Position title: Chaplain – McLean County Detention Facility

Salary: $3,634.25 quarterly ($14,537.00 annually)

Minimum of 15 work hours per week

Position Summary

The Chaplain of the McLean County Detention Facility acts as a religious programs manager, providing pastoral ministry to inmates of all faith groups and coordinating various activities of those faith groups. This is a contracted position with the McLean County Sheriff’s Department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain and conduct a well-rounded program of religious instruction including classes, correspondence, religious counseling, and discussion groups.
• Responsible for planning, conducting, or coordinating and supervision of an interfaith program of religious services and providing a comprehensive program of pastoral care.
• Schedules, coordinates, and leads weekly worship services.
• Organize and conduct workshops, groups, and activities to engage participants in their own spiritual needs, education, and development.
• Supervise detainees attending programs.
• Visit detainee housing areas for conversation, prayer, and to distribute religious literature.
• Position must provide advice and counsel to the facility head and other administrators on religious and theological matters, including any approval of religious diets.
• Assist in organization and execution of special events.
• Attend required training as instructed by Superintendent or designee
• Work closely with jail inmate services and communicates chaplain and ministry program schedules to staff, including coverage provisions when out of the office.
• Maintain a close working relationship with other departments within the institution for the purpose of inmate treatment and rehabilitation, as well as for the purpose of coordinating activities within the framework of the correctional institution.
• Collect and compile information required for reporting of faith programs and counseling.
• Responsible for religious volunteer recruitment, training, coordination, and scheduling, working closely with representatives of the various faith communities to encourage community participation in jail programs and ensuring that volunteer activities are conducted in a diverse, yet secure manner.
• Establish and maintain sound working relations with local churches, community-based faith organizations, and local representatives of other faiths.
• Use a computer system to respond to requests forms from inmates in a timely manner.
• Uses email to complete tasks and respond to requests from jail staff.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to build working relationships with community partners.
• Ability to learn and adhere to safety practices, MCDF Policies and Procedures, Illinois County Jail Standards, Chaplain Guidelines and promotes compliance with jail rules and to apply them correctly in varying circumstances.
• Adheres to the code of ethics of the Association of Professional Chaplains
• Knowledge of the standards and practices of a diverse range of faiths and denominations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to handle issues with respect, integrity, and sensitivity.
• Some knowledge of computers, applicable software programs, and other standard office equipment related to the duties of the position.
• Ability to work independently.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency
• Successful completion of ministry training, for example: certification, clinical pastoral education
• Ordained or approved to function in ministry by an appropriate religious authority
• Faith group endorsement

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree in theology from an accredited institution or equivalent
• Two years ministry or chaplaincy experience or equivalent
• Prior experience in detention ministry desired

Physical Attributes/Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position requires sitting, standing/walking and may experience occasional standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and repetitive motion – use of the wrists, hands, and fingers.

Defined as sedentary work – exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull of objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Close visual acuity required to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, viewing a computer terminal.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Most activities are performed indoors in an office setting. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is subject to normal consistent temperatures. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the person in this position. Principal duties and responsibilities are intended to describe those functions that are essential to the performance of this job and “other” duties and responsibilities include those that are considered incidental or secondary to the overall purpose of this job.

This job description does not state or imply that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties or tasks as requested by management. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

About McLean County Government

McLean County is the largest county by land area in the state of Illinois with a population of over 172,000. McLean County Government is a fast-moving and dynamic workplace established to locally administer Illinois State laws and serve the community in a variety of ways throughout our multitude of departments. With a $146 million operating budget, over 800 employees, and an Aa1 Bond Rating, McLean County Government is positioned to maintain and expand its reputation for excellence in local government.

To learn more about all the services McLean County Government provides the community, please visit https://mcleancountyil.gov/. A full list of Departments with a description of their function can be located at https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/8/Departments.

How to Apply

Click “Apply Now” at the top of this post.

Attach a cover letter and resume for full consideration.

*If applying through a third party job board, please fill out an application via McLean County Government’s Job Board located at https://il-mcleancounty.civicplushrms.com/careers/Jobs.aspx

Confidentiality of your application is maintained upon request.

McLean County Government is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.