Key Staff Positions in International Office

Some of the key staff positions within FPMT International Office are described below:

FPMT, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer

The President and CEO is appointed by the Board after consultation with the Spiritual Director, and reports to the Board or its committees. The CEO's main responsibilities are to:
• Ensure that the organization achieves its mission, set forth by the Board as a long range strategy towards which it should make consistent progress
• Provide leadership in developing programs with the department heads and staff, assuring that the plans and policies authorized by the Board and Spiritual Director are carried out
• Encourage and assist staff in relating their specialized work to the overall progress of the organization.
• Develop, in conjunction with the staff, a budget which will be submitted to the Board for approval; see that the organization operates within the budget guidelines

California Administrative Department:

The California Administrative Department is based in California but works intimately with all the departments of FPMT International Office in Portland. The main objective of this Department is to help in whatever capacity with the workload of Ven. Roger Kunsang. This entails:
• Assisting with communications to/from Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Roger Kunsang (acknowledging, replying when possible, facilitating replies, taking dictation, redirecting if necessary, passing on urgent messages verbally, follow-up etc.)
• Organizing all aspects of personal and center-related travel arrangements for Rinpoche and Ven Roger, including visas, health insurance, accommodation. Also working closely with Center Services Department when the travel is center related.
• Keeping track of all Rinpoche’s personal advice to students, and sending it out where appropriate. Also keeping track of Rinpoche's Dharma advice, center-related advice as well as  advice for the organization, making sure it is archived, accessible and available whenever necessary.
• Working closely with the other departments of International Office, especially the Education and Center Services Departments, to ensure that Rinpoche’s Dharma advice is utilized and made available as widely as possible.
• Managing all Rinpoche’s projects not managed by FPMT International Office, currently comprising at least 30 separate projects, including Rinpoche’s finances. This includes taking care of benefactors (organizing gifts, help, pujas etc.)
• Managing Rinpoche’s personal residences, as well as personal projects within the residences.

Center Services Department

The Center Services Director maintains the flow of communication within the Foundation.
• Works with the national and regional coordinators to make sure that information is being disseminated to the centers
• Works closely with the Spiritual Director’s secretary to discuss and resolve issues arising within centers
• Facilitates communication between the Spiritual Director and the centers
• Works closely with the other departments of International Office, especially the Education Department, to make sure that both the centers and the International Office are provided with up-to-date information
• Helps to find resident teachers, interpreters, directors, and other staff for the centers
• Assists with the organization of CPMT meetings
• Prepares additions to and revisions of the FPMT Handbook and other center development guidelines.

Education Department

The Education Department manages the development and implementation of FPMT standard program curriculum and study/practice materials.
• Creates new program curriculum as needed by centers in conjunction with senior teachers
• Supports existing curriculum with guidelines, translations, study materials, exams, and completion certificates
• Creates certification criteria for all FPMT standard programs
• Manages the translation of various texts recommended by the Spiritual Director
• Creates practice texts which complement programs, support student needs, and disseminate the Spiritual Director's advice
• Manages the production of Education Department materials for distribution via the Foundation Store
• Develops and maintains a library of all standard FPMT prayers and practice materials
• Tracks the status of education initiatives that have arisen from FPMT meetings and conferences
• Provides centers with the specific text and practice materials needed for when Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches
• Facilitates visiting teacher approval and keeps centers informed about FPMT teacher policy
• Creates and hosts Foundation Training in Compassionate Service and SPC training for FPMT staff
• Introduces spiritual program coordinators to their roles and responsibilities

Administration Department

The Director of Administration is currently also the Secretary of the Board of Directors of FPMT, Inc.  The Director is primarily responsible for supervising and assisting the Development Department and overseeing various aspects of Human Resources. 
• Currently Oversees Development Department: Helps create fundraising for the major charitable projects and capital campaigns.
• Human Resources: Insures compliance with regulations, manages and updates employment agreements.
• Insurance: Reviews General, Corporate, Health, Workman’s Compensation, and Liability in conjunction with the Finance Director.
• International Office Building: Responsible for ongoing maintenance, alterations, warranty issues, event scheduling, sub-leases, security, and compliance regulations.

Development Department

The Development Director:
• Develops income-generating activities to support Lama Zopa Rinpoche's projects and International Office and its work.
• Provides appropriate donor care. i.e. writing thank you letters to donors and keeping donors informed.
• Coordinates and promotes the following appeals: FPMT Mongolia Fund, Sera Je Food Fund, Work a Day for Rinpoche.  In addition, s/he is responsible for developing new fundraising events such as movie premiers, benefit dinners, and concerts.
• Promotes FPMT internationally and helps organize representation of FPMT at major events. This role includes production of FPMT promotional material and coordination with other FPMT event organizers.
• Responsible for Capital Campaigns such as the International Office building in Portland.

Information Services Department

The Information Services Department is responsible for the management and distribution of Dharma information through electronic means. This includes the design and maintenance of the FPMT website. The FPMT website is the main information resource for both those offering service within the organization (especially through the Members' area which contains all essential FPMT center and study group information) and for the general public interested in Tibetan Buddhism. In addition, the department is responsible for creating and  distributing the electronic version of the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Newsletter, the FPMT General Newsletter, The Foundation Store newsletter, and periodic charitable appeals.

The IS department is also responsible for all software and hardware installations, upgrades, maintenance and technical support in International  Office.  This includes the management of all computer systems and servers including email, web, database and LAN  (local area network) servers, and advice and support to FPMT centers who need assistance to communicate their Dharma activities using information technology and internet resources.

Finance Department

The Director of Finance is currently also the Chief Financial Officer of FPMT, Inc. The Director supervises the charge and custody of all funds of FPMT, Inc., and is responsible for keeping true and correct accounts of all financial transactions of the corporation including the Foundation restricted funds. S/he works with the auditors in the preparation of the certification of FPMT accounts.

Mandala Magazine

The purpose of the magazine is to inspire people to develop and deepen understanding of themselves, their lives, and the world around them, through the teachings and experiences of practitioners and masters of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, mainly as presented by Lama Tsongkhapa.

Foundation Store

The FPMT Foundation Store provides a vast selection of Buddhist Study materials including Prayers & Practices, Homestudy Programs, Dharma study Materials for Children, and other FPMT Education Department Resources. The main motivation of the Foundation Store is to make the Dharma available in order to benefit sentient beings.

All proceeds from this shop are used to further the charitable mission of FPMT Inc.

 

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