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Director for Community Life and Candidacy

Wartburg Theological Seminary

Positions

ID: 83033

Posted On 10/09/2025

Job Overview

Position Summary** **:

The Director for Community Life and Candidacy reports to the Vice President for Leadership Formation and is primarily responsible for accompanying students on their formational journey, from enrollment into coursework and community life, culminating with commencement, including candidacy. The Director for Community Life and Candidacy partners with the Department for Vocation and Formation to accomplish the work of the department for the mission of the seminary.

Major Responsibilities/Activities:

1. Serve as Wartburg’s ELCA candidacy liaison, working with the ELCA churchwide organization and synods to accompany students on the candidacy Communicate and facilitate regular student information sessions at each key candidacy milestone. Administer the Form D process for all degree students.

2. Work with the Department for Vocation and Formation and Academic Advisors to provide oversight of the student and community experience for all students.

3. Be attentive to and address student issues with care in a timely matter, partnering with the Academic Dean and VP for Leadership when appropriate.

4. Collaborate in the process for new student onboarding and orientation in partnership with the Director of Admissions and Vice President for Leadership Formation.

5. Facilitate the planning teams for and execution of on-campus events such as Prolog weeks, Bishop visits, Commencement, CaLMs, and other campus visitors coming to connect with student body.

6. Provide oversight for the implementation of all handbooks and resources related to this position in cooperation with DVF and Academics.

7. Provide leadership to Wartburg Associated Students and advise the various student support groups at Wartburg, including PRISM and the food pantry ministry.

8. Be visible and active in the daily life of the seminary

9. Serve on the WTS SWAG Committee to advise on product development, ordering, inventory, marketing, and sales.

10. Design and maintain materials for student-related communications, including the Seminary Post and relevant WTS webpages.

11. Support the work of Wartburg’s social media and print presence on behalf of the DVF, working in cooperation with the Director of Communications.

12. Bring clarity and consistency to communication (written and verbal) with students, as well as with internal and external partners.

13. Participate in strategic initiatives and experiments related to department as appropriate or as assigned.

14. Provide onsite support for international students, including orientation and ongoing accompaniment throughout their time at Wartburg.

15. Serve on the Faculty Community Life Committee and other committees as

16. Manage all seminary FERPA

17. Accompany the student body, including particular support for the residential

18. Assume other responsibilities as appropriate or as assigned by the VP for Leadership

Qualifications:

+ Knowledge of, passion for, and dedication to the mission of Wartburg Theological Seminary and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

+ Demonstrated skills to work as a member of the Department of Vocation and Formation, with strong capabilities in administrative skills, including planning, organizing, documenting, communicating, and managing workload.

+ Demonstrated high capacity for self-motivation and initiative, combined with consistent collaboration with other leaders.

+ Demonstrated capacity for pastoral care and strong interpersonal

+ Demonstrated ability to build trust among colleagues and within

+ Exhibit cultural competencies for the accompaniment of a diverse student

+ Commitment to and experience with the process of vocational

+ Minimum of three years of experience in a related field such as student support services, education, relevant ministry experience, social work, etc.

+ Demonstrated commitment to, and experience in, higher education compliance matters related to accreditation and federal regulations, ELCA Candidacy, and/or working with students to meet a wide variety of needs or comparable experience.

+ Bachelor’s degree in a field related to communications, education, social work, theology, or other applicable field of study.

+ Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in ministry-related field preferred, or equivalent

+ Minimum three years of experience as a rostered leader of the ELCA

Work Environment:

The Director for Community Life and Candidacy is in nearly constant interaction with students, other staff, and faculty in person and in writing. Meetings are frequent. This position operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets. This position is salaried and will require occasional evening or weekend work for special events.

This position is based in Dubuque.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, see and move around. Arms, hands and fingers will be needed to handle and reach. Employee will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 10 pounds.

Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

_Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign_** **_or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time._

_Wartburg Theological Seminary recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law._

Primary Contact

1732360294960

HR

,

Phone

Phone

Phone

Fax

[email protected]

Email

True

True

True

Job Details

Categories

Church/Clergy/Religious

Education

Location

Dubuque, IA

Job Type

Employee

Full/Part

Full Time

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

PTO (Paid Time Off)

Paid Holidays

Qualifications

Education

Bachelors

Experience

2-5 Years

Company ID

1326

Job REQ #

\# Positions

Start Date

20251009

End Date

20251110

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Wartburg Theological Seminary

About the Company

Wartburg Theological Seminary is one of seven theological schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Wartburg was established in Dubuque, Iowa in 1854 and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the Higher Learning Commission. The seminary educates women and men to serve church and world as ordained and lay leaders.