Capital Campaign Officer

• Organization: Plum Village Zen Buddhist Congrégation (Congrégation Bouddhique Zen, Village des Pruniers)
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Location:
Plum Village, near Thénac, Dordogne in South-West France
• Contract: Full time, fixed-term (CDD) for 12 months, with possible extension to 18 months total
• Remuneration: up to €65,000 gross annual salary (approximately US$73,000), plus benefits that include five weeks of paid leave
• Application Deadline: November 12, 2026 (with a rolling review of applications)
• Anticipated Start-date: mid-March 2027 Job Summary Plum Village is seeking a Capital Campaign Officer to support the planning and project management of its international capital campaign, with an immediate focus on Phase 1. As part of a team focused on closing the campaign gap, the Officer will help raise the remaining €16.4 million in philanthropic gifts by 2029, in support of Plum Village's construction and facility works, currently in the active permit and scheduling phase. This role combines strategic coordination, relationship-based fundraising, and collaborative work within a monastic environment dedicated to mindfulness, compassion, and understanding. The Officer will coordinate with an international team of staff, contractors, and volunteers, and will work closely with monastics at Plum Village in France. In addition to overseeing campaign execution, they will maintain a portfolio of major donor prospects, supervise 1-2 onsite support staff, and work in close coordination with major gift professionals supporting the campaign's goals. The Officer reports to two representatives of the Monastic Board and coordinates with team members at the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation, ensuring strong alignment between the campaign and broader development efforts. This is a key role during an active phase of the campaign, requiring both structure and adaptability, and the ability to work skillfully within a values-guided community. About Plum Village The Plum Village Zen Buddhist Congregation is the monastic organization founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Located in south-west France, Plum Village is an international center for mindfulness practice, welcoming 70,000 visitor-days each year for retreats and mindfulness days. It is a diverse and multicultural community, with residents and leadership primarily from Vietnam, Northern Europe, North America, and France. Plum Village is in an active and evolving phase of a multi-year capital campaign to support the continued growth and sustainability of the monastic community in France. With strong foundations in place, we have the momentum to take integrated, coordinated, and strategic next steps. The Officer will help bring clarity, structure, and momentum to the campaign, strengthening systems for campaign planning, donor engagement, and cross-team collaboration, working in harmony with the values and daily life of the monastery. Key Objectives
• Campaign Strategy and Planning: Support the development and implementation of the next phase of the campaign, ensuring clear goals, timelines, and alignment with Plum Village's broader priorities and applicable regulations in France.
• Major Donor Engagement: Cultivate, solicit, and steward meaningful relationships with major donors, supporting a culture of generosity grounded in trust and shared aspiration.
• Project Coordination: Oversee on-the-ground campaign execution by coordinating teams, managing workflows, and ensuring accountability across staff, volunteers, and collaborators.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Foster strong alignment between the capital campaign and other fundraising and operational efforts.
• Community Engagement and Communication: Share the vision of the campaign through clear, compassionate communication across a diverse international community.
• Stewardship and Tracking: Ensure tracking of gifts, pledges, and in-kind contributions in partnership with Finance and Development teams. Main Responsibilities
• Campaign Planning, Strategy and Project Management: Support the development and implementation of an operating plan for the next phase of the campaign, with clearly defined goals, timelines, and key metrics. Monitor progress, recommend adjustments, and coordinate internal campaign meetings, as well as coordinate with the global Communications team and the Finance teams at Plum Village France and the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. Serve as the central on-the-ground contact for campaign activities and establish systems to track in-kind contributions.
• Grassroots Fundraising and Community Campaign: Oversee and shape the grassroots fundraising strategy, including regular and one-off donors, retreat-based asks, direct campaign communications, and physical campaign materials. Maintain visibility and foster engagement during retreats, particularly during the peak summer season when the community hosts 1,000 retreatants each week. May supervise a small team or contractors to execute these activities.
• Major Gifts: Work collaboratively to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major individual donors. Work in close coordination with the Director of Donor Engagement to guide donor engagement and coordinate visits, including site tours for key supporters. Track donor pledges and collaborate with Finance and Development teams to ensure timely follow-up and fulfillment.
• Campaign Supervision & Coordination: Supervise 1-2 campaign staff and contractors while coordinating campaign-related work across the broader fundraising team. Establish clear workflows, roles, and accountability, and ensure alignment between the capital campaign and other fundraising efforts, including unrestricted giving and additional funding streams. Document best practices and key insights to support cross-team learning.
• Community Engagement & Public Speaking: Deliver clear, compassionate presentations that communicate the community's vision and needs to diverse audiences. Serve as a dedicated steward of the campaign, actively engaging the community, cultivating meaningful relationships, and thoughtfully connecting individuals in support of the campaign's shared vision. Skills and Qualifications Required The ideal candidate is knowledgeable, experienced and supportive of Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village tradition, Buddhism, or mindfulness, and able to communicate in a way that is consistent and authentic with Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings and ethical principles (i.e. with authenticity, empathetic listening, and mindful speech). Prior experience on retreat and/or in a sangha setting is strongly preferred. Qualifications and

Experience:
• 3-7 years of fundraising experience, with supervisory experience preferred. Capital campaign experience preferred, but not necessary
• Experience working with US-based donors and knowledge of US tax exemption requirements preferred
• Sound knowledge of fundraising principles and practices as well as applicable legislation; an international understanding is a distinct advantage
• Demonstrated previous success in securing significant gifts from individuals
• Strong project management skills; ability to design, implement, and direct multiple projects concurrently, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability
• Higher degree in a related field or related work experience
• Able to think strategically and anticipate and creatively solve problems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Fully proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Suite, and comfortable regularly learning new applications
• Culturally competent; able to work in a multi-lingual, international environment
• Fluency in English and an excellent working knowledge of French is required; fluency in French is a plus Personal Qualities:
• Ability to work skillfully and harmoniously with the monastic community as well as a diverse range of people, including lay practitioners, donors, and partners from various backgrounds and cultures
• Enthusiasm for an operational role in a contemplative (rather than corporate) setting

How to Apply
• On-site presence: Based near Plum Village South-West France, with a minimum of approximately 7 months per year on-site; significant travel for donor engagement expected.
• Right to work in France: Strongly preferred
• Send your application to: hiring@plumvillage.org by November 12, 2026 with "Capital Campaign Officer" in the title. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis before the deadline.
• Please include in your application: your CV and a motivation letter (in English) explaining your relevant experience and why you feel drawn to this role.
• A note on remuneration for candidates outside France: French salaries are quoted gross (brut), before social contributions of roughly 22–25% are deducted. Income tax is withheld separately. These contributions fund national health insurance, pension, and unemployment coverage.