as 100.

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

SUPERVISES: Dining Services Manager, Conference Sales Coordinator, Guest Services Coordinator, Housekeeping Coordinator, and Receptionist/Conference Sales Associate

TIME & LOCATION EXPECTATIONS: This is a full-time, exempt position. Out of respect for work-life balance, “full-time” at Pendle Hill is 37.5 hours per week, with 7.5-hour typical workdays. Some night and weekend work are expected, with work taking place at least one to two weekends per month in support of Hospitality and Housekeeping staff (in the Guest Services Manager’s stead). Full-time staff at Pendle Hill spend a few work hours each week contributing to the community through meal time, housekeeping or maintenance work.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: $60,000-$65,000 yearly salary (depending on experience) plus benefits including: medical, dental and life insurance, a retirement plan, generous paid vacation days (20), sick days (15), and holidays (11), and the opportunity to take Pendle Hill courses for free. Additional benefits include a 20% employee discount at the Pendle Hill Bookstore, free copies of all Pendle Hill pamphlets upon publication, and a beautiful campus with walking trails and fellowship with people from around the world.

This position may require residence in competitively priced housing on the Pendle Hill campus. As such, an additional benefit includes free meals from the Pendle Hill Kitchen tax-free (when the kitchen is operating).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Strategic Oversight:

• Lead the department, ensuring optimal delivery of Operations functions.
• Foster healthy inter- and intra-departmental communication and planning.
• Serve on the Administrative Team, providing vision and strategic oversight for all Operations areas.
• Identify opportunities to align Operations with organizational priorities.
• Supervise direct reports, fostering an empowering environment.
• Engage team members in setting and achieving short and long-term goals.
• Support supervisees in managing and maintaining the optimal functionality of their specific areas ensuring excellent guest services and effective communication.

Financial and Budget Management:

• Set financial goals and oversee budgets for Dining Services, Hospitality, Conference Sales, and Housekeeping.
• Ensure timely and budget-conscious planning and delivery of services.
• Participate in weekly Events Team meetings with relevant staff.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Carry the ‘on-call’ overnight phone twice a week or as needed.
• Liaise with the Facilities and Grounds department as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

• Experience in a leadership position.
• Knowledge about and at least 5 years’ work experience in two or more of the following: hospitality, food service, event planning, or working for a conference center or retreat center.
• Excellent communication skills – in person and in writing – with ability to warmly and effectively communicate with various individuals in both routine and challenging circumstances.
• Experience with setting, achieving, and helping others to achieve S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) goals.
• Demonstrated ability to manage annual budgets over $1,000,000.
• Technologically able, with agility in the Microsoft Office suite and the ability to proactively learn and adapt to new technological systems.
• Ability to be welcoming to people of all backgrounds.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

• Experience in multi-year strategic planning at the team or department level.
• Experience establishing and maintaining spaces that are exceptionally welcoming to all – physically, emotionally, and in many other ways – as an expression of core purpose.
• Experience working with a sales/customer database.

EXPECTATIONS OF ALL PENDLE HILL EMPLOYEES:

• A highly welcoming attitude and willingness to provide hospitality for members of, and visitors to, the Pendle Hill community. Openness to a wide range of spiritual beliefs and experiences, cultural backgrounds and practices, and differences (of all kinds).
• Either a familiarity with Quakerism or a willingness to learn about it, as well as an appreciation for the role of Quakerism in the mission of Pendle Hill.
• A commitment to abide by all Pendle Hill policies, including maintaining a fragrance-free campus.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY: Pendle Hill appoints individuals without discrimination based on color, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, class, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, ability, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, religious affiliation, or any other category protected by law. Pendle Hill recognizes that some of these categories are social constructs, not rooted in science. Our aim is to be inclusive and affirming.

Pendle Hill staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except for those who cannot receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons.

BACKGROUND CHECKS: Pendle Hill will conduct a background check for all candidates prior to hire.

INTERESTED? Please submit the following items to  jobs@pendlehill.org, with “Director of Operations” and your last name in the email subject line:

1. a current resume,
2. a cover letter that includes how you heard about the position, why you want to be considered, and your qualifications (applications received without a cover letter will not be considered)
3. and contact information for three references.

Review of applications will begin on December 2,2024 and continue until the position is filled, with an anticipated start date in January 2025.