Tutor in Spiritual Direction: job description and person specification

Job Description

Job Purpose Working with the Director of Spiritual Direction at Sarum College in design, development, delivery and assessment of the Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction.

Line Manager Director of Spiritual Direction at Sarum College

Contract This is fixed Term contract from Monday 1 September 2025 until 31 August 2026, with the possibility of extending into a permanent contract, subject to funding and programme staffing needs.

Salary £471.68 per month for a 46-day contract equating to 40 days work per annum (dates to be agreed with your line manager), plus holiday and Bank Holiday entitlement, plus a contribution of 8.5% of salary to the nominated pension scheme, currently the Church of England Church Workers Pension Fund (Pension Builder Classic), and lunch in the Refectory on working days in College (when available).

Hours  The post is part-time which equates to 40 days work per annum at times to be agreed with the line manager, which will be known as normal working hours. Hours worked will mainly be concentrated around the periods of taught courses, both online and residential. Precise working/teaching dates to be agreed and prioritised with your line manager.

Time off in lieu may be taken for working beyond normal working hours and there are occasions when it will be necessary to work outside normal working hours (during the evenings and at weekends) as the needs of the College reasonably requires.

Location The expectation is for tutors to be in attendance for taught days of the programme. This may be at Sarum College in person, or online using Zoom. Non-teaching activities will be mostly online using Microsoft Teams, Sharepoint and Sarum Learn. Tutors may be invited to attend a limited number of meetings or events in person when necessary.

Holiday The annual leave entitlement is pro-rata equivalent of 27 days annual leave and 8 bank holidays.

1) Spiritual Direction Programme Tutor responsibilities

• Contribute to the planning and design of the Spiritual Direction (SD) programme
• Design high-quality SD course activities and resources.
• Deliver taught input and facilitate dynamic and engaging learning activities in both the online and onsite learning environments.
• Update Sarum Learn Digital Learning Environment (DLE) for specific SD cohorts’ dates and resources.
• Assist the Director of Spiritual Direction with SD applicants’ discernment and interview process.
• Assess course work and offer participants individualised feedback.
• Offer participant tutorials, supervision, feedback and review meetings as agreed with the Programme Leader.

2) Team work

• Liaise as necessary with the Director of Spiritual Direction, course assistants, members of the wider team and external contributors.
• Attend and contribute to SD Programme meetings as necessary.

3) Personal development

• Engage in continuing professional development to ensure knowledge and skills are kept up to date and for the overall benefit of the SCSD programme and reputation of Sarum College.
• Receive personal spiritual accompaniment and regular supervision for retreat work and accompaniment of others.

 

Download a Tutor in Spiritual Direction application form

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential
· Minimum to degree level or equivalent
· Teaching qualification or professional recognition
· Trained in spiritual direction and SD supervision
· Well-established familiarity with the depth and breadth of the Christian tradition.

Desired
· Rounded knowledge of spiritual direction literature, influences, skills and practices
· An area of specialism/interest e.g. Ignatian spirituality, or pastoral expertise e.g. therapeutic or wellbeing focus
· Trained in safeguarding with appropriate and current training record

Experience

Essential
· Practicing Spiritual Director
· Active in pastoral supervision and/or supervision of spiritual directors
· Teaching experience with adult learners
· Facilitation of group work and learning activities in online and in-person learning environments
· Ability to work effectively within a team

Desired
·  Development and delivery of spiritual direction programme content
·  Contributed to a pastoral and/or spiritual direction programme

Skills and attributes

Essential
· Excellent interpersonal skills
· Ability to contribute creatively to a team, inspire others, work collaboratively with colleagues, and autonomously when required
· Comfortable working amongst a variety of faith backgrounds and in a range of settings
· Ability to communicate clearly and accessibly
· Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries in a robust manner
· Capacity to facilitate and work safely and creatively with groups
· Ability to give written and verbal feedback to students
· Good organisational and time-management skills
· Proficient in the use of IT, Microsoft Office and confident working in an online context using Zoom (or equivalents)

Values and attitudes

Essential

· Awareness of and commitment to the ethos of Sarum College
· Theologically informed, literate and curious with demonstrated intellectual rigour
· Commitment to support the growth and development of the Centre for Spiritual Direction
· Commitment to team working and engaging with the wider spiritual direction network and community
· Commitment to ongoing personal growth and formation

Other relevant factors

Essential
· Reliable, trustworthy, punctual
· Adaptable and able to work flexibly
· Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times
· Awareness of relevant good practice requirements and protocols including safeguarding of adults at risk