Muslim Chaplain

Chaplains’ Office

The College welcomes applications for a full-time Muslim Chaplain in the Chaplains’ Office. The Chaplains' Office provides pastoral care to the entire College community, offering counsel, support, and encouragement to individuals as well as comfort and wisdom to the institution as a whole. The Muslim Chaplain reports directly to the Chaplain to the College, who serves as the Director of a dynamic Chaplains' Office team which includes Catholic and Jewish Chaplains as well as the Office Administrative Coordinator. 

While the Muslim Chaplain will have a particular focus on the religious and spiritual needs of Williams' vibrant Muslim community, all of the chaplains are actively involved in inter-religious and interfaith activities, in the planning and leadership of dialogue and reflection among religious groups and traditions, and in collaborative ventures of humanitarian service. In addition to interfaith and campus wide activities, we seek a chaplain who is committed to helping students grow and flourish within the Muslim faith while living and learning in a secular and multicultural campus environment. In supporting Williams’ Muslim community, a successful chaplain will be committed to welcoming and supporting a plurality of Muslim experiences. A successful chaplain will also be committed to creating space for individuals who value a variety of expressions and practices, and for nurturing connections across many religious and secular communities.

The Muslim Chaplain will be a resource for students, faculty and staff who are practitioners or interested in learning more about the Islamic faith. The Muslim Chaplain will preside over or arrange for the religious life and practices of the Muslim student community and the wider campus; provide pastoral care and guidance, especially for the Muslim Student Union; create community building opportunities and instruction on topics related to faith and spirituality experiences. The Muslim Chaplain will also plan and help lead the celebration of Muslim holidays, including but not limited to Ramadan and Eid. The Muslim Chaplain will help students appreciate the diversity of Muslim cultures. In addition to campus events, which should reflect the vibrant and rich Muslim cultures both past and present, the Muslim Chaplain will help students attend regional and national Islamic student conferences or other learning opportunities. The Muslim Chaplain also will be expected to build relationships between the Muslim community and multiple stakeholders in the Williams College community.

The Muslim Chaplain will be visibly engaged in the whole life of the College, including its campus-wide celebrations and gatherings in times of crisis; this frequently involves work outside of standard weekday office hours – at night and on weekends. The culture of the Chaplains' Office strongly supports chaplains in negotiating their work hours so as to accommodate personal boundaries – but the workflows of the office cannot be confined to a standard 9-5 weekday work schedule.

Williams is committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty and staff. As in the case of all of the chaplains, the Muslim Chaplain must exercise cultural competency and support the college’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and the Chaplains’ Office interfaith efforts and support for all students, regardless of faith tradition or no faith. Our expectation is that the successful candidate will excel at working in a community that is broadly diverse with regard to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion. Applicants should highlight relevant experience with building, working with, and supporting a broadly diverse and inclusive community. 

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in religion, Islamic studies, divinity, or the equivalent
• • Pastoral care training, preferably a successful completion of one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education
• At least 3 years in residential college campus chaplaincy or work relevant to similarly diverse Muslim constituents
• • Evidence of professional preparation for chaplaincy and administrative/advisory experience for the support of student community engagement
  • Familiarity with a diverse higher education environment and with experience working with the spiritual and emotional developmental issues of young adults
  • Leadership experience in youth and young adult work, higher education experience preferred
  • Demonstrated interfaith work and spiritual care that respects diversity and differences including, but not limited to culture, gender, sexual orientation and spiritual/religious practices.
  • Demonstrated understanding and ability to function within a secular institutional culture and system
  • Demonstrated aptitude for dealing with confidential and sensitive issues with significant experience in campus religious life
• Must be an active member of a Muslim community with current endorsement or of good standing 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Application review will begin on January 5, 2022, and will continue until the position is filled. Pay starts in the low $80,000’s, commensurate with experience. Job band 2-E.  Please visit https://staff-careers.williams.edu/ to apply. 

Employment at Williams is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check, and education when applicable.

Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please feel free to contact us via phone at (413) 597-2681 or email at hr@williams.edu.

Situated in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, Williams College offers a rich academic environment in a beautiful setting. The Berkshires—known as a cultural corridor—are a great place to live, work and raise a family, with several top-notch schools and an array of recreational opportunities from world-class museums to swimming holes to hiking trails. The New York Capital Region, Albany International Airport and Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Train Station are just an hour away, and Boston and New York City are within three hours by car or bus.

Williams College has been around for more than 200 years, yet we’re constantly evolving and growing. As a liberal arts college, Williams has always taught fundamental problem-solving skills that students can use well beyond their four years here. We also recognize that facing complex issues within our history and culture is necessary for sustaining an equitable, just and environmentally responsible community. We strive to create an inclusive culture in which every voice is heard. The college is committed to ensuring that everyone is able to find their place and thrive, no matter who you are, where you come from or what role you fulfill when you get here.

Williams invests in our employees, offering generous health care, tuition reimbursement, professional development opportunities, paid leave, access to gym facilities, discounts with local vendors, retirement plans and more. Our vibrant 450-acre campus is home to around 2,000 students who benefit from a 6:1 student-faculty ratio, and their energy is the heartbeat of an active population. Many people come to Williams for the job and stay for decades because of the lively environment and warm neighbors. You’re more than a person doing a job; you are joining our community.