Chaplain-Muslim, Allegheny County Jail (Part-Time)

Position Description

Position Title: Chaplain-Muslim

Department: Chaplaincy Department

Reports to: Chaplaincy Director

Employment type: Part-time (20 hrs/week)

Location: Foundation of HOPE at Allegheny County Jail

Benefits: Flexible schedule, Paid time off, Professional development assistance

Work Location: In-person

Position Summary

The person in this position ministers to the incarcerated individuals, volunteers, and staff of Allegheny County Jail. Duties include pastoral care, volunteer management, administration, and participation in the overall chaplaincy ministry, including meetings, programs, training seminars, etc.

Essential Functions

The essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Providing pastoral/spiritual care to incarcerated individuals in response to requests, crises, and referrals
• Holding Talim and Jummah services and support with procuring/developing video services
• Providing pastoral/spiritual care to jail staff and volunteers
• Training and overseeing interns, as requested by the supervisor
• Doing death and illness notifications to incarcerated individuals
• Contributing to the newsletter and other publications as requested by the supervisor
• Submitting monthly reports on activities and outcomes
• Assisting the Director of Chaplaincy with other tasks, as assigned
• Participating in the following: Staff meetings, orientation to prison ministry training for volunteers, new hire orientation training (varies), Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner (Sept.), Annual Memorial Services (May), and other special events

Education/Skills/Experience/Training

• Previous chaplaincy experience preferred
• M.Div. or other faith-based graduate education
• Ordination/comparative recognition in respective faith community
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Understanding of and experience working with diverse populations
• Excellent organizational skills
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and the Internet
• Professional comportment
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse religious and social backgrounds
• Experience working with jail or prison populations is desired
• Experience working with addicts is desired
• Must be willing to work within an interfaith context and serve individuals of all faith backgrounds

Special Requirements

• All candidates are required, at the time of application, to provide documentation from an officially sanctioned faith group dated within one year of the application date stating they are officially sanctioned or authorized to conduct worship/sacred services, and specifying which sacraments, rites, ceremonies, or rituals they are permitted to perform as a religious leader.
• All employees in the Allegheny County Jail must complete the Correctional Chaplains Training Course within six months of hire.
• All employees in the Allegheny County Jail are required to maintain their credentials with an officially sanctioned faith group on an annual basis for the duration of their employment.
• A Muslim Chaplain at the Allegheny County Jail requires a combination of graduate-level studies in religious studies, traditional Islamic sciences education, and at least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education.

Preferred Credentials

• Master of Divinity
• Board-Certified Chaplain or eligibility (ACCC, APC, NACC, or equivalent)
• Traditional Islamic Sciences Education
• Correctional/Allegheny Jail/Crisis Experience