Overview
The Director of Land Safety and Health oversees security of Drala Mountain Center (DMC) and its community. Key to this role is supporting Executive Co-Directors and administration to promote harmony, health, and well-being for land staff, teachers, and program guests. The Director of Land Safety and Health reports directly to the Executive Director of Operations.
Primary Responsibilities
Emergency Response
- Act as the on call first responder and primary point of contact and respond to medical, security, fire, and other emergencies.
- Engage in ongoing communication with local fire, police and emergency personnel to achieve appropriate preparedness for urgent situations.
- Establish plans and written procedures for all emergency and evacuation situations that can be anticipated.
- Train & schedule others to assist with emergency response.
- Coordinate & debrief with first responders during and after emergencies.
- Monitor emergency voicemail.
- Maintain adequate stock of radios and batteries.
Daily Oversight
- Monitor a radio 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.
- In conjunction with Guest Services, track the number of people on the land and programs in process on a daily basis.
- Know where programs are occurring and where participants are housed.
- Communicate to the Executive Director of Operations and Director of Facilities issues regarding buildings, heat, lights, equipment and any required repairs to physical buildings.
- Maintain and update Health and Safety Policies, Guidelines & Documentation, as necessary.
- Conduct nightly rounds after 10pm.
- Enforce parking and permit plans.
- Oversee ongoing radio communications distribution and utilization.
- Maintain radio equipment and keys to all buildings.
Community Conflict Support & Working with Code of Ethics Violations
- Act as a reference point for civil and kind communication within the DMC community.
- Monitor staff member’s behavior as required to assist department heads with difficult ethical and social behavioral issues.
- Work to extinguish harmful speech (i.e. slander, rumors and aggressive communication) by addressing issues as they arise with the Executive Co-Directors and other area directors.
- Assist with community conflict resolution.
- Hold space with empathy & compassion during times of conflict or crisis while balancing the needs of the DMC community.
- Assist in evaluating Code of Ethics grievances that may involve staff, teachers, and guests.
- Serve an integral role in determining and implementing consequences for Code of Ethics violations and other actions warranting adverse consequences.
- Maintain an unconditional respect for confidentiality of any urgent situation, communicate directly (on a need-to-know basis), and encourage others involved to do the same.
Guest Education
- Develop methods to orient guests to health & safety information specific to their stay at DMC.
- Make sure that program participants, guests and all new staff are clearly aware of all community policies, rules and regulations.
Trainings
- Organize and plan training including AED, CPR, First Responders, first aid, and mental health training.
Health
- Is proactively informed of program registration to know who is on the land and of any special needs situations (medically, psychologically, and/or other issues) that may be relevant to the harmony, health, and well-being of DMC.
- Serve as point of contact for ill staff and guests, including organizing meal delivery.
- Respond to non-medical situations where the health and well being of a participant is threatened, including “first response” to behavioral problems.
- Interface with local Doctors, EMTs, Paramedics, and the Colorado Health Department
- Maintain AED units.
- Maintain infirmary, first aid kits, other medical supplies, including COVID tests.
- Be available to Department Heads when extreme circumstances require.
Fire
- Maintain relationships with local volunteer firefighters.
- Monitor fire conditions & communicate relevant information to staff & guests.
- Create & implement evacuation plans and procedures.
- Renew open air burn permits.
- Communicate with local fire authorities before ceremonial fires.
- Maintain land wide fire extinguishers.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior working relationship with DMC or similar residential retreat center.
- Understands and commits to DMC’s mission and values.
- Experience in working in high-stress environments.
- Prior training & experience in de-escalation and conflict resolution.
- Detail oriented, proactive, and patient team player.
- Ease in working independently and collaboratively across the DMC structure with multiple channels of communication.
- Ability to track many projects over time.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Established meditation practice.