This position is available for Summer 2026.
Note: All on-campus position applications close at 2:59pm on the deadline date listed.
Position Description:
The University Chaplaincy, part of the Division of Student Affairs, supports students, faculty, and staff of any, all, or no particular spiritual or religious background. Our department focuses on:
- increasing awareness of and literacy related to religious diversity
- supporting members of the campus community in personal and communal spiritual support and wellbeing
- collaborating with other departments and off-campus partners to create opportunities for spiritual exploration.
This position is open to students of any, all, or no particular religious or spiritual background.
The Chaplaincy Assistant is part of a student staff team that supports the range of these departmental priorities. The position provides administrative and programmatic support for the University Chaplaincy and related campus and departmental events.
In addition to supporting events, Chaplaincy Assistants help with departmental written and electronic communication; assist with office and program planning needs; help organize programs and events in support of diverse spiritual and religious communities on campus; develop publicity and communication resources for the department; and perform a variety of other administrative responsibilities. They may also partner with staff in other areas of Student Affairs working on Chaplaincy-related projects.
Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:
- OFFICE ASSISTANCE AND GUEST SERVICES: Maintaining the Chaplaincy office, greeting visitors, answering phones and questions via email, helping to connect guests with campus or community resources, records management, and general administrative work within the department and the Division of Student Affairs. Chaplaincy Assistants help handle mail delivery for our shared mailbox and assist with regular recycling and occasional cleaning projects.
- PUBLICITY AND COMMUNICATION: Team members collaborate to help develop and implement publicity for departmental events, assist in recommendations for outreach and website content, table to raise awareness for programs, and otherwise join in raising awareness of the department and our programs and resources. This includes helping to coordinate with other related departments to minimize conflicting programs and develop strong collaboration.
- PROGRAMS AND EVENTS: Team members coordinate setup and takedown for Chaplaincy events and programs, assist with ordering catering, make room reservations through 25Live, manage resources from our storage space to support different spiritual and religious observances, and often work as greeters or helpers during larger events. Members of the team also assist the Chaplaincy in creating and implementing resources and programs to serve the campus community. This may include training and work managing a/v systems in different campus venues.
- Common events, for reference: Guided meditations, Swope Lectures, Diwali Celebration, Campus Passover Seder, Christmas at Kilworth, Blues Vespers, Grief support events, Interfaith Baccalaureate Celebration, and more.
- NOTE: Chaplaincy Assistants also provide logistic and hospitality support for campus-related memorial services. Team members receive training for and support throughout this occasional aspect of our work, and work together to navigate staffing any services that may be difficult for an individual to attend.
Minimum Requirements (candidates must possess these requirements in order to be hired into this position):
Candidates must be able to explain and/or demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- A desire to help cultivate a caring and empathetic campus community.
- Interest in supporting people of a wide diversity of religious and spiritual backgrounds as they explore their identities, beliefs, and practices at Puget Sound.
- A commitment to efforts for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Puget Sound.
- Desire to work in a collaborative, team-focused context.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Commitment to clear communication with supervisor and team about schedules, needs, boundaries, and workplace culture.
- Ability to set and maintain a regular work schedule.
- Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends.
- Commitment to, and understanding of, confidentiality.
- Interest in work that involves reflection and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Willingness to think and work creatively as the team develops program and resource possibilities.
- Preferred but not required – experience…
- using Canva to create publicity and graphics.
- planning, staffing, and/or managing public events
- working in an office setting
- Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
Hours and Scheduling: Summer Chaplaincy Assistants will receive a set number of total hours to work over the summer. Due to department needs and rhythms, we are able to consider applicants who may want a regular work schedule throughout the summer as well as those who might only be available in May and/or (especially) August – our busiest times. Rather than assuming a set number of work hours per week for all student employees, the total number of hours and some initial thoughts on how individual student employees might structure them will be discussed during the hiring process in conversation with the supervisor. This is meant to allow for significant flexibility for student employees while meeting departmental needs and goals for the summer. Students who are only available in May and/or August are encouraged to apply, as are those with availability throughout the summer. If you have questions about this arrangement prior to applying, please email dwright@pugetsound.edu.
Interviews will take place directly with the hiring department. For questions, you can reach out to the hiring manager for this position.
Department: University Chaplaincy
Contact Name: Dave Wright
Email: dwright@pugetsound.edu