Senior Chaplain

The Ohio State University; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan options with employer contributions

Affordable health insurance

Paid vacation and sick leave

Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

Job summary

The Ohio State University is seeking a Senior Chaplain to provide emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff within the health system. This role includes collaboration with health care providers and mentoring of chaplain interns.

The ideal candidate will hold a Master of Divinity Degree, have relevant certifications, and possess excellent communication skills. Benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave options, starting from day one.

Qualifications

• Master of Divinity Degree or equivalent from an accredited institution.
• Certification eligible with professional chaplains’ organizations.
• 1 year of relevant experience required; 2-4 years preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff.
• Offer interventions to address spiritual needs and document accordingly.
• Collaborate with health care team members to deliver spiritual care.

Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Conflict-resolution skills

Ability to work effectively with diverse patients

Education

Master of Divinity Degree or equivalent

Certification with professional chaplains organization

Job description

Senior Chaplain

Department: Health System Shared Services | Pastoral Care

Scope of Position

The Senior Chaplain is responsible for providing optimal emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff in assigned clinical areas, and for providing spiritual care services and programs developed by the Department in their areas of responsibility. The Senior Chaplain assesses patient and families’ spiritual, religious and emotional needs, offers interventions and services to address those needs, and documents these in the medical record. The Senior Chaplain provides crisis support/response for patients, families, and staff. As the spiritual care specialist on the health care team, the Senior Chaplain works collaboratively with providers, care team members, and chaplain colleagues to deliver spiritual care to individuals of diverse faith traditions. The Senior Chaplain also provides emotional and spiritual support to staff, particularly in times of distress, grief, or crisis, and educates staff about spiritual/pastoral care and the department’s services. The Senior Chaplain mentors chaplain residents and interns and contributes to the Continuing Professional Education program through teaching in their areas of expertise.

Position Summary

The Senior Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual/pastoral care services to patients, families, and staff, and implements Department programs which provide support for clinical staff. The Senior Chaplain offers spiritual support to persons of all faiths appropriate to their requests, collaborates within the Chaplaincy Department and with the broader health care team, participates in operational procedures and program development, and contributes to the mission of the medical center by involvement in relevant committees. The Senior Chaplain participates in education of staff, patients, and CPE students, and supports the dissemination of chaplaincy knowledge.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master of Divinity Degree or equivalent degree in Theology from an accredited theological school, university, or seminary.
• Must be certified or certification‑eligible with the Association of Professional Chaplains, the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, or the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. If not certified at the time of hire, completion of certification is expected within 3 years of hire date unless a later timeline is approved by the Director.
• This certification requires a completed Bachelors’ degree, a Master’s level theological degree or equivalent, four units of accredited Clinical Pastoral Education, a current endorsement for chaplaincy by a recognized religious/spiritual faith group, and appearance before a national certifying commission for assessment of competency.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and conflict‑resolution skills; ability to relate and work effectively with a wide variety of patients, families, and staff.
• 1 year of relevant experience required; 2–4 years of relevant experience preferred.

Benefits

• An array of retirement plan options, each with a generous employer contribution.
• Affordable health insurance options, including dental, vision, and prescription coverage that begin on day one.
• Paid vacation and sick leave, including short and long‑term disability and paid parental leave.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness program participation.
• Additional benefits aligned with the university’s commitment to employee wellness.

Additional Information

Location: Harding Hospital (0165)

Position Type: Regular

Scheduled Hours: 40 hours per week

Shift: First Shift

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post‑offer process.

EEO Statement

The university is an equal‑opportunity employer, including veterans and people with disabilities.