What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chaplain and Chair of Religious Studies position at Woodward Academy?
Chaplain and Chair of Religious Studies
Reports to: Academy President
Effective: August 2025
Woodward Academy is Atlanta at its very best. We intentionally bring together students from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, creating a richer learning community and exceptional academic opportunities. Our students and graduates are caring and compassionate global citizens who are a microcosm of what the world should be.
The Academy is hiring for the position of Chaplain and Chair of Religious Studies to start in the 2025-2026 academic year. The Chaplain is an integral part of the Woodward community and supported by the Pauline and R.L. Brand Jr. '35 Chair of Religious Studies endowment. We are seeking candidates with an interfaith understanding who are enthusiastic about mentoring, leading and working alongside students to support their spiritual formation.
The Chaplain must possess the highest level of integrity and discretion, strong organizational skills, and the ability to multitask and prioritize. The person in this position should be an energetic self-starter and possess exceptional interpersonal skills with relational intelligence and competency in pastoral care. This is a twelve month, exempt position with full benefits.
The Academy is hiring for the position of Chaplain and Chair of Religious Studies to start in the 2025-2026 academic year. The Chaplain is an integral part of the Woodward community and supported by the Pauline and R.L. Brand Jr. '35 Chair of Religious Studies endowment. We are seeking candidates with an interfaith understanding who are enthusiastic about mentoring, leading and working alongside students to support their spiritual formation.
The Chaplain must possess the highest level of integrity and discretion, strong organizational skills, and the ability to multitask and prioritize. The person in this position should be an energetic self-starter and possess exceptional interpersonal skills with relational intelligence and competency in pastoral care. This is a twelve month, exempt position with full benefits.
Essential Duties:
- Support the spiritual growth of all students, with a deep respect for diversity and varied faith traditions
- Provide pastoral care to the entire Woodward community
- In coordination with the school counselors, provide age appropriate pastoral counseling to individual students across all five schools
- Connect with students across all five schools through community meetings, assemblies, and classroom visits
- Contribute to implementing service learning opportunities for students and faculty
- Attend faculty meetings, school functions and events
- Contribute to interfaith understanding throughout the Academy
- Teach World Religions classes in the Upper School with a focus on empathy and religious literacy
- Possibly coach or supervise an afternoon activity; Serve as an advisor in the Upper School
- Work with the Upper School Interfaith Council and religious/cultural affinity student clubs (e.g. Jewish Student Union, Islamic Awareness Club, FCA, Catholic Identity Club, South Asian Affinity Club)
- Represent Woodward Academy’s faith traditions by offering religiously inclusive prayers at most events (including Commencement, Baccalaureate, Veteran’s Day, etc.) & planning religiously inclusive ceremonies (Baccalaureate ceremony)
- Promote educational programs and lecture events on a variety of subjects
- Develop and maintain connections with faith groups throughout Atlanta and the national independent school community
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in divinity, theological studies, or similar seminary education.
- Experience working with local churches, schools, or faith based organizations, and with students from diverse ethnic, racial, and faith backgrounds.
- Committed to the principles of the Academy while serving in a diverse community, promoting respect for difference, and fostering inclusion
- Outstanding organizational and communication skills
- Excellent judgment and analytical and problem-solving skills
- Confidential and maintains the highest ethical standards
- Enthusiastic, motivated, and able to work with multiple constituencies
About Woodward:
Woodward Academy is a pre-K to 12th-grade independent school offering unparalleled opportunities in academics, the arts, and athletics. In a broadly diverse and caring community of more than 2,700 students from 23 counties in the state, Woodward embraces the uniqueness of each individual. Guided by its core values of Excellence, Character, and Opportunity, Woodward offers a full range of college preparatory instructional tracks, and a community where students are appreciated for their individual strengths and contributions. With 50 percent students of color, we are among the most diverse independent schools in the nation.
A deep respect for difference is an integral part of every classroom experience and cocurricular offering at Woodward because it’s our backbone-who we are and what we value. Students and faculty bring a variety of races, religions, cultures, ethnicities, and learning styles, which means students benefit every day from engaging with peers and mentors who are different from them. At Woodward, we understand that we are strongest together and that an education among people who come from the same place, look the same, and have the same experiences will not prepare students for life.
The Woodward Way - Respecting Ourselves, Each Other, Our School, and Our World, and learning how to do these things is both a vital aspect of our students’ education and the foundation of our community’s value system. We see it as our duty to foster social-emotional growth as well as ethical principles in each student, helping them to learn and practice high personal standards of conduct so they can become the best version of themselves. Installing these values in each student in turn builds community, creating an environment where every student has an equal opportunity to flourish.
A deep respect for difference is an integral part of every classroom experience and cocurricular offering at Woodward because it’s our backbone-who we are and what we value. Students and faculty bring a variety of races, religions, cultures, ethnicities, and learning styles, which means students benefit every day from engaging with peers and mentors who are different from them. At Woodward, we understand that we are strongest together and that an education among people who come from the same place, look the same, and have the same experiences will not prepare students for life.
The Woodward Way - Respecting Ourselves, Each Other, Our School, and Our World, and learning how to do these things is both a vital aspect of our students’ education and the foundation of our community’s value system. We see it as our duty to foster social-emotional growth as well as ethical principles in each student, helping them to learn and practice high personal standards of conduct so they can become the best version of themselves. Installing these values in each student in turn builds community, creating an environment where every student has an equal opportunity to flourish.
Anti-Discrimination
Woodward Academy is committed to being an an-discriminatory community. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination on the basis of age, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, learning style, political views, or socioeconomic status. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) is woven into the very fabric of who we are and what we do, creating a richer learning community and exceptional academic opportunities for everyone. We will cultivate an environment that fosters a deep respect for difference through continual assessment, transparent communication, action and accountability.
Woodward Academy is dedicated to providing a safe, drug-free environment for its students, faculty, and staff. Accordingly, Woodward has adopted a drug-free workplace policy, which includes substance abuse testing of all employees and applicants, in accordance with applicable state law. As such all offers of employment are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of pre-employment requirements which include background checks and substance testing.
Equal Opportunity Employer
