Muslim Chaplain & Advisor on Islamophobia

King's College London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

King’s College London seeks a part-time Muslim Chaplain and Advisor to Islamophobia Hate to support Muslim students and staff across campuses. You will provide pastoral care, guidance on inclusivity, and act as a subject-matter expert for university leadership on Islamophobia and related policies.

The role involves collaborating with the EDI and Student Support teams to deliver training, engage with diverse communities, and advise on balanced approaches to expression and safety within academic

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of Islam and its diverse practices.
• Excellent active listening and pastoral care skills.
• Strong written and spoken communication for briefings and leadership.
• Experience in multi-faith settings and engaging with diverse student groups.
• Ability to balance community safety with academic values.
• Proven collaborative teamwork in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide pastoral care and leadership for Muslim students and staff across campuses.
• Advise the Dean and university leadership on Islamophobia issues and inclusive adjustments for Ramadan and daily prayer.
• Develop, source, and oversee Islamophobia awareness training with EDI and Student Support.
• Build partnerships with external Islamic organizations and community leaders.

Job description

The multi-faith Chaplaincy team at King’s College London works across all five campuses of this world-renowned University, based in central and south London, which aims to deliver exceptional education and world-leading research. King’s is committed to creating positive and sustainable change in our local and global communities through outstanding education, impactful research, and genuine service to society. Located within the Dean’s Office (see www.kcl.ac.uk/dean), the Chaplaincy plays an important role in the field of student welfare, in collaboration with colleagues in other areas where applicable, and also provides a support service to King’s staff as needed.

About the role

The Muslim Chaplain and Advisor on Islamophobia Hate is a new dual-focus role designed to provide holistic support to the significant Muslim community at King’s. Simultaneously with providing appropriate pastoral care to students and staff of all backgrounds, they will serve as an advisor to the University, providing expert guidance on identifying and addressing Islamophobia, ensuring a safe environment that balances the wellbeing of Muslim members with the University’s commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression.

The Chaplain and Advisor will provide pastoral care and community leadership, including offering a culturally competent space for Muslim individuals to discuss concerns, and supporting and facilitating Islamic religious life on campus (incorporating strategic oversight and management of the Muslim Prayer Rooms across campuses).

The Chaplain and Advisor will advise the Dean and colleagues in Student Services on proactive “inclusive adjustments” for Muslim students and staff, particularly concerning Ramadan, Eid, and daily prayer requirements, and in acting as the primary subject matter expert for senior leadership within the University, will provide briefings for leadership and attend high-level meetings as required to address incidents or systemic concerns regarding Islamophobia sentiment.

The Chaplain and Advisor will build and maintain relationships within and beyond King’s, facilitating stronger links between Muslim student/staff groups and the wider University body to promote mutual understanding and communal cohesion, and developing partnerships with external Islamic agencies, community leaders, and relevant national bodies.

The Chaplain and Advisor will work with the University’s EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) team and Student Support to source, develop, and oversee the delivery of Islamophobia hate awareness training for appropriate University audiences (such as Security, HR, and academic staff). They will also ensure that the University is equipped with the vocabulary and frameworks necessary to identify and dismantle Islamophobic tropes and discriminatory practices.

This is a part time post (28 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

• Subject Matter Expertise: Deep understanding of Islam and the diverse ways it is practiced, with the ability to provide expert guidance on addressing Islamophobia within a Higher Education context.
• Pastoral Excellence: Proficiency in active, confidential listening and spiritual care, with a clear understanding of professional boundaries and when to refer individuals to specialist services.
• Communication: Excellent spoken and written communication skills, with the ability to draft high-level briefings and engage authoritatively with senior university leadership and external stakeholders.
• Interpersonal & Cross-Cultural Fluency: Demonstrable experience in multi-faith working and the ability to build rapport with a broad range of students and staff of all faiths and none.
• Student Engagement: Proven ability to connect with a diverse student body with empathy, while offering appropriate challenge to foster personal and communal growth.
• Institutional Diplomacy: Ability to navigate complex issues regarding freedom of expression and academic freedom, providing nuanced advice that balances community safety with university values.
• Collaborative Teamwork: Proven ability to work effectively and contribute proactively as a member of a diverse team of colleagues within a fast-paced environment.
• Educational Delivery: Experience in, or a clear aptitude for, sourcing or delivering training and workshops aimed at increasing cultural literacy and reducing prejudice.
• Academic/Theological Qualifications: Post-graduate training or recognised qualifications in Islamic Studies or a related field.
• Professional Pastoral Training: Professional accreditation or recognised training in counselling, chaplaincy, or mental health first aid.
• Conflict Mediation: Formal experience or qualification in conflict resolution, restorative justice, or mediation, particularly in multi-faith or highly polarised environments.
• Sector Expertise: A sophisticated understanding of the current regulatory and social challenges facing the UK Higher Education sector.
• Community Engagement: Experience in developing community-led initiatives that promote social cohesion or inter-communal dialogue.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further information

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant’s own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We welcome your thoughts on how organisations can create an inclusive environment, including one which supports free speech and the exchange of a wide range of ideas.

Interviews are expected to be held on 2 or 3 November 2026.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service clearances.