Reporting to the College Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, the Assistant Director of Religious and Spiritual Life plays a crucial role in fostering understanding, collaboration, and respect among people of different religious and spiritual backgrounds.
Religious and Spiritual is one of the offices within the newly-formed Division of Inclusion. Along with the Office of Intercultural Development (which includes international student advising, multicultural support, and gender and sexuality resources), Religious and Spiritual Life supports students, faculty, and staff of all religious and spiritual backgrounds and is part of developing an equitable campus environment for religious and intersectional identities.
The Assistant Director will also provide primary leadership and support to Lafayette’s vibrant Hillel Society as their Advisor.
Position Overview:
The Assistant Director & Hillel Advisor will report to and provide collaborative leadership with the College Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life in order to oversee the broad array of programs within the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.
The chaplain’s office provides primary leadership and support to the Hillel Society, Newman Association, Muslim Students’ Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship, Buddhist Meditation, Stress Less Spiritual Yoga, Lafayette Christian Community, Refugee Action, along with other as well as leadership of interfaith programming. Spiritual care and mentoring of students are also a primary responsibility and will comprise a considerable aspect of daily work.
The successful candidate should be prepared to lead opportunities for interfaith engagement in a religiously diverse community, providing leadership development, program development, and administrative support, and be a thought partner in the development of the chaplain’s office vision and strategy
Job Responsibilities:
● Provide leadership for the community at the College, overseeing religious, spiritual, and cultural initiatives.
● Work within the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life to develop interfaith programming
● Serve as a resource and advisor on Jewish life, religion, and culture for the Jewish community on campus.
● Work with student residents and the Office of Residence on maintaining the physical Hillel House property.
● Develop and implement programming, advise students, foster campus partnerships, and contribute to college committees.
● Support Jewish student communities with leadership development, educational guidance, and community engagement, including creative weekly Shabbat and innovative Jewish holiday programming with the student board of the Hillel Society and its faculty advisors.
● Contribute to the mission of the ORSL office by fostering student-centered programming, developing student leadership, promoting interreligious understanding, and cultivating partnerships across campus and in the religious community in Easton.
● Participate in campus-wide activities in order to enhance understanding of spiritual, religious, and secular diversity.
● Work with campus partners to provide religious accommodations for various student needs
Required Qualifications:
● A Master’s degree in Jewish studies, divinity, theology, religious education, Student Affairs, counseling, or a related field.
● Articulation of a motivation and vision for interfaith engagement.
● Possess outstanding organizational skills and strong abilities in oral, written, and interpersonal communication.
● Candidates should demonstrate energy, intelligence, imagination, and a sense of humor in problem-solving and mentoring students.
● Additionally, candidates must exhibit the ability to work effectively with a diverse student population and a dedication to fostering inclusive communities and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
● Commitment to the mission and environment of a residential liberal arts college.
Preferred Qualifications:
● At least 2 years of experience and demonstrated effectiveness in religious leadership.
● Experience working with Jewish young adults in a higher education context.
Application Instructions:
Provide a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references. http://apply.interfolio.com/153070
Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community: one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. The College seeks to promote diversity in its many manifestations. These include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and place of origin. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced.