Spiritual Life Director

The Role

At your core, you embody stillness, integrity, and compassionate awareness. You've journeyed deeply into your own spiritual path while embracing the beauty and wisdom of many. People turn to you not only for guidance, but because your presence invites reflection, connection, and peace.

As the Spiritual Life Director at Enso Village, you will cultivate a spiritually rich environment for our residents and team members. Your leadership will foster a culture of mindfulness, kindness, and care by weaving Buddhist principles with inclusive, interfaith wisdom. You'll guide the creation of meaningful practices, rituals, and programs that support contemplative aging, mindful living, and end-of-life transitions.

This is not simply a role-it's a calling to co-create a conscious community that uplifts the human spirit and honors all beings.

Key Responsibilities

Spiritual Life Leadership

• Establish and evolve the vision for spiritual life at Enso Village, grounded in Zen and open to all paths-while serving as the Strategic Architect of the community's spiritual services.
• Develop and lead contemplative teachings on mindful aging, compassion, and spiritual well-being.
• Create and support spiritual resources for life transitions, including Five Wishes documents and memorial practices.
• Ensure spiritual offerings reflect a wide range of faiths, values, and beliefs, fostering inclusion and connection.
• Guide the community in practices that nurture a deeper relationship with self, others, animals, and the earth.
• Serves as the primary liaison between Enso Village and the faith communities throughout Sonoma County.

Contemplative Care & Collaboration

• Lead the development and integration of Contemplative Care principles throughout the community.
• Partner with leaders in Care, Wellness, and Nourishment to align services with spiritual values.
• Offer insight on resident-centered policies (e.g., pet care, food choices) to support compassionate and harmonious living.
• Help shape intentional approaches to meals and silent spaces, supporting practices of mindfulness in daily life.

Inspirational Programs & Events

• Oversee spiritually enriching programs, including Zen arts (tea, calligraphy, ikebana, ceramics) and global practices that resonate with Enso's ethos.
• Support and mentor the Spiritual Life Coordinator (Zendo Coordinator) in implementing engaging and meaningful programs.
• Guide the development of resident-led spiritual offerings and volunteer opportunities, cultivating purpose and belonging.
• Actively seek to include and uplift marginalized voices and traditions in community offerings.

Palliative & End-of-Life Support

• Collaborate with the Health and Wellbeing team and hospice partners to offer compassionate, spiritually grounded end-of-life care.
• Contribute to resident support strategies that integrate mindfulness and Zen-inspired wisdom.

Leadership & Vision

• Serve as a thought partner across the leadership team, helping embed spiritual life into community culture and team training.
• Co-create metrics and assessments that reflect the impact of spiritual life offerings on resident well-being and aging with intention.
• Contribute to strategic discussions with leadership and the Board regarding the spiritual dimension of Enso's mission.

Core Requirements

• Well versed in traditional Buddhism and familiar with Zen, as well as interfaith wisdom practices.
• Experience developing inclusive spiritual programs that resonate with older adults and diverse populations.
• Skill in teaching, mentoring, and building bridges between spiritual traditions.
• Comfort with end-of-life conversations and the emotional-spiritual needs of aging.
• A collaborative spirit, strong communication skills, and the ability to nurture relationships across a multidisciplinary team.

Position Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Theology, Psychology, Religious Studies, or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in chaplaincy, theological teaching, or spiritual practice.
• Completion of residential training is preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish, or a demonstrated commitment to achieving functional proficiency, is preferred but not required.
• Deep understanding and fluency in a broad range of theological and interdisciplinary spiritual practices.
• Proven experience leading meditation sessions-guided, semi-guided, and unguided-across various durations and settings, with a welcoming approach to incorporating diverse traditions into the spiritual life of Enso Village Residents.
• Demonstrated integrity, strong values, and a well-established ability to build, sustain, and deepen interpersonal relationships.
• We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. A combination of professional experience, hands-on training, and formal education will be considered in lieu of traditional qualifications.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit for extended periods, with occasional standing and walking.
• Capability to lift up to 10 pounds.
• Adequate visual acuity for working at a computer, reviewing reports, and managing data with attention to detail.

As a responsible organization, Enso Village is committed to maintaining a secure, drug-free work environment. All candidates must undergo a background check and drug testing as part of the hiring process to ensure the well-being of our team and guests.

Compensation & Benefits:

Enso Village is committed to equal pay and transparency. The annual base salary range for this position is $90,000-$115,000. Compensation is based on experience, education, skills, and business considerations.

We provide team members with a supportive and inclusive work environment focused on health and well-being. Full-time team members are offered a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage available starting on your first day of employment.
• Life & Disability Insurance: Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability coverage.
• Retirement Savings: 403(b) plan with a generous employer match to help you plan for the future.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Paid annual vacation, sick days, personal days, and holidays.
• Healthy Meals: Subsidized organic, nutritious meals available daily.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing career growth and development within the organization.

We value applicants of all different backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets. If you think you could excel in this role (regardless of whether you meet all of the qualifications), we encourage you to apply. Enso Village is an equal opportunity employer which means that we consider applicants for hire and make employment decisions without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or other legally protected status. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants who request accommodation.