Assistant Director
The Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service (CSDS) at Northeastern University in Boston seeks an Assistant Director, to work with Executive Director, Senior Assistant Director, team of Spiritual Advisors (chaplains) and other staff. The Assistant Director will support the administration, operations, programmatic and communications functions of the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue and Service.
S/he/they will serve the mission of the Center, Student Affairs and the University. The Assistant Director will help advance the Center’s goals to: 1) Support students in becoming global citizens and leaders, 2) Provide opportunities to explore personal spirituality and religious expression 3) Foster interfaith and intercultural appreciation and competence, 4) Offer experiences of community, wellness, and wholeness, 4) Provide opportunities for constructive action through community service and civic engagement, and 6) Build partnerships with University departments, disciplines, and partners in the wider religious, academic, and public service communities. The Assistant Director will achieve the above in three key areas: Administration/Operations, Program Management, and Communication/Community Development.
The Assistant Director’s primary role and responsibility will be in Administration, focusing at the strategic planning level and managing growth and sustainability, while ensuring that tactical operations tasks are accomplished. S/he/they will support strategic long-range planning, implementation of annual goals and objectives, research funding and development opportunities to support the Center’s growth and sustainability, including exploration of a spiritual life alumni/ae network. S/he/they will manage the Center’s calendar and program workflow. S/he/they will ensure that core Spiritualty programs, including Sacred Seasons and Holy Days, pastoral care and counseling, and community vigils and memorials, are planned and implemented. Working with the Executive Director who oversees the budget and with other colleagues, s/he/they will assist with the annual budgeting process and oversee monthly budget and credit card reconciliation, administer contracts, and oversee relations with outside vendors. S/he will work with student groups and Spiritual Advisors to schedule the University’s Sacred Space and coordinate the learning, dialogue, prayer, worship, yoga, meditation, and spiritual practice schedules. S/he will participate in the expanding the welcoming environment of the Center, extending hospitality to visitors. S/he/they will hire and supervise work-study students, including scheduling shifts and approving timesheets. S/he/they will coordinate signature events, speakers, retreats and seasonal celebrations, service experiences, and interfaith dialogue forums, as well as advance outreach to international and other student groups.
In terms of programming and communications, the Assistant Director will advance outreach and develop programming for international student groups. S/he/they will help design and coordinate interfaith and intergroup community service/civic engagement programs as part of the University’s work with the White House Interfaith Cooperation and Community Service Challenge. As needed, s/he will serve as an advisor to student organizations – especially from religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions outside the Abrahamic faiths. S/he/they will support the Northeastern University Interfaith Council (NUIC). Working with CSDS’ Executive Director, Sr. Assistant Director, and Spiritual Advisors, s/he will assist with the coordination of leadership retreats, seasonal celebrations, and intergroup/intragroup /interfaith dialogue programs. The Assistant Director will help mentor/lead/teach/inspire program participants, coordinate events planning, publicity and recruitment, train/equip student leaders, and monitor assessment and evaluation of CSDS programs. S/he will assist the Senior Assistant Director in the Center’s communications strategy, ENEWS, publications, and social media sites. The appropriate candidate will likely be called upon to provide for some of the spiritual and pastoral needs of the University Community, and serve as a mentor to students.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities
Administration/Operations (50% of time):
Strategic planning and managing growth and sustainability; ensure that tactical operations tasks are accomplished. Research funding and development opportunities. Manage the Center’s calendar and program workflow. Ensure that core Spiritualty programs are planned and implemented. Working with the Executive Director and staff, manage annual budgeting process and monthly budget and credit card reconciliation, contracts, relations with outside vendors. Oversee scheduling. Extend hospitality to visitors. S/he will hire and supervise work-study students.
Program Management and Implementation (25% of total time):
Design and coordinate interfaith and intergroup community service/ civic engagement programs. Support the Northeastern University Interfaith Council (NUIC). Help coordinate leadership retreats, seasonal celebrations, and intergroup/intragroup /interfaith dialogue programs. Plan, promote, and coordinate signature events (progressive dinner, Ash Wednesday, Holy Days and celebrations, Interfaith Harmony Week, etc.), speakers, retreats and seasonal celebrations, service experiences, and interfaith dialogue dinner. Schedule and co-facilitate educational and spiritual programming. Advance outreach to international and other student groups. Provide for some of the spiritual and pastoral needs of the University Community and serve as an advisor to student organizations.
Communications/Community Development (25% of total time):
Advance outreach to international and other underrepresented student groups on campus. Assist the Senior Assistant Director in the Center’s communications strategy, ENEWS, publications, and social media sites. Develop ENEWS and other promotional vehicles. Communicate strategies and program plans within CSDS and on occasion with other University departments and centers.
Knowledge, Skill Sets, and Experience
Masters degree(s) preferred, in Higher Education, International Affairs, Theology/Religious Studies, Peace Studies, International or Intercultural Relations, or related fields. The qualified candidate will possess a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in higher education and/or related field (nonprofit/non-governmental organizations, service learning, social service agencies working with young adults, religious institutions, interfaith/multicultural organizations, etc.). The position requires excellent administrative skills; attention to detail; initiative; strategic thinking and planning skills; creative program development skills; group facilitation skills; student leadership development skills; oral, written, presentational, and interpersonal communication skills; skills in working with religiously and culturally diverse communities on and off-campus; the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and local and global University partners at all levels; a student-centered philosophy of education with interest in cooperative/experiential/creative pedagogies; a commitment to nonviolent conflict resolution, pluralism, and interfaith/cross-cultural understanding and cooperation. Other helpful skills include: social media outreach skills, budget management, community development, mediation/negotiation/conflict resolution skills, development research, and the ability to effectively supervise students and volunteers. The appropriate candidate may help provide pastoral services/chaplaincy functions to one or more student communities.
Northeastern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Educational Institution and Employer, Title IX University. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by the law. Northeastern University is an E-Verify Employer.
Send a cover letter and resume first to Alexander Levering Kern at a.kern@neu.edu. See www.northeastern.edu/spiritual_life for more information on the Center (website currently being updated). The position will be posted soon on the Northeastern University Human Resources website and candidates will need to formally apply there.