Spiritual Life Program Manager

Spiritual Life Program Manager Regular Full-Time Elsah, IL, US 6 days ago

Requisition ID:

1964

Title:

Spiritual Life Program Manager Department /

Location:

Spiritual Life / Elsah, IL

Position Type:

Full-time, 12-month position Summary The Spiritual Life Program Manager is the operational lead for the Spiritual Life Office. Reporting directly to the Director of Spiritual Life and College Chaplain, the program manager translates the Director's spiritual and strategic vision into well-run, repeatable, and student-centered experiences across campus. Key areas of ownership include event and program logistics, retreat operations, master calendaring, student worker supervision, coordination of campus Christian Science practitioners and the Director of Christian Science Nursing, communications scheduling, and data/assessment and reporting. Working within Principia's Christian Science foundation and welcoming students of all faith backgrounds, the Program Manager builds systems that ensure quality, consistency, accessibility, and continuity across worship, programming, and digital ministry, supporting the work of the Director in spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and institutional relationships. This position also serves as operational deputy and provides day-to-day leadership for the office when the Director is unavailable. Who We Are At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education—blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia's team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of alumni and friends. At Principia College, our globally focused curriculum honors diverse perspectives and develops creative changemakers who use their academic skills for good in service to themselves, their communities, and the world. In-depth study meets real-world experience through study abroad programs, internships, capstone projects, and a robust slate of student activities, including a world-renowned mediation team, top-ranked solar car team, national champion rugby club, and the nation's oldest student-run public affairs conference. Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow's leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued. Primary Responsibilities Program Operations Manages logistics and execution for all recurring Spiritual Life programs, including but not limited to: CSO services (Sunday services and Wednesday testimony meetings) and Sunday Evening Sing (including advising and coordinating with student leaders) Quiet Times (campus-wide 20‑minute pause for prayer and reflection) Friday Faith in Action (campus-wide 50-minute program) Possible new Monday community chapel Plans and executes 1-5 annual retreats, including contracts, transportation, budgets, accessibility, and risk management Maintains the master calendar; coordinate spaces, AV, materials, hospitality, vendors, and run-of-show documents Creates, maintains, and improves Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all programs to ensure consistent execution and backup coverage Manages interfaith program logistics, including for the Interfaith Fellows program and values-aligned employee training sessions Tracks program budgets, invoicing, and vendor purchases: reconciles monthly expenses and prepare budget status updates Communications & Digital Ministry Manages the Spiritual Life communications calendar (email, social media, web, campus calendar), partnering with College Marketing if/as needed Coordinates production workflows for the "Light of the World" podcast, with content oversight remaining with the Director Maintains reusable communications assets and templates to support consistent, welcoming, and inclusive promotion of Spiritual Life programs and resources Team Supervision & Coordination Hires, trains, and manages student workers to support Spiritual Life programming, operations, and communications Provides functional supervision and workflow coordination for the Graduate Fellow in the Spiritual Life Office Coordinates schedules, logistics, and record-keeping for Christian Science practitioners and the Director of Christian Science Nursing Oversees onboarding and training support for key student and campus leadership roles connected to Spiritual Life Spiritual Formation In partnership with the Director, supports the operational sustainability of spiritual formation initiatives, including possible spiritual discipleship small groups and potential re-establishment of Christian Science Sunday School on campus Helps the Director to recruit faculty, staff, and students to help implement and facilitate these offerings. As appropriate and within a clearly defined scope, assists in facilitating or co-leading one spiritual formation or discipleship group or Sunday School class. Serves as a friendly, reliable presence at programs and events, routing students to appropriate spiritual care resources (College Chaplain, practitioners) rather than providing pastoral counseling. Provides back-up pastoral care on occasion (with appropriate credentials), following established protocols and with escalation to the Director as appropriate. Data, Assessment, & Reporting Implements basic attendance and satisfaction tracking across programs and retreats Maintains a simple dashboard (e.g., participation trends, satisfaction, podcast downloads) and prepares quarterly summaries for the Director and senior leadership Curates photos, quotes, and highlights for storytelling and annual reporting Maintains continuity documentation to support operational stability and leadership transitions Core Competencies Principia values the unique strengths each employee brings to their role. The following competencies are especially important for success at

Principia:

Continuous Learning & Expertise:

Demonstrates mastery in your area of responsibility and seeks opportunities for professional growth and development.

Accountability & Results Orientation:

Manages time and priorities effectively, meets commitments, and consistently delivers high-quality outcomes.

Problem Solving & Judgment:

Approaches challenges thoughtfully, considers multiple perspectives, and makes sound, timely decisions that support institutional goals.

Proactivity & Ownership:

Takes initiative, anticipates needs, and drives projects forward with minimal supervision while taking responsibility for outcomes. Excellence & Attention to

Detail:

Produces accurate, polished, and high-quality work; continuously looks for ways to improve systems, processes, and results.

Service Orientation:

Builds positive, supportive relationships and responds promptly and professionally to the needs of students, colleagues, and other stakeholders.

Collaboration & Collegiality:

Works cooperatively across departments and teams; values input from others and contributes to a positive, respectful environment.

Communication:

Shares information clearly and concisely; listens carefully to others and adjusts communication style for different audiences and situations.

Inclusion & Belonging:

Demonstrates respect for all people; values diverse perspectives and fosters a culture of inclusion, belonging, and mutual respect. Minimum Qualifications Student of Christian Science Supportive of Principia's guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements Bachelor's degree; Master's degree preferred in higher education administration, nonprofit management, project management, ministry/theology, or a related field Experience managing retreats and travel logistics, contracts, and risk management forms Familiarity with podcast or digital content workflows and simple analytics Experience supporting interfaith programming and campus collaboration 6+ years of relevant professional experience in program management, event operations, student affairs, ministry support, or a closely related field Demonstrated organizational excellence: calendaring, checklist/SOP creation, logistics, vendor coordination, and budget tracking Experience supervising students or early‑career staff and coordinating multi‑stakeholder projects Strong written and verbal communication; comfort with digital tools (e.g., project trackers, shared drives, email platforms, basic analytics) Ability to work effectively within a Christian Science environment while welcoming and supporting students from diverse faith backgrounds Physical Requirements Ability to lift/move up to 25 lbs. for event setup; extended periods of standing/walking during events; ability to travel with groups for retreats. The statements above describe the general nature and level of work, but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia. Compensation and Benefits We offer a competitive starting salary range for this position: $$57,750 - $67,200 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

Generous Employee Tuition Discount:

Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).

Relocation:

Principia provides a relocation imbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles.

Professional Development:

Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.

Comprehensive Benefits:

Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more. Equal Opportunity Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status. In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia—as an institution with a religious mission—gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.