Job Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, Inclusion and Belonging within Drexel Spiritual & Religious Life, the Muslim Chaplain will contribute to campus strategy to support the spiritual, academic, cultural, and personal lives of the Muslim students, faculty, and staff at Drexel University.

The Muslim Chaplain will foster a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive environment that respects the diversity within the Muslim faith and actively contributes to campus faith initiatives. They will serve as a spiritual leader, counselor, and educator for the Muslim community and the campus at large, as well as a representative of the University to diverse and varied campus and community groups.

The Muslim Chaplain will also work closely with the Drexel Muslim Students Association (DMSA), the Drexel Kline Chapter of the Muslim Law Student Association (MLSA), and the Drexel University College of Medicine Muslim Students Association (DUCOM MSA). They will serve as their spiritual guide and provide leadership training, counseling, and advocate on behalf of the student group and their needs as Muslims across campus and their respective colleges.

Essential Functions

Spiritual Guidance and Counseling:

• Provide confidential one-on-one and group pastoral counseling, spiritual direction, and crisis intervention, referring individuals to professional mental health resources when necessary.
• Support a pluralistic approach to the tradition—supporting the practice of all major branches of Islam.

Community Engagement:

• In collaboration with the DMSA, MLSA, and DUCOM MSA, coordinate diverse Islamic religious services (e.g. Jummah prayers, Ramadan events) and interfaith and multifaith programs on and off campus and provide tailored spiritual guidance, fostering a stronger sense of community and identity among Muslim students while promoting understanding, respect, and collaboration among diverse religious groups on campus. 
• Facilitate study circles, interfaith dialogues, and other creative initiatives.
• Develop opportunities for community engagement with faculty, staff, area mosques, and national thought leaders in Muslim life.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Manage administrative tasks related to the chaplaincy role.
• Coordinate worship schedules, events, and programs in tandem with Spiritual Religious Life.
• Collaborate with other chaplains and university staff to develop and implement interfaith and multifaith programming.

Outreach and Resource Building:

• Assess specific needs and preferences of Muslim students, faculty, and staff of the Drexel community, then develop and implement programs and initiatives to enhance spiritual and cultural support. 
• Develop relationships with local mosques, community leaders, and national organizations.
• Advocate for religious freedom and rights within the institution.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate degree or equivalent training in Islamic studies, divinity, theology, religion, philosophy, chaplaincy, or a related field.
  • Please review the  Equivalency Chart for additional information.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in chaplaincy/religious leadership or young adult/campus ministry within and across the Muslim community, which may include internships
• Demonstrated experience in interfaith dialogue, engagement, and leadership and social justice awareness
• Experience in higher education and understanding of young adult development through a student empowerment and community-organizing approach
• Strong commitment to and understanding of the needs and concerns of Muslim students, faculty and staff and the ability to provide pastoral care and leadership support to this diverse community through empathetic, compassionate, and culturally sensitive means
• Knowledge of major faith groups, pastoral theology, dynamics of loss and grief, and of crisis theory and intervention.
• Excellent writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills as well as crisis management skills with proven ability to work in a multi-religious chaplaincy environment
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team
• Creativity in imagining new initiatives and/or new ways of pursuing existing goals
• Diplomacy, sensitivity, and the ability to respond empathetically and professionally in a range of situations
• Proven ability to exercise discretion and to maintain confidentiality

Location

• University City – Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as exempt, grade L. Compensation for this grade ranges from $62,630.00 to $93,950.00 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position typically aligns with the minimum to midrange of this grade, but it can vary based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review. 

We encourage you to explore Drexel's Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on our compensation framework.

You can also find valuable information about our benefits in the Benefits Brochure.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.