Director of Field Education

Position Summary

The Director of Field Education serves as the primary administrator and instructor for the Vanderbilt Divinity School (VDS) Field Education Program – the praxis centerpiece of the Master of Divinity program and an experiential option for the Master of Theological Studies program – integrating theological reflection with supervised ministry across congregational, chaplaincy, nonprofit, and higher education settings. The Director serves as the instructor of record for the two-semester Field Education Seminar and advanced Field Education courses. The administrative leadership of the Field Education Program includes mentoring and training of students, supervisors, and Field Education seminar leaders, as well as extensive cultivation of partnerships for student placements. This position plays a key role in developing and implementing policies that impact the overall field education experience, creating a supportive environment that helps students clarify their vocational path. Through innovative programming and strategic partnerships, the Director contributes to the overall mission of the Divinity School and the broader professional community.

About The Work Unit

The Divinity School administrators and staff comprise a team committed to excellence in theological education. From different composite areas: admissions, community life, academics, special programming, communications, theological and religious library resources, and development and alumni relations, each person contributes to an innovative and collegial environment. The unit as a whole is committed to the mission of both the University and the Divinity School. We make equity, diversity, and inclusion a priority from a theological foundation of social justice, and we seek to lead the nation in the care, preparation, and professional qualification of our students to the religious and theological professions.

In a global and multi-religious world, the Divinity school seeks to fulfill the following objectives:

• to engage in theological inquiry;
• to help persons prepare for the practice of Christian ministry and public leadership;
• to encourage personal and spiritual formation;
• to prepare agents of social justice; and
• to educate future scholars and teachers, locally and globally.
  
  

Key Functions And Expected Performance

Program Administration and Academic Coordination

• Leads administration of the Field Education Program, managing student placements, learning covenants, supervisor agreements, enrollment tracking, and program assessment.
• Advises students on placement selection, aligning ministry contexts with vocational goals, academic focus, and prior experience.
• Recruits, trains, and supports field education supervisors and seminar leaders across diverse placement settings.
• Develops and expands the number and diversity of approved field education placement sites, with intentional outreach to chaplaincy programs, nonprofit organizations, social justice agencies, and underrepresented ministry contexts in the Greater Nashville area.
• Increases participation in field education among Master of Theological Studies students as a high-impact experiential learning opportunity.
• Coordinates logistics for campus-based supervisor training and professional development events.
• Confers with faculty, advisors, and campus partners to align Field Education program with course curricula, institutional priorities, and student needs.
• Maintains and analyzes student records, placement documentation, and program data to support accreditation and for institutional reporting purposes.
• Interprets academic and institutional data to identify gaps in student performance and recommend targeted support strategies.
• Evaluates program impact and resource effectiveness using performance metrics, feedback mechanisms, and institutional data.
• Manages the program budget in collaboration with the VDS Office of Finance and Administration to ensure high-quality program implementation and continuous improvement while maintaining accurate financial tracking and compliance with university policies.
  
  

Teaching and Theological Formation

• Designs and facilitates theological reflection seminars that guide students in integrating pastoral experience with academic learning.
• Supports students in articulating and wrestling with the theological dimensions of their placement contexts — suffering, justice, vocation, community, and care.
• Guides students in discerning vocational direction through field experience.
• Serves as instructor of record for the two-semester Field Education Seminar (required for MDiv students; optional for MTS).
• Teaches advanced field education courses as needed.
  
  

Community Engagement and Site Development

• Cultivates and sustains partnerships with ministry organizations, healthcare institutions, nonprofits, congregations, and community agencies to expand and diversify field education placement sites.
• Fosters an ethos of hospitality and mutual learning between VDS and its partner placement communities.
  
  

Professional Development

• Represents VDS Field Education at professional gatherings including the Association for Theological Field Education (ATFE) and the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE).
  
  

Supervisory Relationships

This position has administrative responsibility over several graduate student workers and oversees the seminar facilitators. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Education And Certifications

• A Master of Divinity (MDiv) or equivalent graduate theological degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
• A Doctor of Ministry (DMin) or equivalent degree from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.
• A minimum of four (4) units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) is preferred.
  
  

Experience And Skills

• At least eight years of experience in ministry, chaplaincy, pastoral care, or related community-based vocation is necessary.
• Demonstrated track record of teaching, administrative, and/or guild excellence related to theory praxis learning within theological education is necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse student populations and across a broad spectrum of theological traditions and ministry contexts is necessary.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are necessary.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, along with the ability to build consensus and work effectively with a wide range of constituents in a diverse community are necessary.
• Related clinical or pastoral counseling experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of Christian religious traditions is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in networking, developing, and maintaining effective collaborative relationships with university and/or non-profit community organizations is necessary.
• Demonstrated financial and budget management skills are necessary.