Director in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at American Bible Society

Director of Spiritual Life

Job Summary:

The Director of Spiritual Life leads American Bible Society’s efforts to cultivate a Spirit-led, prayer-saturated, and discerning organizational culture rooted in Scripture and aligned with ABS’s mission. This role is responsible for implementing and shepherding the organization’s Prayer & Discernment Strategy, helping leaders, staff, and supporters develop rhythms of prayer, Scripture engagement, and communal spiritual discernment. Working closely with senior leadership, the Director will guide practices that ensure prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit shape decision-making, organizational culture, and ministry priorities. The Director will help ABS grow into a community known for bold intercession, spiritual unity across Christian traditions, and attentiveness to God’s guidance in mission. Further, this role assists the organization in inviting supporters into prayer with and for the organization, in collaboration with front-facing departments interacting with supporters.

• Demonstrate a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
• Identify with and participate in a Christian church and proactively seek to grow in their Christian faith.
• Actively participate in organizational prayer, devotional times, and organization-wide events.
• Maintain an exemplary standard of Christian ethics, behavior, and conduct within ABS and in their public and private life outside of ABS and always seek to uphold ABS’ Standards of Conduct and Affirmation of Biblical Community.
• Demonstrate Christian maturity in all interactions as displayed by good judgment based on biblical values and principles.
• Actively incorporate their faith in all aspects of their daily work.
• Demonstrate desire and ability to support organizational biblical and religious goals and participate in regular work-related spiritual activities without reservation.
• Have a personal passion for and belief in the Word of God, its ability to transform lives, and the mission of American Bible Society.
• Demonstrate alignment with the vision, mission, and values of American Bible Society.

• Prayer Strategy Leadership
  • Lead the implementation and ongoing development of the ABS Prayer & Discernment Strategy across the organization, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities.
  • Ensure prayer and Scripture engagement are integrated into leadership practices, team rhythms, and organizational decision-making.
  • Help cultivate ABS as a Spirit-led, prayer-saturated, discerning community grounded in Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit.
• Spiritual Life & Organizational Culture
  • Foster a workplace culture of spiritual vitality rooted in biblical prayer, unity in Christ, and shared discernment across Christian traditions.
  • Equip staff in personal and communal spiritual disciplines such as Scripture meditation, silence, intercession, Examen, and Scripture-guided prayer.
  • Create and distribute resources and training that help staff integrate faith, prayer, and mission into everyday work life.
• Leadership Prayer & Discernment Practices
  • Partner with the President/CEO, Chiefs, and departmental leaders to embed Scripture and prayer into executive planning, leadership meetings, and decision-making processes.
  • Design and facilitate leadership retreats and discernment sessions that emphasize “Scripture before strategy,” spiritual reflection, and shared listening prayer.
  • Model and coach leaders in prayerful discernment as a foundation for organizational clarity and alignment.
• Organizational Prayer Rhythms
  • Establish and sustain corporate prayer practices that unify and strengthen the ABS community, including:
    • Weekly staff prayer gatherings
    • Scripture-centered prayer experiences
    • Leadership prayer rhythms
    • Prayer initiatives connected to ABS strategic priorities
  • Develop digital and print tools (e.g., prayer walls, journals, and guided prompts to encourage organization-wide participation in prayer)
• Communal Discernment Frameworks
  • Equip teams with biblical and time-tested approaches to communal discernment, including Scripture reflection, spiritual listening, and Spirit-led consensus.
  • Facilitate organization-specific discernment frameworks that can guide major decisions and periods of transition.
  • Encourage a shared attentiveness to the Spirit’s leading across all levels of the organization.
• Interconfessional Prayer Culture
  • Foster a prayer culture that reflects ABS’s interconfessional identity, embracing contemplative, liturgical, charismatic, and evangelical expressions of Christian spirituality.
  • Provide theological and practical guidance that enables staff to pray together across traditions with humility, reference, and mutual respect.
• Staff Spiritual Community
  • Design and support staff spiritual community initiatives such as:
    • Prayer triads or small groups
    • Discipleship bands
    • Corporate prayer gatherings
    • Public Reading of Scripture meetings
    • Retreats and spiritual formation events
  • Encourage relationships of accountability, mutual encouragement, and shared growth among staff.
  • Serve as a pastoral presence for the ABS community, offering spiritual care, listening, and encouragement.
• Supporter Prayer Engagement
  • Partner with Marketing and Development teams to engage ABS supporters in prayer through:
    • Prayer partner networks
    • Digital prayer guides and devotionals
    • Virtual prayer gatherings
    • Prayer campaigns tied to ministry initiatives and milestones.
  • Inspire supporters to join in Scripture-rooted intercession for ABS’ mission and the global Church
    

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Theology, Divinity, Spiritual Formation, or Ministry preferred.
• Experience: 7–10 years of ministry leadership or spiritual formation experience. > Demonstrated experience in leading prayer movements, spiritual formation initiatives, or discipleship programs in a church, nonprofit, or organizational context. > Proven ability to design, implement, and sustain spiritual formation or prayer strategies at a systems/organizational level.
• Spiritual and Theological Qualifications: Mature Christian faith with a deep personal life of prayer and Scripture engagement. > Clear commitment to the authority of Scripture and alignment with ABS’ mission and interconfessional identity. > Ability to lead prayer and spiritual formation across diverse Christian traditions with sensitivity and theological discernment. > Deep listening posture, emotional maturity, and discretion in handling sensitive spiritual and personal matters. > Commitment to ongoing spiritual, theological, and professional development.
• Technical Skills: Strong facilitation skills for prayer, Scripture engagement, spiritual practices, and communal discernment in group settings. > Demonstrated capacity to cultivate a spiritually health, biblically grounded organizational culture. > Skilled communicator able to teach Scripture, guide prayer, and articulate spiritual formation principles to varied audiences. > Proven ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership and cross-functional teams, influencing without always having direct authority. > Strategic thinker able to design, evaluate, and adapt spiritual formation and prayer initiatives that align with organizational strategy.

• Demonstrate desire and ability to support organizational biblical, spiritual life, and religious goals and participate in regular work-related spiritual activities without reservation.
• Have a personal passion for and belief in the Word of God, its ability to transform lives, and the mission of American Bible Society.
• Demonstrate alignment with the vision, mission, and values of American Bible Society.

• Communication Skills:
  • Complex Communication: Proficient in communicating complex ideas to various stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Teamwork and Collaboration:
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Leads teams effectively, builds strong team dynamics, and fosters a collaborative organizational culture.
• Cultural Competence and Inclusion:
  • Cultural Awareness: Respects and values diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Service Orientation:
  • Service Solutions: Understands service recipients’ needs, develops solutions to meet those needs, and builds relationships.
• Adaptability and Flexibility:
  • Responsive Adjustment: Adjusts strategies based on new information, remains flexible in dynamic environments.
• Time Management and Organization:
  • Efficient Coordination: Prioritizes tasks, manages multiple projects, and ensures team deadlines are met.
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking:
  • Strategic Organizational Solutions: Anticipates potential problems, creates strategic solutions and guides the organization through complex challenges.
• Leadership and Initiative:
  • Team Leadership: Guides, supports and leads team members to achieve goals, engage in cross-company collaboration and pivot when needed to achieve strategic change.

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Occasional walking and standing are often necessary in carrying out job duties.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds at a time (training materials, etc.).

American Bible Society is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities and ensuring a workplace free from discrimination. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to participate in the application process and perform the essential functions of their job.

• Background Check: Candidates must pass a background check as a condition of employment. This may include criminal history, credit check, and verification of employment and education history.
• Reference Checks: Employment is contingent upon satisfactory reference checks.
• Eligibility to Work: Candidates must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
• Affirmation of Biblical Community: Candidates must sign and agree to uphold the ABS Affirmation of Biblical Community as a condition of employment.

American Bible Society is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. We believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, created in the image of God, and strive to reflect Christ’s love and justice in our employment practices.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is rooted in our Christian faith and values, which call us to love and respect all people.

As a faith-based organization, we require employees to affirm and uphold our Christian beliefs as a condition of employment. This requirement is consistent with our mission and ensures that our work environment aligns with our core values and deeply held religious principles.