Lead Safety Steward for Retreat Center

The LightEn Center of Consciousness & Action (LCCA) is a new retreat center in the Blue Ridge mountains in Marshall, North Carolina, set to open in Fall 2025. LCCA will serve as a soul-focused sanctuary and learning center for individual and collective growth, exploration and transformation, focused on catalyzing the evolution of consciousness needed to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. The Center will host current and emerging leaders to cultivate and deepen the inner work needed to be more effective change agents in the world. LCCA is the home of LightEn US, which is part of the overall LightEn network.

OVERVIEW

LightEn’s team is collectively working to deliver on an ambitious and world-changing mission, providing a world-class culture through a purpose driven lens. Further, this project is truly one-of-a-kind and is led by an extraordinary vision of its founders, transforming everyone who takes part. The Safety Steward Lead role offers an exceptional opportunity for a diligent and mindful leader to join LCCA in its start-up phase.

LCCA is located in Marshall, NC, approximately 30-minutes north of Asheville. Within the 489-acre property, the center is comprised of approximately 125 structures (existing + planned) spanning 100 acres. The center features 76 guest cabins, two teaching spaces, an 8500+ sq ft spa, fitness center, auditorium, event space, dining hall, horticultural complex including a greenhouse & 2 acre garden, and over 7.5 miles of hiking trails. Future phases of the project include an additional 30 guest cabins, a third teaching space, and team member accommodations; including a housing complex, cafeteria, and wellness center for staff use.

Currently, there are about 20 LCCA team members, and we are forecasted to grow to over 50 team members by late-2025. The Safety Steward Lead reports to the Director of Safety & Security and will collaborate with colleagues across all aspects of the organization. The ideal candidate is highly organized with a keen mind for administrative logistics and a relational and collaborative approach. In addition to the core competencies outlined below, the right candidate will have resonance with LightEn’s vision, be flexible, have a desire to learn, maintain a willingness to contribute when needed, and an ability to lead from a place of inclusiveness, kindness and service.

JOB PURPOSE

At LCCA we practice Sacred Safety — a philosophy that blends professional safety protocols with compassion, mindfulness, and respect for nature. Our Safety Steward Leads embody this philosophy, ensuring every person feels welcomed, informed, and supported without the heavy hand of enforcement.

The Safety Steward Lead is the daily coordinator and quality guardian of the Safety & Security presence at LightEn. You will guide the Safety Stewards, manage daily operations, ensure consistency in guest orientation and safety protocols, and bridge communication between the team and the Director of Safety and Security. This role blends hands-on guest service with leadership, operational oversight, and environmental awareness. You must be equally skilled at leading by example in the field and orchestrating the daily flow of safety operations. Wilderness familiarity, basic land navigation, and mountain environment awareness are highly valued in this role.

The ideal candidate is a grounded, confident leader who thrives in nature and understands how to balance structure with empathy. You can guide a team in daily safety operations while remaining approachable to guests. Your knowledge of wilderness navigation, mountain terrain, and environmental conditions allows you to anticipate and prevent safety concerns before they arise. You lead with calm authority, kindness, and the LightEn spirit of Sacred Safety.

All team members are expected to model LightEn’s approach and values of reflection, collaboration, and soul-infused action and are encouraged and supported to do so throughout their own practices.

Specific job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Team Leadership & Coordination

· Set daily assignments and rotations for Safety Stewards.

· Conduct daily briefings, ensuring all staff are aware of weather, trail conditions, wildlife activity, and program changes.

· Observe and coach Safety Stewards to ensure warm, consistent delivery of safety messaging.

· Provide in-the-moment training and constructive feedback to build team skills.

· Ensure all logs, checklists, and safety documentation are completed daily.

Guest Safety & Orientation Oversight

· Approve and oversee daily orientation content and ensure accuracy of maps, signage, and safety materials.

· Personally deliver high-priority guest orientations or special briefings as needed.

· Support Stewards during peak arrival times, ensuring every guest receives a complete orientation.

· Handle escalated guest safety concerns with professionalism and warmth.

Operational Readiness

· Verify all radios, first aid kits, AEDs, and safety equipment are functional and properly placed each morning.

· Maintain and update emergency contact boards, weather risk signage, and trail closure notices.

· Coordinate with Facilities, Hospitality, and Programs to mitigate safety hazards before guests encounter them.

· Ensure trailhead sign-in stations are stocked, accessible, and well-maintained.

Wilderness, Navigation & Mountain Safety

· Advise guests and staff on route selection, terrain challenges, and safe practices in changing weather conditions.

· Support overdue hiker or lost person protocols, utilizing maps, compass, and GPS tools.

· Train Safety Stewards in basic navigation, survival considerations, and mountain safety awareness.

· Monitor environmental conditions (fire risk, storms, wildlife activity) and make operational adjustments accordingly.

Incident Management

· Respond to emergencies, providing first aid, CPR, and AED support if needed.

· Coordinate with outside responders when required, maintaining clear communication until handover.

· Oversee incident documentation, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely submission.

· Facilitate post-incident debriefs with the team and Director of Safety & Security.

Skills & Qualifications

· Commitment to LightEn’s mission and values, and the Sacred Safety philosophy.

· Warm, approachable demeanor with strong interpersonal skills.

· Proven leadership or supervisory experience, preferably in safety, outdoor recreation, or hospitality.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to guide and inspire a team.

· First Aid, CPR, and AED certification (or willingness to obtain).

· Wilderness experience, land navigation proficiency (map, compass, GPS), and familiarity with mountain environments.

· Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite.

· Commitment to LightEn’s ethos and Sacred Safety philosophy.

· Must be able to work in various weather conditions and navigate uneven terrain across the property.

· Experience in outdoor leadership, parks management, guiding, or environmental stewardship, preferred.

· Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills, preferred.

· Prior work in retreat, resort, or nature-based hospitality settings, preferred.

· Multilingual ability, especially Spanish, French, or ASL, preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROLE

· Stand for extended periods of time.

· Talk, hear, and use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

· Actively engage in extensive walking on and around campus, up/down hills, through trails in all weather conditions.

· Climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, or smell.

· Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

· Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and evenings.

· Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

· Team members must wear LCCA provided uniforms and maintain a neat appearance while on duty.

AAP/EEO Statement

LightEn provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, LightEn complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation. and training.

LightEn expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of LightEn’s team members to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

APPLY:

To apply for this position, please email your resume to LCCAcareers@light-en.org with the subject line “Lead Safety Steward”. In the body of your email please include a summary about why this role resonates with you, how you feel aligned with LightEn’s mission, and how you would apply your skills and experience to be successful in this role.

We will review applications on a rolling basis. Given the volume of applicants, we may not be able to reply to reach individual applicant and will only be in touch with those candidates we wish to schedule interviews with.