Director of Spiritual Programming
Houston, Texas•Full-time
About the Job
JOB TITLE: Director of Spiritual Programming
DEPARTMENT: Program
REPORTS TO: Chief Program Officer
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
The Director of Spiritual Programming is responsible for designing, leading, and sustaining an inclusive, trauma-informed spiritual life program for young adults ages 18–24. Grounded in Covenant House Texas’ mission and values, this role creates welcoming spaces where youth can explore meaning, purpose, healing, and belonging regardless of faith background, belief system, or lived experience. This position oversees SPARK (Spirituality, Purpose, and Resilience for Youth), a strengths-based, youth-centered spiritual life program that prioritizes emotional wellness, authentic relationships, and joy. The Director serves as a trusted presence for youth, a collaborative partner to staff, and a steward of trauma-informed spiritual care practices across the organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities:
Spiritual and Emotional Support:
- Provide one-on-one pastoral counseling and crisis support in a manner that is respectful of diverse spiritual beliefs and cultural identities.
- Offer non-judgmental, inclusive support grounded in trauma-informed care principles.
- Facilitate optional spiritual programming such as meditation, mindfulness, prayer circles, healing spaces, and holiday reflections.
- Maintain strong boundaries, confidentiality, and an emotionally safe environment for youth to process grief, trauma, and personal growth.
Programming and Engagement:
- Design, implement, and oversee trauma-informed spiritual programming aligned with the SPARK framework, promoting connection, self-awareness, resilience, and joy.
- Lead and support youth-led groups, creative circles, story-sharing spaces, and values-based discussions.
- Organize interfaith, spiritual, or purpose-centered programming that reflects the lived experiences and diversity of Covenant House youth.
- Serve as a consistent, visible, and supportive presence across campus to build authentic relationships with youth and staff.
Bible Study (Optional Programming):
- Facilitate or co-lead optional weekly Bible study for youth who express interest.
- Encourage open discussion and personal reflection, emphasizing messages of love, resilience, and restoration.
- Maintain a space that welcomes questioning, doubt, and diverse interpretations.
Collaboration and Communication:
- Work closely with YES, case managers, and community partners to ensure coordinated care for youth and to identify additional resources, and support services.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to contribute to holistic support planning.
- Coordinate with case managers and mental health clinicians when spiritual concerns intersect with mental or emotional health.
- Provide crisis de-escalation support and serve as a grounding presence when needed.
Documentation & Reporting:
- Oversee the maintenance of accurate, confidential, and timely documentation related to spiritual services, youth engagement, and pastoral care.
- Track participation, progress, and outcomes for spiritual programming, including individual sessions, group activities, and Bible study.
- Ensure all required documentation is entered into HMIS, ETO, and other organizational systems in compliance with policy and funding requirements.
- Prepare regular reports highlighting participation trends, outcomes, and program impact.
- Ensure all documentation complies with legal, ethical, and organizational standards related to confidentiality, youth protection, and data integrity.
Trauma-Informed Care:
- Deliver spiritual and emotional services that reflect trauma-informed principles, ensuring youth feel safe, respected, empowered, and heard.
- Create healing environments that promote trust, transparency, peer connection, and resilience.
- Support organizational learning by modeling trauma-informed practices and offering guidance on integrating these principles into spiritual and pastoral care.
Training and Advocacy:
- Educate staff on the role of spirituality, spiritual identity, and spiritual trauma in the lives of young people.
- Advocate for culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches to spiritual and emotional care.
- Support youth, upon request, in connecting with local faith communities, cultural organizations, or spiritual resources aligned with their values.
- Develop partnerships with community faith leaders, seminaries, and interfaith organizations to strengthen programming and referral pathways.
Self-Care and Professional Development:
- Engage in regular self-care practices to manage the emotional demands of the role.
- Participate in ongoing training, workshops, and professional development opportunities to stay informed about best practices in trauma-informed care and human trafficking prevention.
Qualifications:
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Pastoral Counseling, Divinity, Social Work, Psychology, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- Ordination, certification, or equivalent pastoral credentials.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience working with vulnerable or traumatized populations.
- Demonstrated understanding of trauma-informed care, youth development, and harm-reduction principles.
- Experience working with diverse communities, including LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and non-faith-identifying youth.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and crisis management skills.
Trauma-Informed Core Competencies:
- Safety: Creates an emotionally and spiritually safe environment for all youth.
- Trustworthiness & Transparency: Communicates clearly and honestly, building trust through consistency and respect.
- Peer Support & Mutuality: Promotes healing and empowerment through shared experiences.
- Empowerment, Voice & Choice: Honors youth agency in exploring or declining spiritual services.
- Cultural, Historical, and Gender Responsiveness: Affirms the dignity of each youth’s identity and lived experience.
Working Conditions:
- Must be comfortable working in a residential setting where youth may be in emotional distress or behavioral crisis.
- Flexible schedule including some evenings and weekends.
- Must pass background check and complete trauma-informed training upon hire.
About Covenant House Texas
Covenant House Texas (CHT) opened its doors in 1983 to provide shelter for homeless, abused and abandoned youth ages 18 – 24. After more than 35 years of service, CHT offers an extensive continuum of care model for homeless youth including mental health and substance abuse counseling, educational and vocational training, transitional and permanent living programs, street outreach and prevention, pastoral ministry and parenting classes in addition to providing the basic necessities of food, clothing, medical care and safe shelter from the streets for youth in crisis.