Manager - Pastoral / Spiritual Care

SSM Health; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital – St. Louis is seeking a skilled Chaplain with leadership experience to oversee Pastoral Care.

This on-site role supports patients, families, and staff through spiritual care, teaching, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate will hold a Master’s degree in Theology or Pastoral Care with advanced certification and have at least three years of pastoral experience.

Qualifications

• Three years of pastoral field experience.
• Master's degree in Theology, Pastoral Care or related field.
• Board certified chaplain (BCC) or equivalent certification (NACC/BCCI) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides spiritual care to individuals at point-of-need and guides spiritual integration.
• Leads group discussions, spiritual counsel, and acts as a resource on the care team.
• Designs and oversees staff scheduling; coaches and evaluates staff; participates in hiring decisions.
• Coordinates policy execution for staff and aligns services with Catholic health directives.
• Manages budgeting and staffing activities, including recruitment and compensation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Pastoral care experience

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master's degree in Theology or Pastoral Care

Advanced certification

Job description

It's more than a career, it's a calling
MO-SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis

Worker Type

Regular

Job Highlights

Join a team where your work matters – every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you’ll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact.

In this role, you will provide hands‑on support in a fast‑paced environment where every shift makes a direct impact on patients and families. Your attention to detail, compassion, and ability to work closely with various teams will help create a safer, smoother care experience. If you want to grow in a collaborative care setting, this role is perfect for you.

Job Details

• Department: Pastoral Care
• Schedule: Full time, Day shift, Monday through Friday, 8-5pm
• Fully on-site
• Location: Saint Mary's Hospital

The Ideal Candidate

Will bring a combination of strong Chaplaincy and Leadership experience!

Job Summary

Provides input into the short term goals and manages operation for the pastoral care department. Exercises some authority in determining strategies and work plans, implements initiatives and effectively manages operation performance. Recruits, engages, develops, leads and manages front‑line supervisor or staff.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides spiritual care to individuals at point‑of‑need by assisting them with spiritual and emotional integration of their crises.
• Provides teaching by engaging in spiritual and theological conversation and reflection through group work, written material, and spiritual counsel. Provides leadership and guidance as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team by serving as a knowledgeable, ethical, and religious resource.
• Designs and implements scheduling for assigned staff, and supervises daily/shift activities of the area. Trains, coaches, and evaluates associates on performance expectations, and applies progressive discipline when appropriate. Participates in hiring and termination procedures within the span of control.
• Coordinates final policy execution for line associates and assigned professional staff.
• Ensures that pastoral/spiritual care services are provided in accord with Part Two: The Pastoral and Spiritual Responsibility of Catholic Health Care of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services .
• Responsible for management functions including budgeting and activities related to staffing such as recruitment, hiring, performance evaluation, and compensation determination.
• Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

• Master's degree in Theology, Pastoral Care or related field, advanced certification required

EXPERIENCE

• Three years experience pastoral field

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs.
• Frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
• Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors.
• Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. Ability to hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
• Frequent keyboard use/data entry.
• Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting and gripping.
• Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.
• Rare climbing.

REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

• Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) - Association of Professional Chaplains
• Or
• Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) - Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc (BCCI)
• Or
• Chaplain - National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC)

State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin

Work Shift

Day Shift (United States of America)

Job Type

Employee

Department

8471000100 Pastoral Care

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.