Associate Chaplain/Associate Director, Religious and Spiritual Life

Department: Univ Chaplain
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

About Religious and Spiritual Life: Religious and Spiritual Life (RSL) provides programs, staff, and spaces to help students explore meaning and purpose, grow in their religious or spiritual traditions, and create community. Learn more about Religious and Spiritual Life at Northwestern University: https://www.northwestern.edu/religious-life/

Job Summary:

The Associate University Chaplain/Associate Director of RSL facilitates all aspects of Religious & Spiritual Life by serving the NU campus through spiritual services/rituals, programs/retreats, religious education/literacy, confidential pastoral counseling and promoting multifaith dialogue and collaboration. The overall work of RSL supports student mental health/wellness and enriches the student experience in collaboration with partners in the Division of Student Affairs and across the University.

The Associate University Chaplain:

• develops programming that creates community and belonging, fosters religious literacy and multifaith understanding, meets the needs of individual spiritual traditions, as well as across religious and cultural identities.
• provides student resources through individual confidential counseling, crisis response and care including grief/bereavement support
• creates meaningful multifaith events for students/staff/faculty across worldviews and identities.
• implements the programs, services, and administrative responsibilities of the RSL office, alongside the University Chaplain
• assists with campuswide university ceremonies and rituals including graduation, vigils, and other programming
• helps manage and oversee the usage of Alice Millar Chapel, Vail Chapel and Parkes Hall

Pay Range: The salary range for the Associate University Chaplain/Associate Director of Religious and Spiritual Life position is $88,000-90,000 depending on experience, skills, and internal equity.

Working Conditions: This position is primarily in person and includes occasional evening and weekend work. It also includes support of the Chicago Campus.

Principal Accountabilities:

Strategic Planning and Administration 30%

• Manages day-to-day operations.
• Implements the programs, services, and administrative responsibilities of the RSL office, alongside the University Chaplain
• Ensures that program/project mission, values, guidelines, are implemented & maintained.
• Assists and supports unit operations including communications, strategic planning, assessment, and general administration.
• Administers policies and procedures.
• Supervises student staff and/or provides work direction.
• Identifies & obtains external expertise as needed and works with content experts for current and new programs.
• Incorporates social media and networking into program/project aspects as appropriate.

Student Support and Spiritual Resources 30%

• Creates meaningful programs and events for students across spiritualities and worldviews.
• Supports students through individual meetings, confidential counseling, crisis care, and vigils, including the Chicago Campus.
• Advises on and helps to maintain appropriate worship and ritual space for students in Parkes Hall and other university spaces as requested.
• Assists with planning and implementation of university ceremonies and rituals including convocations, vigils, and other programming.
• Responds in emergent crisis situations to provide spiritual care.

Community Engagement and Collaboration 30%

• Helps to implement a creative response to an evolving campus context.
• Serves on divisional and university committees as appropriate.
• Collaborates with other RSL, CRC and CIC staff to develop and implement multifaith programming so that all students can have a common life together and enhance their sense of belonging.
• Advises and works with student organizations.
• Participates in CIC and RSL shared weekly, quarterly, and annual programming including new student orientation and commencement related events.
• Consults and works with the campus community to honor multifaith calendar dates when scheduling meetings, events, projects, and due dates.

Other duties as assigned 10%

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree; field of study in Religion, Theology, Education, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in chaplaincy is required, college/university chaplaincy is preferred.
• A welcoming and broad theological paradigm and desire to work in a multi-faith environment.
• Previous experience working with college age young adults.
• Experience in the context of higher education/student affairs.
• Ability to respond to crisis and emergency situations in a calm, caring, and appropriate manner.
• Exceptional communication skills and experience with public speaking.
• Skills in spiritual care and conflict resolution.
• Knowledge of religious and spiritual traditions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of constituencies within the university and beyond.

Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with college students and individuals from a variety of different backgrounds.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to be an effective community builder.
• Demonstrated aptitude for dealing with confidential and sensitive issues
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with college students and individuals of different cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to be an effective community builder, excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience in event planning, management, and implementation.
• Experience with digital communications, marketing, and social media.
• Experience advising or serving in a leadership role for student organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ordination as clergy
• Board Certified Chaplain

Benefits: At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness: Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth and Development: Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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