Executive Director and University Chaplain Religious and Spiritual - Northwestern University

Executive Director and University Chaplain

Religious and Spiritual Life

Northwestern University

Northwestern University, recognized nationally and internationally for its innovative teaching and pioneering research, i nvites nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director and University Chaplain for Religious and Spiritual Life. The new Executive Director and University Chaplain will bring energy, vision, and focus to the work of situating the chaplaincy and the department in a way that advances the university pillars:
Discover, Integrate, Connect and Engage; and upholds the division of Student Affairs’ vision, mission, values and strategic themes.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and serving as a member of the Student Engagement Leadership Team, the Executive Director and University Chaplain will be responsible for:

Providing Leadership for the Department of Religious and Spiritual Life:

• · Lead the creation and implementation of the strategic vision for the department through program review implementation, goal-setting and execution, assessment of outcomes, and the daily activities of Religious and Spiritual Life
• · Bring management expertise to the unit and identify and implement strategies to ensure a collaborative working environment for staff, strengthen morale, and foster a culture of teamwork and mutual support
• · Actively cultivate strong and effective partnerships with:
• o Campus Religious Centers (Canterbury House, Hillel, Lutheran Campus Ministry, Sheil Catholic Center, and University Christian Ministry);
• o Departments within Student Engagement:
  Campus Life (Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership Development and Community Engagement, and Student Organizations and Activities), Campus Inclusion and Community (Multicultural Student Affairs, Social Justice Education, and Student Enrichment Services).
• o Departments within Student Affairs, on campus, and in the Evanston and Chicago communities:
  Dean of Students, Counseling and Psychological Services, Health Promotion and Wellness, the academic units, and ministries in the communities.
• To be successful, these relationships, and others across the University, will require establishing clear expectations, effective communication, active engagement, and mutually beneficial alliances.

Overseeing Program Development, Implementation and Administration:

• · Working with the Religious and Spiritual Life team, develop interfaith, multi-faith, and spiritual programming, and implement a full range of community worship experiences for those who are religious, non-religious, and seeking meaning through spiritual exploration and practice.
• · Establish and maintain effective collaborative working relationships with student leaders, religious student organization advisors (of over 40 registered students clubs and organizations), Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and campus service departments in order to provide a holistic and balanced student activity and involvement program that complements and supplements the mission of Student Engagement while advancing the mission of Religious and Spiritual Life.
• · Work collaboratively with units across campus to develop activities and programs that effectively engage student, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. The successful candidate will build upon the success of existing, well-regarded programs such as the worship services, the Alice Millar Choir, 40 Days, the Spirituality Reading Series, and Northwestern University Interfaith Initiatives to generate vibrant student engagement.

Providing Pastoral Care:

• · Provide pastoral care, support, and guidance to those who are in crisis or in need and serve as the primary after-hours on-call liaison for the University’s community of students, faculty, and staff. Coordination of, and participation in, on-call crisis response is expected.
• · Oversee the delivery of programming of worship services in Millar and Vail Chapels, and for Jumu’ah, Friday prayers for the Muslim community. This includes the writing and performing…