Chaplain

The University Chaplain serves as the spiritual heart of our online community, providing pastoral care, crisis intervention, and spiritual leadership to both students and employees. In this role, the Chaplain fosters an environment that honors the theological foundations of Los Angeles Pacific University while promoting shared beliefs and practices. Key responsibilities include leading community devotions as needed and offering prayer, support, and spiritual guidance that ensures employees and students feel seen and supported. This role will also serve as a Confidential Resource or “safe harbor” under Title IX, where information about sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination can be shared without triggering an official report to the university administration.

Primary work location: Remote: This position is classified as "Remote". The classification of this position is subject to change based on business needs, job performance, etc. If an employee changes their physical location/residence to another state it could impact future employment. 

Remote Expectation: We expect our employees to be able to fulfill their LAPU responsibilities with minimal distractions. While remote work does offer flexibility, employees should make arrangements for regular dependent care during work hours. This is a fully remote position; however, travel may be required to meet business demands, university needs or team meetings as necessary.

Application Materials: Please submit a PDF version of your resume/CV and list of your current references. We need at least two professional references that have served in a supervisory role. Cover letter is optional, and not required.  If you would like to upload additional documents, please feel free to upload additional documents under the "Documents Section". This section is located after "Links" and before "Questions" in the application. Note to applicant: The email address you use to apply with, will be your username for your account and all email notifications. Questions, please email careers@lapu.edu. 

Compensation: This is a volunteer position and is not compensated.

Schedule: We anticipate that responsibilities associated with this role will be approximately two hours per week on an as-needed basis.  Community devotions take place remotely at 9:15 am PT every Monday for 30 minutes.

 Required Experience / Education

• Christian Commitment: Vital Christian faith and lifestyle that aligns with the evangelical mission and purpose of Los Angeles Pacific University
• Theological and Counseling Proficiency: Demonstrated competence in providing pastoral counseling, with specific experience navigating trauma, grief, and mental health challenges. Demonstrated expertise in theology and spiritual formation, with the ability to apply these disciplines in a diverse community.
• Education: Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or equivalent advanced degree in theology or pastoral counseling.
• Pastoral Experience: Three to five years of experience in active pastoral ministry within a church or university chaplaincy setting is highly preferred. Formal ordination or ecclesiastical endorsement from a recognized faith tradition
• Digital Fluency: Ability to communicate with warmth and presence through digital platforms, including video, email, and messaging.
• Heart for Service: The ideal candidate is motivated by a vocational calling to serve in an online learning community.
• High Responsiveness: A proactive approach to pastoral care, with a natural inclination to provide timely support to those in crisis.
• Confidentiality & Compliance: A deep understanding of the ethical boundaries required in both pastoral counseling and Title IX contexts.
• Collaborative & Spirit: The ability to build rapport and work effectively across departments, from academic faculty to executive leadership.

Essential Functions and Skills

• Theological Leadership: A maturing philosophy of ministry and worship, demonstrating the ability to address contemporary cultural shifts through a biblical lens.

Student Support & Engagement

• Crisis Response: Serves as a primary responder to student needs, providing immediate outreach and pastoral presence for those in distress.
• Pastoral Care: Offer empathetic, “first-response” counseling for students navigating grief, trauma, mental health challenges, and spiritual doubt.
• Digital Ministry Content: Curate and distribute the "Student Verse-of-the-Week” to encourage the online student body.
• Video  Devotionals: Produce three 12–13 minute student devotionals per term (distributed during Weeks 2, 4, and 6) to foster spiritual growth.
• Confidential Consultation: Act as a confidential resource for students navigating sensitive institutional processes, serving as a liaison to the Title IX Coordinator as needed.

 Staff Care & Spiritual Leadership

• Community Integration: Actively participate in weekly Staff Devotionals and “Coffee Time” to build a cohesive and spiritually-aligned team culture.
• Liturgical Leadership: Lead the Staff Devotions on a five-week rotation and facilitate the annual Spiritual Refocus Day.
• Personalized Care: Oversee employee care initiatives, including personalized messages for all staff birthdays.

Academic & Executive Collaboration

• Content Development: Partner with the Faith, Life & Learning Committee to present occasional livestream topics.
• Curriculum Support: Assist faculty in writing and revising spiritual content for core courses (BIBL100 and BIBL230).
• Executive Communication: Provide spiritual writing support for the University President for special addresses and university-wide correspondence.

 Missional Expectations

This role will be critical in the establishment and maintenance of a robust Christian community that seeks to serve with grace the needs of all employees and students. As a LAPU representative, you are called to engage with your colleagues and all those that the university serves by modeling Christ-like character in all of your interactions. You will celebrate and honor other employees and students as being made in the image of God; be thankful, expressing gratitude to God and one another; build others up with your words; and work as an instrument of God's love seeking to heal a lost and broken world.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Communication: Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to deliver impactful, biblically grounded messages in a digital environment. 
• Strong emotional intelligence, public speaking, conflict resolution, and cultural competency.
• Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply guidelines and procedures in a complex university setting
• Ability to be proactive, take ownership of assigned responsibilities, and work with little supervision
• A positive, cooperative, Christ-like attitude supportive of the University and its mission

Mental Demands

• Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports
• Ability to investigate, analyze information, and draw conclusions
• Ability to engage in critical thinking, exercise independent judgment, set priorities, and solve problems
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage confidential information

 Physical Demands

This position typically includes the following physical demands. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods of time
• Sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment
• Visual acuity to read words and numbers
• Speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate in person or over the telephone
• Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force and occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds

 Technologies

• Google Suite: Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Meets
• Communication and collaboration: Slack, Zoom (or similar virtual meeting platform)

Non-discrimination Statement

The University seeks to provide equal employment opportunities and is dedicated to the principle that access to employment opportunities be accorded to all employees and applicants on the basis of individual qualification and without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks, and twists), color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member status and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age (40 and over), protected medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, disability (mental and physical),medical leave or other types of protected leave (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. 

The University is a Christian University of higher education. It is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The University reserves the right to maintain its heritage and destiny as a Christian witness in higher education and asserts its right to employ and retain only those persons who subscribe to and support Our Identity and Statement of Faith.

This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and Los Angeles Pacific University reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the University may deem appropriate.