Director for the Center for Spirituality and Faith

Santa Clara University • Santa Clara, CA

20d

About The Position

The Director of the Center for Spirituality and Faith (DCSF), under the direction of the Vice President for Mission and Ministry(VP), creates and ensures the successful execution of a strategic vision for the Center for Spirituality in support of the strategic plan of the Division. In their capacity as the leader for the Center for Spirituality and Faith (CSF), the Director will develop creative and innovative directions to meet the rapidly evolving context of religious and spiritual life at SCU as a Jesuit, Catholic university with a diverse and multi-faith student body. Drawing on an Ignatian spirituality-informed approach, the Director will lead the Center to foster the religious, spiritual, and liturgical life of the entire campus community, with particular focus on students, both graduate and undergraduate. The Director will animate strategic efforts with colleagues in the CSF and across the Division of Mission and Ministry to design new programming for members of the SCU community who come from diverse faith traditions or are religiously unaffiliated. The DCSF also serves on the Division leadership team to help shape the work of the Division through partnerships with units across the University to engage staff and students in the faith and spiritual life of the campus. A primary component of the role is the oversight and collaboration with a team of five full-time staff of spiritual programs, a cohort of graduate assistants, and more than a dozen paid student interns, to ensure effective pastoral outreach to the whole university community. Programs for which the Director provides leadership and oversight include worship, retreats, pastoral counseling, residential ministry, justice education, prayer services, sacramental preparation, ecumenical and interfaith events, and faith formation. In addition to strategy and oversight, the Director develops and executes programming in service to the broader goals of the office. These include, but are not limited to: maintaining a public, pastoral leadership presence at many religious and spiritual liturgies, events, and vigils on campus, serve as a liaison to members of the division and University partners, including the Jesuit Community, and providing support for students in times of crisis. This is a full-time, 12- month, exempt position.

Requirements

• Knowledge of and demonstrated experience with the Roman Catholic faith, demonstrating the candidate’s well- integrated Christian faith and ability to help students envision and practice a vibrant faith that does justice
• Knowledge of Ignatian Spirituality, Discernment, and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola; direct experience with Ignatian spirituality strongly preferred
• Close familiarity with the tradition of Jesuit education preferred
• Understanding of spiritual/religious development stages for contemporary young adults and the capacity to implement programs to meet these spiritual developmental aspirations
• Familiarity with Roman Catholic liturgies and rites
• Familiarity with interfaith dialogue and diverse religious traditions
• Knowledge of trends in the spiritual and religious practices of young adults
• Ability to think synthetically and strategically to establish long-term priorities
• Strong organizational skills, with experience in strategic planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating programs
• Demonstrated competence in multicultural, ecumenical, and interfaith issues
• Excellent communication skills in multiple settings, audiences, and contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and balance competing priorities for excellent outcomes
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce and office operations
• Confidence in interacting with academic culture and distinct units of academic life
• Ability to earn credibility with faculty, staff, and students
• Availability for regular evening and weekend work
• Ability to embrace and persuasively articulate the Jesuit, Catholic mission, vision, and values of Santa Clara University
• Master of Divinity degree, or comparable master’s degree in religious studies or theology with pastoral preparation, required
• Minimum five years’ professional experience in a relevant field, ideally with leadership and supervision experience

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes a strategic vision for the Center for Spirituality and Faith grounded in the Jesuit, Catholic character of SCU in the context of and with a welcoming disposition to the diverse SCU community, in collaboration with the Vice President
• Develops a long-term, strategic, and innovative mission for the broader work of the development of a culture of faith and spirituality as a core component of the work of the Division of Mission and Ministry
• Supervises the CSF team, composed of professional staff, a cohort of graduate assistants, and a team of student interns
• Develops and ensures execution of a robust assessment framework for all programs under their purview, including assessing the impact of programs and engagement, benchmarking metrics, and conducting program reviews
• Works with Mission and Ministry’s Retreat Team to develop, promote, and deliver retreats that offer opportunities for all students – including religiously unaffiliated students – to explore spirituality, meaning, and purpose. Draws on expertise and wisdom, as well as practices and scriptures, from diverse traditions to contribute to these retreat experiences
• Supports fundraising, grant funding, and donor relations for faith and spirituality programming
• Supports the development and execution of annual operating budget processes across program areas, in collaboration with the Assistant Vice President of the Division
• Develops and executes programming in support of the goals of the Center that fosters the religious, spiritual, and liturgical life of the campus community, with particular focus on students, both graduate and undergraduate
• Plans and executes programs that infuse faith and spirituality into the student and campus community
• Implements operational aspects of directed events and programs (budgeting, publicity, content, staffing, and follow-up)
• Ensures development and implementation of the Catholic liturgical priorities of the Division and the University, supporting the Director of Catholic Life and the Liturgy and Music staff, through working collaboratively with the staff of the Mission Church and the members of the Jesuit Community
• Supports the communication and marketing plan for the CSF under the direction of the Director for Communications and Marketing, including: website, social media, printed materials, and broader written communications
• Develops students'; holistic formation through intensive mentorship and pastoral care
• Pastorally supports students, regardless of religious affiliation, during crises, spiritual accompaniment, and general mentorship
• Fosters particular in-depth leadership development for student leaders, employees, and volunteers to foster their learning and formation in ministry
• Accompanies students in the challenges they face in collaboration with CAPS and other university support units
• Establishes and maintains a critical portfolio of partnerships, both on and off campus
• Promotes the advancement of the CSF’s mission and goals within university structures
• Under the direction of the VP, serves as a primary point of contact with various key campus partners
• Ensures a robust relationship network between SCU and a variety of local faith communities
• Develops relationships with faculty and staff who can serve as resources and partners. Makes special outreach to the Department of Religious Studies, the Jesuit School of Theology, and the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries
• Represents the Center on university committees, meetings and/or at events related to religious diversity, pluralism, inclusion, and in appropriate liturgical functions
• Regularly attends and participates in SCU campus-wide, staff-wide, and academic programming events to represent Ignatian Spirituality perspectives, to form relationships to support engagement with Ignatian Spirituality, and to inform Ignatian Spirituality programming, including some events that may be held outside of regular business hours
• Manages all operational and financial aspects related to the portfolio
• With the support of operations staff, leads the effective operation of program activities
• Manages annual allocated program budget development, reporting, and forecasting
• Hires, trains, and supervises student employees and interns
• Supports fundraising efforts and donor cultivation
• Contributes to the broader work of the Division
• Consults with constituent programs to further align them with SCU’s Jesuit, Catholic mission
• Supports the creative infusion of faith and spirituality throughout Mission and Ministry and broader campus programming
• Regularly attends and participates in Ignatian programming and Catholic liturgy events offered by other Division programs, including some events that may be held outside of regular business hours
• Regularly attends and participates in SCU campus-wide, staff-wide, and academic programming events to represent Ignatian Spirituality and Catholic life perspectives, to form relationships to support engagement with Ignatian Spirituality, and to inform Ignatian Spirituality programming, including come events that may be held outside of regular business hours
• Executes other tasks as assigned

Benefits

• Santa Clara University offers a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees with programs and resources designed to promote and sustain personal health care, well-being, and the financial objectives of our employees and families.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director