We are seeking a Muslim Chaplain who can use their in-depth understanding and experience of Islam in its diverse forms, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to provide a welcoming and supportive experience for our Muslim students and staff from all over the world. This role requires working collaboratively as part of multi-professional teams to provide faith-based support and to contribute to the well-being and sense of belonging of all in our university community.

We are seeking to engage a Muslim Chaplain who can provide confidential and non-judgmental pastoral support, spiritual leadership, religious guidance, and faith-based support to our Muslim community, and also contribute to our support to students and staff of all faiths and no faith. In this capacity you will advise the University on issues related to the Muslim faith; while also supporting interfaith dialogue within the University community; and be involved in the organisation and oversight of prayer facilities and worship. Our university values of collaboration, compassion, inclusivity, and integrity will underpin this work.

The role is to be appointed through our University Union and will report to its Chief Executive Officer. Operationally, it will be located alongside the University’s Christian chaplains in the University’s Emmanuel Centre and enjoy its supporting structure. You will work with our Muslim Student Advisers, colleagues across the University and Students’ Union and with other chaplains, student societies, and the University Muslim Staff Network, helping to promote and enable a positive and inclusive student and staff experience. As well as being well-connected into wider chaplaincy activity, the role will work closely with our large network of services across campus, to ensure beneficial partnership-working related to wellbeing, community building and enhancement of services, and effective referrals for the different issues that students and staff can bring such as collaboration with mental health and wellbeing services for early identification of vulnerabilities, and facilitating student and staff engagement with appropriate support. Interfaith activity will involve working in partnership with chaplains and faith leaders in the local community.

It is envisaged that the Muslim Chaplain will have significant experience of providing pastoral support, including supporting people in emotional distress. You will have the knowledge and experience to nurture understanding of the Muslim faith and provide spiritual support to our students and staff and bring specialist faith expertise to issue-related problem-resolution; worship and interfaith activities; and University policy and facilities development. The skills and experience of communicating and collaborating effectively with others to meet the needs of our community are essential.    

You will have a profound respect for equality, diversity and inclusion and be able to demonstrate an understanding of, and empathy towards, the variety of needs and beliefs of a diverse community going through the highs and lows of their student/professional journeys, and their personal lives.  

You should have experience of having worked in a similar role within a community or, preferably, university environment.    

Some evening and occasional weekend work will be required to attend meetings and events, along with working adjusted hours where needed to facilitate appointments with students who are on placement during standard office hours.  

Main duties and Responsibilities:  

• Pastoral-support: Provide pastoral support and guidance from a faith perspective, particularly for Muslim students and staff, including on personal issues, vocational and theological questions, bereavement/grief and relationship challenges. 
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the range of sources of support on campus and undertake relevant student support training. 
• Collaborate with other teams such as mental health and wellbeing services and academic-related support services to enable students and staff to receive comprehensive care, including making referrals and facilitating engagement with relevant services.  

Religious activities and guidance:  

• Work with other teams and with student societies to support the management of our Muslim prayer spaces. 
• Be involved in organising prayers and Islamic celebrations in collaboration with colleagues, student and staff groups and the local community. 
• Develop understanding of the Muslim faith amongst students and staff and provide the University with advice on matters relating to Islam. 
• Promote an inclusive approach to supporting different faith requirements and different denominations within our Muslim student and staff community. 
• Contribute to briefing, training, and issue resolution.  

Support for groups, community building and interfaith work:  

• Provide support and spiritual guidance to the Islamic Society, Ahlul Bayt Society and other student faith societies and staff networks who represent and provide peer support to their communities, working in collaboration with the Students’ Union and the University’s Equality and Inclusion Unit. 
• Promote understanding and inclusion on campus by fostering respectful dialogue and building positive relationships between students from different faith groups and with students of no faith. 
• Work in partnership with other chaplains to provide a multi-faith response to support our community at commemorative events and in times of crisis. 
• Support for communications and enhancement: Provide faith expertise to inform the development and enhancement of communications, services and activities for Muslim students and staff. 
• Maintain awareness of and share best practice in delivering Islamic and multi-faith support for students.    

Policy Compliance and Development:  

• Act in accordance with University policies and the law related to confidentiality, data protection, equality and diversity, safeguarding, and health and safety. Provide advice on the review and development of related policies and procedures.    

Qualifications and Skills  

Essential:  

• Degree-level education or equivalent relevant training and experience  
• Practising Muslim with a deep grounding in Islamic theology. Proven experience of leading or supporting religious life and working positively with different denominational groups and working as part of multi-professional and multi-faith teams  
• A good understanding of the student journey through higher education, and sensitivity to Muslim students’ unique experiences and challenges  
• Significant experience of providing pastoral support and spiritual care (particularly to young people or students) including supporting people in emotional distress or with mental health difficulties  
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative, tactful, and emotionally intelligent working relationships with a broad spectrum of colleagues, in a large, diverse and complex organisation, and with external partners  
• Ability to foster relationships between people of all faiths and world views, with experience of facilitating interfaith dialogue, understanding and cooperation in a diverse environment  
• Excellent planning and organisation skills and experience of both managing own work independently and working effectively with line management/supervision  
• Ability to work within procedures, policies, and laws related to equality and inclusion, confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding, and health and safety  
• Willingness to work outside normal office hours, including some evenings and weekends to attend events, and when needed to facilitate later appointments for students who are on placement.  

Desirable:  

• Alim/Alimah qualification  
• Postgraduate qualification in Islamic Studies or related disciplines  
• Experience of advocacy on faith-related issues in institutional contexts  
• Familiarity with using Microsoft Outlook, Word and Teams for administrative tasks and communication.  

Key Attributes (to be explored during the interview process):  

• Excellent verbal, listening and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and to contribute to training  
• A mature, professional approach with the ability to gain the confidence of staff at all levels, students and other stakeholders  
• Sound judgment with the ability to recognise and maintain appropriate boundaries in a pastoral setting; provide confidential and non-judgmental support; and escalate issues and risks as necessary  
• Personal resilience and a robust inner spiritual resource to handle challenging and distressing situations and safeguard wellbeing  
• Understanding of Freedom of Speech within Higher Education and the ability to make informed judgements in relation to this  
• A strong understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and a focus on promoting understanding and inclusion across all student and staff groups.    

Application Process  

Contracted Agreement: 

• Number of days or hours you are available per week  
• Flexibility to offer support during evenings or weekends as required  
• How you would work collaboratively with the University’s chaplaincy, Muslim Student Advisers, student societies, and other stakeholders    
• Provide a clear breakdown of your pricing, including:  
• Hourly or daily rate - salary negotiable 
• Any travel, preparation time, or additional costs  
• VAT status (if applicable)  

Professional References: 

Please provide a minimum of two references, ideally linked to similar work. Please include:  

• Name  
• Organisation and role  
• Email and phone contact details  
• The context in which they supervised your work    

Compliance and Safeguarding:  

Confirm your ability to meet contractual and compliance requirements, including:  

• Possession of (or willingness to obtain) an Enhanced DBS check  
• Understanding of GDPR, safeguarding, confidentiality, and equality legislation  
• Any relevant professional memberships or safeguarding certifications    

Application Submission  

Please submit your full application to LeadershipSupport@luu.ac.uk by 23rd February 2026.  

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to an interview or discussion to further explore their approach and suitability. 

Key Information:

Closing Date: Monday 23 February 2026

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Location: Leeds, LS2 9JZ, GB

Working in the UK: 

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Location: Leeds, LS2 9JZ, GB