Executive Director, Religious & Spiritual Life (Center for Diversity and Inclusion)

Johns Hopkins University•Baltimore, MD

67d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an Executive Director, Religious & Spiritual Life who will be responsible for the overall vision, development, planning, execution, and assessment of extracurricular and co-curricular programs at JHU focused on religion and spirituality. The Director will supervise the team of religion and spiritual life content experts and practitioners, including university chaplains. This role includes serving as a strategic leader, advisor, advocate, thought partner, and resource for fostering student belonging and thriving at JHU, and building a welcoming and affirming student community focused on religious and spiritual life. The Director ensures that educational programs and services are developmentally appropriate, proactive, and culturally responsive across the university as part of Hopkins Student Affairs and its Center for Diversity and Inclusion. As a member of the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Belonging and Community's leadership team, the Director will cultivate and implement services and programming tailored to the diverse and constantly evolving religious and spiritual needs of students. Additionally, the role fosters inter-faith engagement, coordination, and collaboration among religious, spiritual, and secular student communities while providing guidance in times of crisis and conflict impacting the JHU community. The Director will also establish relationships with religious and spiritual leaders and partners in the local Baltimore community.

Requirements

Master's Degree in religious leadership or equivalent training.
Minimum of seven to ten years of progressive experience in a related field, preferably in higher education.
Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Experience cultivating inter-religious collaboration and demonstrated understanding of the role of religious and spiritual life in higher education.
Breadth and depth of experience in religious pluralism.
Student programming and evaluation.
Commitment to pluralism and belonging.
Ability to collect and use data to assess initiative effectiveness and learning outcomes.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Decision making and critical thinking.
Strategic partnerships.
Demonstrated decision-making skills in high-profile, stressful situations.
Demonstrated ability to manage large and complex initiatives to successful completion.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise discretion and mature judgment, and manage multiple priorities at once.
Ability to navigate challenges, conflicts, and complex institutional dynamics.
Ability to work well with a variety of people in assessing system strengths and weaknesses.
Strong organization and time management skills.
Adaptable, open-minded, and empathic.
Ability to partner cross-functionally with other departments.

Nice To Haves

Ordination by a formal religious body.
Strong knowledge of being an inclusive and ethical practitioner.
Strong supervision experience, including professional development and providing critical feedback.
Experience working successfully with diverse students and student organizations.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for the university-wide Religious and Spiritual Life student-facing efforts and initiatives.
Serve as a key strategic and operational advisor to Student Affairs leadership on matters related to student religious and spiritual programming and support needs.
Serve as a thought partner and advisor to university and divisional leadership during periods of crisis.
Develop, implement, and maintain a JHU religious and spiritual life student engagement and belonging plan.
Ensure that RSL provides advisement and leadership development for student religious and spiritual communities and organizations throughout the university.
Work with key office partners, including Admissions, Student Transitions and Family Engagement, the Center for Student Success, Integrated Learning and Life Design, Center for Social Concern, Leadership Engagement and Experiential Learning, Student Health and Well-Being, academic programs, and others to support recruitment, retention, and belonging of all students.
Collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to develop and facilitate educational and co- and extracurricular experiences that: increase awareness and understanding of pluralism within Hopkins and our students' annual traditions and key events promoting spiritual awareness, development, and well-being. support the holistic growth and development of Johns Hopkins students.
Collaborate with faculty and staff across the university to offer activities, programs, and services that increase educational opportunities and awareness of diverse religious and spiritual practices.
Develop and maintain a framework for collaboration and engagement with interfaith and interreligious partners. Promote discussion, learning, and engagement among religious, spiritual, and secular student communities.
Ensure that co- and extra-curricular programs are aligned with Student Affairs aspirations and university goals. Establish and assess learning outcomes for all RSL programs.
Develop and maintain strong relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders, including students, the university, and community members engaged in supporting student religious and spiritual life.
Work with university partners to develop best practices, committees, and policies for university religious life, while navigating expectations of both on-campus and off-campus communities.
Work regularly with Student Affairs leadership, including Assistant and Associate Vice Provost of Student Affairs, around communication requests and student support and programming needs.
Represent Student Affairs on university committees.
Establish and provide leadership to a university-community Interfaith Council.
Hire, train, evaluate, and supervise department personnel.
Set ambitious yet achievable goals with staff and support staff development and success.
Provide ongoing leadership and professional development opportunities for staff consistent with professional goals.
Facilitate recurring meetings with staff to promote a positive and inclusive culture.
Guide staff in effectively navigating university systems and organizational structures, while fostering a collective commitment to spiritual well-being.
Manage unit budget and allocate resources ethically and efficiently and work collaboratively with financial analysts to ensure fiscal integrity.
Lead all-staff meetings, which include professional staff, graduate assistants, and university liaisons.
Provide direction and support to center-wide operations, including office space, art, room reservations, security, onboarding processes, workflow, technology, software, etc.
Advise the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Belonging and Community on invitations, speaking engagements, and professional commitments.
Work in collaboration with Development and Alumni Relations to provide updates to philanthropic foundations and other donors.
Work with autonomy and respect the vital nature of collaboration and partnership.
Leverage writing skills to draft reports, presentations, and other written materials.
Maintain the highest levels of discretion and confidentiality.