Assistant University Chaplain

Job Summary:

The Assistant Chaplain supports the overall work of Religious & Spiritual Life by serving as a spiritual guide, mentor, and advocate for students at Northwestern. Through program development, pastoral care, and crisis care, they support student mental health and wellness as well as student identity development. 

The program/project is summarized below.  (Definitions: Program: plan or system of taking action toward a goal.  Project: planned actions with specified beginning & end.)

The Assistant Chaplain:

• develops programming to support various student identities including religious and cultural identities.
• provides student support through individual meetings and crisis care including vigils and memorials.
• creates meaningful encounters for students of multiple worldviews and identities.
• helps implement a creative response to our evolving campus context
• assists with university ceremonies and rituals including memorials, vigils, and other programming
• Please highlight areas of responsibility:
• Administration
• Communications
• Events
• Facilities & Safety
• Program Development
• Recruitment
• Strategic Planning
• Student Support

Please note: May be assigned to work evenings and or weekends.  Will work in a shared work space.  May be reassigned to alternative work space based on seasonal department needs. Background check required.

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration

• Manages day to day operations.
• Ensures that program/project mission, values, guidelines, policies & procedures are implemented & maintained. 
• Identifies service improvement opportunities that will better enable program/project to achieve its goals and objectives. 

Budgets & Financial

• Participates in budget preparation.
• Enters individual &/or summary of transactions into journals &/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system. 
• Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information or provides instruction & guidance by phone, US- or e- mail from customers/vendors; corrects or escalates. 

Communication, Outreach & Recruitment

• Develops coordinated, consistent marketing and brand messages.
• Incorporates social media and networking into program/project aspects as appropriate.
• Creates and nurtures relationships with organizations to develop a network of enthusiastic organizations engaged via active participation in the success of program/project.
• Reviews market trends to recommend future plans to increase revenue, participation, engagement, etc.
• Participates in regularly scheduled stakeholder meetings (e.g. Campus Religious Centers)

Evaluation

• Observes program sessions and interacts with participants for purpose of gaining consumer insight, growing and strengthening program knowledge, and optimizing client satisfaction.
• Coordinates the collection, analysis & reporting of required information for surveys, review documents, public information documents, etc.
• Implements corrective actions required as a result of surveys or other indicators. 

Events

• Coordinates programming, educational, student, alumni, workshops, meetings, etc. including speakers, agendas, etc.
• Develops plans and arranges meetings, workshops, events, etc. designed to exchange information, promote research objectives, and to build internal and external relationships within NU. 
• Ensures that event details including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.

Facilities & Safety

• Makes operational decisions based on data analysis
• Assist with day-to-day operations of Religious & Spiritual Life including facilities care and maintenance and office support.

Program Development

• Manages program/project curriculum, seminars, presentations, workshops, learning experiences, chat rooms, websites, social networking, etc. based on goals/objectives.
• Identifies & obtains external expertise as needed and works with content experts for current and new programs.
• Reviews programs/projects to increase efficiencies to support growth.
• Manages speaker selection, communication, and topic development.
• Leads program/project updates and improvements.

Strategic Planning

• Participates with area/unit senior staff in the conceptualization, development and presentation of materials used in functional operations. 

Student Support

• Completes program/project logistical details such as scheduling, curriculum, facilities, technology, registration, enrollment, audits, etc.
• Advises students regarding admissions, academic, career and development matters.
• Implements strategy regarding structure, process, & staff support of students in compliance with NU policy.
• Organizes new student activities.  

Supervision

• Supervises 1-2 student staff &/or provides work direction.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree; field of study for degree in Religion, Theology, Education, or related field.
• One unit of Clinical Pastoral Education or equivalent, is required. 
• Ordination or Endorsement is preferred.
• A welcoming, inclusive theological paradigm and desire to work in a multi-faith environment. 
• An enthusiastic interest in exploring ministry within the ever-shifting context of higher education.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with college students and with individuals of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills, along with an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of constituencies within the university and beyond.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to be an effective community builder.
• Skills in counseling, crisis management, conflict resolution.
• Knowledge of diverse religious and spiritual traditions.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice, diversity, equity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience with young adult ministry
• Previous experience on a college or university campus

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Experience in event management and execution
• Experience with digital communications and social media
• Experience advising or serving in a leadership role for student organizations.

Please click here to apply for this position.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.