Interim Jewish Chaplain (Onsite; 10-Months)

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Working independently, the Interim Jewish Chaplain is part of the Interfaith Chaplaincy of The Claremont Colleges and serves the Jewish campus community through outreach, worship opportunities, pastoral counseling, community building, and facilitation of other programs, services, and events. This role will provide outreach to the ethnically and culturally diverse constituency of the Jewish community at The Claremont Colleges. As part of the egalitarian Chaplaincy team, the Interim Jewish Chaplain will model mutual respect for diverse faith communities and assist with orientation trainings, collaborative programs, and other Chaplaincy events for the seven Claremont Colleges. This is 10-month interim position from August 2025 through May 2024 with benefits and the possibility of reappointment. This is a student-facing position which must work onsite in Claremont, California.

• Priority Deadline to apply: April 28, 2025

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Jewish Community Support

• Provide leadership and facilitation of Shabbat, High Holidays, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, and any other observances and rituals.
• Engage students with formal and informal Jewish education, Shabbat Dinners, cultural events, guest speakers, and relevant programs for building Jewish community and educating the campus about Judaism and Jewish culture.
• Initiate and maintain outreach and support to the diverse Jewish community at The Claremont Colleges, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader community.
• Convene and advise the Jewish Student Leaders Committee for intra-faith cooperation.
• Advise and provide guidance to all registered Jewish student clubs and groups of The Claremont Colleges.
• Serve as an advocate for Jewish students throughout The Claremont Colleges community.
• Provide pastoral counseling for Jewish students whenever needed.
• Meet regularly, collaborate, and supervise Jewish religious affiliates of the McAlister Center.
• Collaborate with religious affiliates, including Hillel, Chabad and Nishmat.
• Establish connections between students and local and regional Jewish communities.
• Support students to address anti-Semitism and work proactively to nurture a positive campus climate for Jewish students.

Interfaith and Consortium Support

• Attend weekly staff meetings, participate on TCCS and consortium-wide committees.
• Assist with or contribute to the administration of McAlister Center.
• Collaborate with the other chaplains in interreligious programs, community services, and social justice outreach.
• Collaborate with other chaplains, students, staff, faculty, advisory groups, and others to develop and implement meaningful programs and services from the Chaplaincy.
• Institute new initiatives for programming, services, and communications that integrate the Chaplaincy with other consortium programs and other aspects of campus life, and that engage all populations of The Claremont Colleges.
• Initiate and maintain outreach and support to the diverse student body of The Claremont Colleges.
• Assist and support students, faculty, and staff during campus-wide crises.
• Support students in response to discrimination and bias incidents.
• Proactively seek input from stakeholders regarding the services provided. Work with the chaplains and other staff to consistently improve the quality and types of services.
• Conduct assessment on the impact of programs and resources and complete follow-through to revise and create new plans and programs accordingly. Develop and routinely report metrics that inform program effectiveness.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with diverse individuals at all levels across the consortium.
• Establish connections and partnerships with the local and regional Jewish communities.
• Participate in and celebrate interfaith and multi-faith engagement.
• Collaborate with the Deans of Students, academic support services, and other student-facing office of the entire Claremont Colleges consortium on related programming and events.
• Provide engaging training for residence hall staff, student peer mentors, and participate in invited classroom and seminar presentations
• Participate in campus celebrations such as convocations, commencement, and baccalaureate.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Unless otherwise stated, the following qualifications are required to perform the essential functions of this position, or the individual must demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed (with or without reasonable accommodation) using other qualifications not listed below.

Education/Training:

• A master's degree in rabbinic studies, Jewish studies, or an equivalent.
• Plus, one of the following:
  • Ordained; and/or
  • Professional training as a Chaplain.

Experience:

• Demonstrated progressive experience in leadership and administration.
• Developing and coordinating innovative and student-oriented programming.
• Teaching and/or preaching on religious and spiritual development and discernment with college-aged individuals.
• Experience with diverse expressions of workshop and religious practices.
• Experience in a residential, liberal arts undergraduate or graduate institution.
• Experience with global perspectives rooted in own international travel, residence, or study outside of the United States.

Competencies:

• Ability to engage in multi-faith and interfaith work.
• Ability to read and understand the Torah.
• Understanding of residential, liberal arts undergraduate and graduate institutions.
• Commitment to social justice, diversity, and inclusion.
• Commitment to working in an egalitarian consensus team model.
• Advanced interpersonal skills, demonstrating an approachable personality, empathy, and exceptional listening skills.
• Demonstrates maturity, tact, resiliency, and composure and sensitivity to others needs in difficult and unexpected situations.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with diverse individuals across multiple organizations.
• Ability to balance advocacy while maintaining confidentiality.
• Advanced public speaking and group facilitation skills.
• Knowledge of best practices for campus-based religious and spiritual life programs and services.
• Knowledge of and ability to practice the principles of leadership development and collaboration.
• Fluent language skills in English, including the ability to write with proper grammar, spelling, and business etiquette.
  • Hebrew language skills are a plus.
• Proven experience speaking to small and large diverse groups, preferably college-aged individuals.
• Ability to be proactive, open-minded, and successful in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to determine when to move forward independently and when to seek input or advice.
• Ability to contribute effectively to the operations and culture of a large and diverse organizational structure.

Preferred Experience:

• A master's degree in religious studies, theology, or an equivalent is strongly preferred.
• Related experience in a higher education environment.
• Hebrew language skills.

Work Schedule: The regular hours for this 10-month position are 40 hours per week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is an interim position from August 2025 through May 2026. May be required to work holiday, weekend, and/or evening hours. Regular hours may vary due to the needs of the organization or business unit.

COMPENSATION

Pay: The pay rate for this position is competitive and commensurate with the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required for the position, between $9,000 - $9,500 per month.

Benefits: This position is eligible for our employment benefits package including:

• medical, dental, vision,
• 10% retirement contributions after one year (no matching required),
• group life insurance,
• generous time off,
• professional development funds,
• discounts for mobile plans, software, and entertainment,
• access to fitness facilities,
• and more!

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical Requirements:

Sedentary work that primary involves sitting and standing:

Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Active work that primary involves standing and walking:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Light work that involves moving objects weighing up to 10 pounds:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Medium work that includes moving objects weighing up to 25 pounds:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Medium work that includes moving objects weighing up to 40 pounds:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Heavy work that includes moving objects weighing up to 50 pounds:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Operate a computer or other work requiring repetitive movement of wrists, hands, & fingers:

Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Operate a street legal golf cart, a company automobile, or other heavy machinery:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Read or write electronic or printed materials:

Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Communicate verbally in person, by phone or another device:

Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Moving body into different positions to work down low, overhead, or outward:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Work involving climbing ladders, stairs, scaffolding, or similar:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Work in various environments including low, high, tight, low-ventilation, or confined spaces:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Work indoors in climate-controlled spaces:

Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Work outdoors in various weather conditions:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Work in a noisy environment:
Constantly Frequently Occasionally Never

Disclaimer:

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position. When duties and responsibilities change and develop, The Claremont Colleges Services will review this job description and make changes of business necessity. TCCS reserves the right to modify job duties or assign additional duties as needed.

ADA/OSHA:

This job description defines the essential job duties of this position. The Claremont Colleges Services expects that employees hired for this position can perform the essential functions of this job without imposing risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others. It may also include marginal functions, generally defined within Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Equal Opportunity Employer:

TCCS is an equal opportunity employer. TCCS managers make employment decisions on the basis of merit, with the aim of having the best available person in every job. TCCS prohibits discrimination based on all characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. TCCS also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of these characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of these characteristics. All such discrimination is unlawful.