New Camaldoli Hermitage is a quiet monastic community overlooking the coast of Big Sur, California, approximately 55 miles from the city of Monterey. New Camaldoli is a hospitable hermitage, with a community of monks whose lives are dedicated to contemplation and prayer. We are a worshiping community, celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours and the Holy Eucharist with our friends and guests. Our monastic fellowship extends beyond the walls of the Hermitage to embrace a large and inclusive community of persons of different walks of life who live in spiritual communion with the monks. The geographic isolation of our retreat facilities is an ecumenical gathering place: other Christians, persons of all faiths, and countless seekers for truth and human integrity have been drawn to the natural beauties of the place and the warm simplicity of the monastic church. The monks of New Camaldoli also take part in the Four Winds Council with other nearby spiritually-aware communities: Esalen Institute, Window to the West Native American Community, and Tassajara Zen Monastery.
Position:
This is a non-exempt position reporting to the General Manager (GM). The employer is Camaldolese Hermits of America, a private nonprofit corporation doing business as New Camaldoli Hermitage. New Camaldoli Hermitage is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
Location / Residence:
Given the nature of the position, and given the distance from the nearest towns and cities, we prefer candidates who are willing and able to live onsite at the Hermitage. Onsite housing is provided to residential employees as part of the overall compensation package, in exchange for a nominal Resource Replenishment Fee payroll deduction. The amount of time living and working onsite may be negotiable; however, a minimum of 80% onsite and 20% remote would be preferred.
Wage Rate:
This position is currently non-exempt at approximately 30 hours per week. Starting hourly rate is projected to be $32 per hour. Benefits include generous paid time off, including sick time, vacation, and 10 paid holidays.
Position Overview:
New Camaldoli Hermitage seeks a bright, experienced, mission-driven, passionate, self-starter as a Commercial Operations Manager (COM). Central to the COM role will be managing the daily activities for the Hermitage as they relate to the guesthouse, bookstore, and e-commerce/wholesale operations. The COM must be thoroughly familiar with all areas of the Hermitage business operations. As directed by the General Manager (GM), the Commercial Operations Manager will oversee all income-producing operations with the Hermitage bookstore, e-commerce, wholesale activities, and hospitality operations. The Commercial Operations Manager will work closely with the GM to ensure optimum income conditions and strategies for these Hermitage business activities.
The successful COM candidate will be a hands-on leader who leads effectively and coordinates the efficient use of staff across all areas of commercial operations. The COM works closely with the GM to ensure that commercial operations are meeting the strategic goals of the organization. The COM also works collaboratively with the Business & Financial Manager as necessary, on issues pertaining to human resources, payroll, departmental budgets and best business practices.
Primary Attributes & Experience:
The successful candidate for this position will be reasonably knowledgeable about the Camaldolese Charism or a similar contemplative way of life, or will have specific knowledge of monastic life. Three years or more of proven leadership experience in management of retail and/or hotel operations will be required. Familiarity with managing in a non-profit setting is desirable but not required. Must have at least intermediate skills with Microsoft Office products.
Desired Qualifications:
• Associate degree, or equivalent experience; Bachelor's degree a plus
• good writing and communications skills
• excellent organizational skills, with the ability to consistently meet deadlines, and to work under pressure
• basic familiarity with financial budgets
• self-starter; creative thinker; goal- and detail-oriented
• competent at multitasking; able to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously
• team oriented, with the ability to work in cooperation and collaboration with others
• able to give and receive feedback in a constructive, positive way
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus
Key Responsibilities & Job Functions:
• Consult with the GM on all operational and strategic issues as they concern the commercial income-producing operations of the Hermitage.
• Provide recommendations for commercial operations, based on financial analysis and projections, cost identification and allocation, and revenue/expense analysis.
• Review annual and monthly budgets for guesthouse, bookstore and e-commerce.
• Oversee and manage day-to-day bookstore operations, inventory selection, and sales.
• Oversee and manage e-commerce operations, online shop functionality & content, and orders admin page.
• Maintain inventory and ordering of fruitcakes and Holy Granola.
• Maintain and grow wholesale opportunities for cakes, granola, and other products.
• Oversee and manage all hospitality operations, including housekeeping and guest ministry staff.
• Ensure that all commercial operations continue to use best business practices.
• Ensure that the Business Office continues to have access to the information required for accurate accounting of all business activities
• Present new business opportunities to GM for discussion.
• As required by GM, make presentations during meetings to report on commercial income and operations.
• Research and present policies to improve best practice business operations for bookstore, e-commerce, and hospitality operations.
• Manage customer care issues that staff cannot sufficiently resolve on their own; coach staff on continued exceptional customer service.
• Coordinate monthly collection of donations from bookstore and church donation boxes.
• Other duties as assigned.
Detailed Job Functions:
Hermitage Bookstore
• Coordinate with GM for scheduling bookstore attendants, back office assistant, and occasional volunteers; provide adequate training and supervision.
• Develop store policies, procedures, and pricing.
• Determine and implement inventory ordering, with assistance and guidance from monks where applicable.
• Oversee reordering, receipt and, inventory of incoming books and gifts.
• Forward invoices and credit card purchase receipts to Business Office.
• Monitor inventory to remove slow sellers; test new gifts and titles, and introduce new products with shelf talkers.
• Coordinate and execute year-end inventory count.
• Provide monthly reporting on sales to GM.
• Coordinate pickup of gift orders from certain vendors (giclées, drinks, etc.).
• Coordinate with IT to install POS software & hardware updates.
• Order office supplies for bookstore as necessary.
• Coordinate honey bottling.
• Coordinate training for hospitality software changes that affect bookstore staff.
• Develop and maintain vendor relations.
• Design bookmarks, t-shirts, and other custom items for store.
• Work with artist vendors on new products and reorder of current stock (Fr. Arthur cards, etc.).
• Take telephone orders for special purchases of items not on online e-commerce store.
• Maintain secure spare key cabinet in bookstore office; loan out keys as needed.
• Maintain attractive store environment, including appearance upgrades, garden planning, and front porch cleanliness.
e-Commerce & Wholesale Business
• Ensure that online store maintains functionality; oversee up-to-date inventory levels.
• Oversee e-commerce portal upgrades and design.
• Forecasting, budgeting and executing yearly fruitcake and Holy Granola orders with baker; ordering cake box and granola bag supplies.
• Coordinate with baker for ordering of fruitcakes and Holy Granola; oversee packaging, labeling, pricing, and sales.
• Manage online payments, shipping program, shipping supply stock.
• Oversee e-commerce website marketing, functionality and product selection.
• Oversee e-commerce order processing & flow of shipments.
• Coordinate with GM to schedule shipping staff according to workflow; provide adequate training and supervision.
• Fulfill wholesale orders for various items (granola, cakes, cards, etc.).
• Grow wholesale business of in-house products, particularly fruitcakes and Holy Granola.
• Manage online donations through e-Commerce site.
Hospitality
• Supervise and direct the housekeeping/guest ministry staff in their daily duties.
• Ensure that the reservation system is used correctly and appropriately by guest ministry and bookstore staff.
• Interface with guests regarding questions and concerns; advise guests of inappropriate use of facilities.
• Coordinate guesthouse closures on major feast days.
• Compile guest feedback on a monthly basis; provide report to GM.
• Process guest credit card refunds as necessary.
• Coordinate monthly hospitality staff meetings.
• Coordinate carpet cleaning and other deep cleaning during monk retreat week.
Reports to: General Manager
Positions Directly Supervised: bookstore staff; e-commerce shipping staff; guest ministry and housekeeping staff.