Liturgical Musician

SU01 Seattle University; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 25,072,000 - 28,930,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental and Vision

Retirement contributions

Tuition assistance

Paid holidays

Job summary

Seattle University is seeking a Part-time Liturgical Musician to join the University Ministry team. The role plans music for weekly Sunday liturgies and annual university liturgies, selecting appropriate repertoire and ensuring selections reflect the liturgical season.

You will provide piano accompaniment (guitar optional), lead pre-Mass warmups, and collaborate with student musicians and cantors to support liturgical goals.

Responsibilities

• Plan liturgical music for Sunday Masses and Holy Days using Gather Hymnal (GIA) as primary source.
• Provide piano accompaniment for Sunday liturgies and other services; rehearse with musicians as needed.
• Lead choir participation, including warmups and brief rehearsals.
• Coordinate with liturgy staff and cantors to align music with liturgical themes.
• Maintain a simple log of seasonal music use for long-term planning.

Skills

Effective Team Collaboration

Emotionally Intelligent Communication

Ethics and Integrity

Flexibility and Innovation

Mindful Inclusion

Outcomes-Driven Orientation

Tools

Gather Hymnal (GIA)

Microsoft Teams

Catholic Oregon Press (OCP)

Job description

Job Details

Months Per Year: 12 months per year, 10 hours per week. Work Model: Onsite. Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Core Competencies

Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives. Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally. Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions. Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact. Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness. Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Job Summary

The Part-time Liturgical Musician is part of the University Ministry team and reports to the Associate Director for University Liturgy, Worship, and Formation. The Liturgical Musician is responsible for planning the music for weekly Sunday liturgies and annual University Liturgies.

Position Description

• Liturgical Music Planning and Preparation (30%) Select and prepare appropriate liturgical music for Sunday Masses, Holy Days, and occasional special services (e.g., memorial Masses, Advent/Lenten services). Use Gather Hymnal Fourth Edition (GIA) as the primary source, with supplemental music from Catholic Oregon Press (OCP) or other approved resources. Collaborate with the Associate Director for Liturgy, Worship, and Faith Formation, the Program Manager for Liturgy, and community liturgical leaders to ensure selections reflect the liturgical season and context.
• Accompaniment (30%) Provide piano accompaniment (preferred) or guitar for Sunday liturgies and other scheduled services. Rehearse with student musicians or cantors prior to Mass as needed.
• Choir Leadership (30%) Coordinate and support choir participation during Mass. Lead pre-Mass warmups or brief rehearsals. Collaboration and Communication (10%) Coordinate with student musicians and cantors in preparation for liturgies. Attend brief seasonal planning meetings to align music with liturgical themes and pastoral goals.
• Additional Responsibilities – Support as Needed Maintain or update a simple log of seasonal music use to assist with long-term planning. Support music coordination for special university liturgies (e.g., Baccalaureate, Mass of the Holy Spirit). Assist in preparing or submitting music selections for worship aids or hymn board. These tasks are not core expectations but may be requested or supported collaboratively with other university ministry staff: Maintain and organize the physical choral library (filing cabinet in the University Ministry Office). Help catalog digital music resources (PDFs, planning files) within Microsoft Teams or shared folders. Ensure basic copyright awareness, especially when reproducing non-hymnal music sel

Compensation at a Glance

$35 per hour

Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status. Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.

Benefits at a Glance

Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person.

• Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs.
• Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage.
• Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to a maximum of 5%.
• You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events.
• Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave.

Work Arrangements

Positions designated as hybrid eligible may offer the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule after successful completion of an introductory period of 3–6 months. In these cases, the role typically begins fully on campus to support onboarding and training, with the potential to transition to a hybrid arrangement thereafter. Positions designated as on-site are not eligible for hybrid work and are expected to remain fully on campus. All flexible work arrangements are subject to periodic review and may be modified or discontinued at any time at the university’s discretion.

About Seattle University

With a career at Seattle University, you’re joining a community of passionate people dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders and thinkers. Founded in 1891, Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located on a beautiful campus of more than 50 acres in the dynamic heart of Seattle. Our diverse and driven population is made up of more than 7,200 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within six schools and colleges.

Seattle University is an equal opportunity employer. In support of its pursuit of academic and scholarly excellence, Seattle University is committed to creating a diverse community of students, faculty and staff that is dedicated to the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and treatment in education and employment regardless of age, color, disability, gender identity, national origin, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The university encourages applications from, and nominations of, individuals who will further enrich the diversity of our educational community.

Our Mission - Seattle University is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world. Our Vision - We will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels. Our Values Care – We put the good of students first. Academic Excellence – We value excellence in learning with great teachers who are active scholars. Diversity – We celebrate educational excellence achieved through diversity. Faith – We treasure our Jesuit Catholic ethos and the enrichment from many faiths of our university community. Justice – We foster a concern for justice and the competence to promote it. Leadership – We seek to develop responsible leaders committed to the common good.