Chief University Chaplain & Director, Spiritual Life

Brown University; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown University is seeking a University Chaplain and Director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. This senior role leads a diverse chaplaincy, advancing spirituality, faith, and interfaith engagement within Brown’s community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The role reports to the Vice President for Campus Life, with dotted line to the AVP for Community and Belonging, and emphasizes care, ethics, and civic engagement in a complex academic setting.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in divinity, theology, religious studies, higher education, student affairs, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education chaplaincy or multifaith environment.
• Experience supervising diverse teams and managing budgets/operations.
• Strong commitment to spirituality, interfaith engagement, pluralism, and open inquiry.
• Ability to support students' meaning-making, belonging, and community across differences.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (OCRL).
• Lead a diverse chaplaincy team and partner with affiliated religious organizations.
• Advance religious and spiritual literacy, interfaith dialogue, and pastoral care across Brown.
• Engage with students, staff, faculty, alumni, and external partners to foster belonging.
• Represent Brown in moments of grief, crisis, or community disruption and coordinate with senior leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Interfaith engagement

Public speaking

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Education

Advanced degree in divinity/theology/religious studies or related field

Job description

Brown University is seeking a University Chaplain and Director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. This senior role leads a diverse chaplaincy, advancing spirituality, faith, and interfaith engagement within Brown’s community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The role reports to the Vice President for Campus Life, with dotted line to the AVP for Community and Belonging, and emphasizes care, ethics, and civic engagement in a complex academic setting.