Director of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care

OUR VISION is to live in a world where people have an intimate, contemplative, compassionate and caring relationship with sickness, aging and death. In doing so, we embrace whatever we experience in life with greater dignity, ease, love, acceptance, awareness, tenderness, curiosity and reverence for all that arises and passes away.

OUR MISSION is to transform the nature of care giving through contemplative practices that provide a foundation for caregivers, individuals and loved ones to courageously meet sickness, aging, death and dying with deep awareness, acceptance and compassion, fostering excellence in care and the possibilities for greater learning and spiritual growth for everyone, grounded in Zen.

To support our Vision and Mission, New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care offers:

Contemplative Education and in-depth training in contemplative care practices for caregivers, lay and professional alike

Compassionate Contemplative Care for individuals and loved ones experiencing sickness, aging, death and dying via community based palliative care programs and a planned end of life care residence, designed to serve as a teaching facility and prototype for best practices in contemplative palliative care

The Zen Center as a loving space for meditation and shared community for the practice of deepening generosity, ethics, patience, diligence, concentration, loving kindness and wisdom, and alignment of one’s core values in service

The Director’s Role

The Director of New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care (NYZCCC) will assume full responsibility for the strategy, planning, implementation and continued growth of NYZCCC work. As Director, s/he will oversee NYZCCC’s year-round operations, programming, fundraising and communications, as well as finance, human resources and operations. S/he will be a key spokesperson for NYZCCC to funders, partners and program participants.

The Director will report directly to the Co-Executive Directors and supervise the staff. In all, the Director will have the opportunity to lead and motivate a team who have an commitment to contemplative care and education grounded in meditation practice. NYZCCC’s center is on West 23rd Street in Manhattan.

The Director’s primary areas of responsibility include directing:

Program Leadership

• Lead and motivate program staff and teachers who have an array of creative and programmatic skills.

• Ensure that NYZCCC continues to develop activities and curriculum for medical schools, community support, and allied medical professions that are in line with the best practices.

• Ensure that NYZCCC evaluates and communicates the results of its programs.

• Stay abreast of local, national and international trends in contemplative care and 
education and formulate recommendations to position NYZCCC as a resource and an agent for 
change.

Operations Leadership

• Collaborate with and support the Co-Executive Directors to achieve the strategic business plan of NYZCCC, including annual budget and reporting.

• Oversee the daily operations of NYZCCC, ensuring that efficient work processes are in place for 
staff.

• Manage development and implementation of business plans, budgets, financial systems and controls, policies and procedures for Zen Center and its programs, in support of the Co-Executive Directors and with the assistance of the Controller.

• Work closely with a Board committees and provide the Executive Directors and Board with comprehensive, regular reports on 
revenues, expenses and an agreed-upon set of financial, operational or programmatic indicators of 
success. 
Ensure the alignment to strategic plan.

Development Leadership

• Ensure that all programmatic and financial requirements of funders are met or exceeded, 
and that all reporting occurs as required by funders.

• Cultivate new and existing relationships with individuals, family foundations, and institutional and government funders.

• Maintain and cultivate relationships with the our educational partners, cultural institutions and 
community-based service providers.

• Develop annual program, financial and resource allocation plans.

Candidate Profile and Key Qualifications

The Director must be a visionary and dynamic self-starter who shares the Executive Directors and Board’s commitment to providing/nurturing/maintaining comprehensive contemplative education and care grounded in Zen practice. S/he needs to have experience navigating complex communications efforts, advocating the organization’s mission position and responding to the needs of funders and partners. S/he will be driven by impact and results and able to manage and deliver a clear and grounded communication strategy.

Professional qualities desired:

• Vision

• Persistence and energy

• Innovation-minded

• Commitment in both time and spirit to the mission of NYZCCC

• Willingness to work hard and solve challenges

• Integrity

• Sound judgment

Skills and competencies required include:

• Expertise in or appreciation of contemplative care and education, grounded in Zen practice

• Understanding of education and care

• Highly-developed communications (written/verbal) and interpersonal skills

• Skilled and savvy public speaking and press/media experience

• Strategic and successful marketing, communications and fundraising experience

• Success in fostering the growth of a department, division or organization

• Financial and operational management experience

• Experience working with a Board to develop strategy, recruit members and govern

• Engagement and participation in NYZCCC special events and selected programs

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years’ work experience in fields related to education, care, spiritual development or community-based services, including at least three years in a leadership position

• Successful candidate will have demonstrated skills and track record in business, finances, human resources, operations, record keeping, reporting, organizational growth and both financial and in-kind resource development.

• Master’s degree highly preferred, Bachelor’s degree required.

How to Apply

This search is being conducted by the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care’s Search Committee.

Interested candidates should email (noting “NYZCCC Director” in the subject line, a thoughtful cover letter and resume, in confidence, to: 
NYZCCC Search Committee: searchcommittee@zencare.org

New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer and seeks a diverse pool of candidates for this position.