Infrastructure Internship

The Ashram property includes renovated and new buildings for teaching, accommodating guests, worship and office purposes.  It has its own shop, sewage and water supply systems and a number of gravel and unsurfaced roads, plus a small fleet of vehicles. The Infrastructure team is responsible for the stewardship of the Ashram premises and utilities. This area has a forward-looking, developing plan for new buildings and renovations.  This is organized and carried forward as a series of projects that involve bringing in local tradespeople, including carpenters, plumbers, electricians and renewables/heating engineers, who also use the facilities of the shop. We are a carbon neutral organization and use sustainable/green practices. Experience with tool use and a willingness to get your hands dirty is helpful. Important qualities are an open mind, a positive disposition and interest in living and learning within a spiritual community.

Commitment
This is a 6-month minimum position.  Intake dates are year round.

 

Helpful Entry Skills & Abilities

• Ability to multitask, oversee big picture and day-to-day tasks
• Communication skills for reporting, cooperation and instruction
• Consideration and support of colleagues
• Practical shop tool use and maintenance skills
• Reflective awareness
• Problem solving
• Managing projects
• Ability to prioritize and adjust plans easily
• Organizational skills (records, tools, people)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work in a changing environment

Positions

We will be creating a team of infrastructure interns who have specific interest and experience in these areas: 

Carpentry and Maintenance Shop Intern

• Work with a team of Karma Yogis, Ashram residents and local contractors to manage:
  • Operation and maintenance of shop tools and supplies
  • practical application of shop skill
  • ease of access and use by all involved in shop work
  • Train and encourage new Karma Yogis in safety, procedures and team work
  • Lead Karma Yogi teams and report on the results
  • With the Resident Manager, to ensure the Shop is managed efficiently and effectively
  • Identify the help and supplies needed
  • Monitor stocks and replenish
  • Report weekly progress
  • Follow up to see that shop work is satisfactorily completed
  • Develop record keeping templates to record progress, products used, and maintenance data

Helpful Entry Skills

• work with others and contractors on building renovation and new buildings
• organizational skills
• use of hand and power tools
• use of maintenance and operating manuals
• painting or repairing furniture or other shop projects

 

Building Projects Intern
We have a building project already needing an intern! The building is named Parvati and it is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom single floor residence that is being upgraded to current environmental standards within the Ashram’s environmental development plan.

• Lead a team of Karma Yogis (Ashram volunteers) with help from Ashram residents and local contractors to assist and support:
  • project planning
  • practical application of building trade skills
  • Train and encourage new Karma Yogis in safety, procedures and team work
  • With the Resident Manager, ensure the Parvati project moves forward to plan
  • Identify the help and supplies needed
  • Report weekly progress
  • Follow up with the project to see that work is satisfactorily completed
  • With the resident manager, help to design and implement project plans for other buildings and renovations
  • Help manage schedules to ensure project timelines and budgets are met

Further project work will be identified as Parvati is completed.

Helpful entry skills:

• Work with contractors on building renovation and new buildings
• Use of hand and power tools
• Use of maintenance and operating manuals
• Painting or repairing roofs, windows, doors, floors, woodwork, plaster, drywall or other parts of buildings

 

Repair and Maintenance Intern
This internship is will occupy about 50% of your time. Being part of the Infrastructure team you will also be spending time working within the project areas of building and shop management. This internship manages general repairs and maintenance around the Ashram, including minor plumbing, electrical, carpentry, roof, gutter, tiling and painting tasks.

• The job involves keeping on top of a rolling building repairs list
• There will be some seasonal grounds maintenance work, on roads, irrigation and sewage
• You will assist in identifying areas requiring work and the supplies and tools needed
• Some vehicle maintenance is possible, depending upon your range of skills/interests
• For many maintenance and repair tasks we bring in local trades people and other specialists.  In some cases you may be asked to liaise with these or work alongside them

Skills:

• Use of hand and power tools
• Preventive maintenance of the buildings, such as heating filter replacement
• Use of maintenance and operating manuals
• Basic mechanical and plumbing repairs (such as toilet kits)
• Locating parts and supplies and writing up orders for the repair and maintenance team
• Painting
• Repairing roofs, windows, doors, floors, woodwork, plaster, drywall or other parts of buildings

Helpful Entry skills:

• Work with contractors on building, repair, maintenance
• Setting up and fixing irrigation
• Mower maintenance
• Testing and treating water supply

 

For more information, please contact us.

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