Chaplain

KIS; Dindigul; On-site; INR 800,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Kodaikanal International School (KIS) invites a Chaplain to lead the spiritual life of our boarding community, guiding worship, Bible studies, and pastoral care. You will work within the Senior Management Team to align with our mission and Design ’18 while safeguarding and supporting students across all settings.

Your role requires extensive collaboration with teachers, residential staff, and families, fostering Christian character, service, and intercultural understanding within a diverse

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Theology or related field; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• Formal theological or pastoral training from a recognised Christian institution.
• Ordination, commissioning, or recognition for Christian ministry by a recognised denomination.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Christian faith and school ethos.
• Training or certification in child safeguarding/protection is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve the spiritual needs of the KIS community.
• Oversee worship life of the school and dormitories.
• Coordinate chapel services, Bible studies, prayer meetings, and retreats.
• Provide pastoral care, spiritual guidance, mentoring to students.
• Support staff and lead in religious education and community service.
• Collaborate with the Principal and Associate Chaplain; manage residential life.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Pastoral care

Confidentiality

Multicultural sensitivity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Theology

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Kodaikanal International School is a 125-year-old dynamic international school with a rich history of holistic education, offering the IB continuum of the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) to our learners. Our beautiful school and community are nestled in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, South India.

At KIS, we empower our students to navigate through life’s challenges to achieve their true potential. We follow an inquiry-based approach that promotes critical thinking, learner agency and a dedication to serving others. We recognize the importance of a meaningful, relevant and engaging curriculum that connects students to real-world contexts for their learning. We are keenly aware of the need to adapt our teaching and learning model to respond to the needs of our students in a world of fast-paced change.

Role:

The Chaplain reports directly to the Principal and is Serve the entire KIS family in their spiritual and needs and activities in the light of the school’s mission, philosophy and objectives. As a member of the School’s Senior Management Team, she/he will participate in making decisions as per KIS Bylaws and in the spirit of Design ’18 and the mission of the school. All Senior Management Team members are required to be of the Christian faith as per the school’s bylaws.

About Kodaikanal International School

KIS Vision Statement: We strive to be a school the world needs: Our graduates will be transformative leaders, caring humans and thoughtful ambassadors for a just, sustainable and peaceful world.

KIS Mission Statement: Kodaikanal International School (KIS) is committed to empowering young people from diverse backgrounds with vision, knowledge, compassion and cross-cultural understanding. We are a community that welcomes everyone and seeks our purpose in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

KIS Values: Accountability, Appreciation, Concern for Others, Consistency, Context, Cooperation, Integrity, Openness, Performance, and Reverence.

We are seeking colleagues who are driven by:

• A strong belief in KIS’s guiding principles
• The IB philosophy
• Service and action
• A focus on trust, relationships and community.

Safeguarding Statement

KIS is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. We support the rights of the child and will act without hesitation to ensure a child-safe environment. We also support the rights and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers and encourage their active participation in building and maintaining a secure environment for all participants. The staff at KIS must follow the guidelines of the school’s protective behavior policies and protocols, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees.

Qualifications & Experiences

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Christian Ministry, Divinity, Pastoral Studies, Religious Studies, or a related field. A Master’s degree in Theology, Divinity, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Formal theological or pastoral training from a recognised Christian theological institution.
• Ordination, commissioning, or recognition for Christian ministry by a recognised Christian denomination or church body, as applicable.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Christian faith and the mission, values, and ethos of the school.
• Training or certification in child safeguarding/protection is preferred

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in Christian ministry, pastoral care, chaplaincy, youth ministry, or a related role.
• Experience working with children and adolescents, preferably within a school, residential school, youth organisation, or similar educational setting.
• Experience planning and leading chapel services, Christian worship, Bible studies, prayer meetings, retreats, and other faith-based programmes.
• Experience providing pastoral care, spiritual guidance, mentoring, and support to students and members of the school community.
• Experience supporting individuals and communities during times of grief, loss, crisis, or personal difficulty.
• Experience working collaboratively with teachers, residential staff, school leadership, parents, and church/community organisations.
• Experience working in a multicultural and/or international environment is highly desirable.
• Previous experience in a residential school or boarding-school environment would be an advantage.

Desired Skills/Attributes

• Strong interpersonal, communication, listening, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to relate positively and appropriately to adolescents and young people.
• Ability to work respectfully with people from different Christian denominations and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong understanding of confidentiality, professional boundaries, and safeguarding.
• Ability to provide compassionate and non-judgemental pastoral support.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple worship and pastoral activities.
• Ability to inspire and encourage students in Christian character, faith, service, compassion, integrity, and leadership.

Reports to: Principal
Time Period: Initial 2-year contract, potential extensions after initial contract
Joining Date: 01 July 2027

Responsibilities

• Serve the entire KIS family in their spiritual and needs and activities in the light of the school’s mission, philosophy, and objectives.
• Be responsible for the worship life of the school community.
• Assist in worship life in the dormitories and on the personal level.
• Be concerned about the worship life of those whose formal worship takes place off campus or according to a tradition other than Christian.
• Facilitate and encourage persons in the school community to seek personal or pastoral counseling when needed.
• Assist the Principal in the whole area of lifestyle, helping to alert the staff and students to the objectives of the school and its major concerns.
• Be involved in community relations and service projects, and to help others in a meaningful way.
• Be involved in the school’s religious education programme at the planning, coordination, and teaching levels.
• Oversee, delegate to, and evaluate activities of the Associate Chaplain
• Be supportive of and involved in the residential life of the school, and to be a resource person for planning and activities in this context.
• Carry out other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Principal and the Council.
• Be responsible to the Principal for the conduct of his/her work.
• Maintain open and clear channels of communication with the Principal, other administrators and all staff on matters of concern to the school.
• Be responsible to the Principal for the conduct of his/her work.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Principal.
• Support Design ‘18

School Organization
A KIS staff is expected to work in a positive, professional, supportive manner and develop a collaborative and team approach to enable the school to achieve its stated mission, vision, values, and strategic goals.

School Community
A KIS staff is expected to:

• Stand as an example of compassionate, competent servant leadership, maintaining high professional standards while also providing the care and support staff reasonably need to achieve them.
• Support and promote the ethos of KIS as defined in the mission, vision, values, cultural ideals, and strategic plans;
• Promote a positive attitude about the school with all members of the school community;
• Implement decisions made in department- and school-committee meetings, as relevant to the department;
• Follow the guidelines of the school’s protective behavior policies and protocols and personal data protection policies and procedures, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees and reporting any personal data breach.
• Respect the confidential nature of discussions at staff meetings and other contexts in which sensitive information is likely to be communicated, particularly in terms of interaction with students;