The Role
Three-month, service-focused residency supporting kitchen, housekeeping, and farm teams. Duties include cleaning guest rooms, meal prep, dishwashing, laundry, and garden work. Participants live in shared housing, receive meals, and follow daily rhythms of teamwork, feedback, and stewardship.
Summary Generated by Built In
WHY?
At Esalen, we believe in the power of our potential — both in our staff and in our global community of students and faculty who turn to us for transformative learning experiences. Over 60 years ago, Esalen co-founders, Michael Murphy and Richard Price, imagined a place inspired by Aldous Huxley’s belief in “human potentialities,” the unrealized capacities of our mind and body. Today we build on this legacy by creating deep connections in a world challenged by disconnection and isolation; reigniting awe and wonder to spark greater curiosity about ourselves and others; and asking the questions that can lead to transformative change both for an individual and society.
Esalen isn’t just a place to work, it’s an invitation to help change the world.
WHAT?
- The Work Scholar program is a service-minded, 3-month stewardship experience designed to support our Kitchen, Housingkeeping/CABinS, and Farm & Garden teams with their work loads, while empowering participants with new skills.
WHO?
- The Work Scholar participants have the opportunity to contribute three months of service, while simultaneously exploring their human potential in partnership with the majesty of the Esalen campus.
- In a life transition and/or seeking purposeful opportunities to serve
- Already grounded in emotional regulation and self-awareness and ready to give back
- Capable of contributing and self-regulating in physically and socially demanding environments
- Drawn to community living, selfless devotion and the stewardship of sacred space
- In acute emotional or mental health crisis or deep burnout
- Intentionally seeking healing or a therapeutic retreat
- Resistant to feedback, teamwork, or physical labor
This program is ideal for those who are…
This program is not for those who are…
HOW?
- As a Work Scholar, you’ll contribute through focused, physically engaged roles that support the guest experience and the living ecosystem of Esalen.
- Changing over guest rooms and cleaning with care and attention
- Washing dishes and stewarding the heart of our kitchen spaces
- Chopping vegetables, following recipes, and assisting with meal prep
- Folding laundry and supporting the flow of sacred guest spaces
- Planting, weeding, harvesting, and tending to the land in the Farm & Garden
- Supporting operational flow with mindfulness, rhythm, and precision
- Participating in daily rhythms of purposeful action, accountability, feedback, and shared intention
Your tasks may include:
Esalen functions best when all staff work toward the common mission of encouraging everyone to reach our highest potential. With this goal in mind, this job description is not intended to cover or contain an all-encompassing listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice based on Esalen’s and your team’s needs.
DURATION
- Esalen co-founder Dick Price described his experience of living and working at Esalen as part of life’s cosmic journey, viewing Esalen as a mere stop along the cosmic bus line. This 3-month opportunity to work in service at Esalen Institute allows a great number of individuals to contribute to our mission and vision, then take the experience back out into the world, where they can affect cultural change.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- While performing the duties in your assigned department, each Work Scholar participant must be able to to work in a physically demanding environment; maneuver on uneven ground, stand for long periods of time, often carry and lift up to 50 pounds, carry, bend, push/pull, tolerate exposure to changes in temperature, and be able perform daily repetitive hand movements.
COMPENSATION, HOUSING & MEALS
- In alignment with Esalen’s mission in advancing human potential, Work Scholar Participants are encouraged to engage in a wide range of personal and professional development programs designed by Esalen faculty and staff.
- Each Work Scholar Participant will be paid $16.50/hour.
- Live in shared accommodations.
- All meals will be provided.
Applicants are encouraged to provide your LinkedIn page, links to video resumes/professional websites, and include a cover letter of 500 words or less describing why the program would be beneficial to you.
Due to the overwhelming amount of applications being received for this unique program, the response timeline varies. Please do not email and call requesting to know your status and when you will hear back. We will contact you for an interview if interested.
The Work Scholar Program is a seasonal model. Applications are reviewed during the 3 months prior to the start date of the cohort you select. If you select more than one of the seasonal cohorts, your application might be held in the queue for future consideration.
*Please note: to keep the program accessible to as many different participants as possible, we do not allow graduates to repeat the program.
Thanks for your patience and we appreciate your interest in our Work Scholar Program!
Esalen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Skills Required
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
- Ability to maneuver on uneven ground, stand long periods, bend, push/pull, and perform repetitive hand movements
- Capacity to work in physically and socially demanding environments and contribute as part of a team
- Emotional regulation and self-awareness (able to receive feedback and self-regulate)
- Willingness to live in shared accommodations for program duration
- Not currently in acute emotional or mental health crisis or deep burnout
- Willingness to perform kitchen, housekeeping, and farm tasks (dishwashing, meal prep, room turnover, planting/weeding/harvesting)
- Agree not to repeat the program if already a program graduate
- Provide cover letter (≤500 words) and optionally LinkedIn/video resume/professional website
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The Company
What We Do
Esalen Institute is a nonprofit educational institute and world-renowned holistic retreat center located in Big Sur, California. Founded in 1962, Esalen serves as a leading center for exploring human potential through experience, education, and research. The institute focuses on humanistic values in adult education, offering workshops and seminars in subjects such as psychology, meditation, massage, and spirituality to foster personal growth and healing.
