Executive Chaplain

Provides both executive leadership and pastoral oversight for Flo Harris Lodge, ensuring the Lodge remains a safe, caring, and well-managed residential ministry.....

Flo Harris Lodge – Petersham Baptist Church

Location: Lewisham, NSW Australia

Appointment: Full-Time (with on-site accommodation)

Term: Two-year contract

Compensation: In line with qualifications and experience, per NSW & ACT Baptist Remuneration Recommendations

About Flo Harris Lodge

Flo Harris Lodge (FHL) is a ministry of Petersham Baptist Church. Established over 60 years ago, FHL provides a warm and secure Christian residential community for around 50 young adults each year.

Most residents are aged 18–24 and are beginning tertiary study or work in Sydney, often coming from regional Australia or overseas. FHL is a place where young adults can grow personally, spiritually, and relationally — encountering the Christian Gospel in community, and being supported to grow in their Christian faith and witness.

About the Role

The Executive Chaplain provides both executive leadership and pastoral oversight for Flo Harris Lodge, ensuring the Lodge remains a safe, caring, and well-managed residential ministry. This is a senior position combining organisational management, spiritual leadership, and community formation. The Executive Chaplain is responsible for leading staff, overseeing operations, nurturing Christian community, and ensuring the ongoing partnership between FHL and Petersham Baptist Church.

The role is suited to job share; ideally a husband-and-wife team able to provide chaplaincy to both male and female residents. The position includes on-site accommodation as part of the remuneration package, enabling the Executive Chaplain(s) to live alongside residents and participate fully in community life.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Providing executive leadership for FHL’s ministry, operations, and staff.
• Overseeing the care, culture, and community life of the Lodge.
• Providing pastoral care, discipleship, and Christian leadership to residents.
• Leading and mentoring staff, including the Secondary Chaplain and Business & Finance Manager.
• Working with Petersham Baptist Church to align ministry, governance, and mission.
• Ensuring the long-term sustainability and strategic development of the Lodge.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate(s) will demonstrate:

• A genuine and mature Christian faith, reflected in character, conduct, and relationships.
• Theological convictions compatible with those of Petersham Baptist Church.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills, with experience managing people and operations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to relate well to young adults.
• A heart for pastoral ministry among young adults and a capacity to teach, model, and mentor.
• The ability to integrate practical management with Christian community formation.
• A collaborative spirit and the ability to work well within both ministry and governance contexts.
• Willingness and capacity to comply with FHL’s safe organisation policies, including:
  • Agreement to abide by and uphold the Code of Conduct;
  • Holding or being eligible for a Working With Children Check;
  • Completing a screening questionnaire;
  • Undergoing a National Police Criminal Record Check.

Desirable criteria include:

• Experience in Christian residential ministry, student ministry, or Christian leadership.
• Formal theological qualifications or ministry training.

Experience working in or alongside church governance or not-for-profit boards.

Conditions

This is a full-time, residential position. The package includes on-site accommodation (covering housing, food, and utilities) to facilitate community engagement and pastoral availability.

The role offers six weeks annual leave.

Contact

For more information about this role, or to apply, please contact:

David McKinnon
Chair, Flo Harris Lodge Committee

chairman@floharrislodge.org.au

Applications should be via email. Please include a cover letter, resume, and details of at least two referees.

Position Description

1. Primary Objectives

   Provide executive leadership, pastoral oversight, and religious instruction at Flo Harris Lodge (FHL) as part of the ministry of Petersham Baptist Church (PBC).

   Lead and manage the operations, staff, and culture of FHL so that the Lodge provides:
   • a safe, caring, and well-managed residential community for young adult residents (typically, but not exclusively, tertiary students);
   • a context in which Christian community and care are lived out; and
   • conditions conducive to discipleship, personal growth, and evangelism.

   Lead FHL both spiritually and organisationally, shaping the culture through leadership of staff and students alike and working collaboratively with and being accountable to the leadership of Petersham Baptist Church (PBC) and the FHL committee.

2. Nature and Key Expectations of the Position

   The Executive Chaplain serves as the senior officer of Flo Harris Lodge, providing overall leadership, management, and ministry. This role integrates pastoral care with effective governance, operational management, and community development.

   The Executive Chaplain provides pastoral oversight and executive direction, delegating tasks as appropriate while maintaining overall accountability for outcomes.

   It is a fundamental expectation that the Executive Chaplain be actively involved in Petersham Baptist Church in a manner typical of committed members of the Church, recognising modelling church attendance and service as part of their role.

   The Executive Chaplain’s remuneration package includes fringe benefits that cover accommodation on-site, food, residential costs, and related benefits in keeping with the significant pastoral and spiritual leadership of the position. These benefits enable the Executive Chaplain to live on-site, remaining connected to the life and culture of FHL. It is not considered possible to perform the pastoral elements of the position effectively while living elsewhere.

   Due to the spiritual and pastoral elements of the role, the Executive Chaplain holds a position of Christian religious authority in the context of FHL. PBC confers this authority as a reflection of the fact that the Executive Chaplain exercises pastoral duties grounded in Christian faith and maturity, including strengthening Christians in their faith, presenting the gospel to non-Christians, and fostering a culture that reflects Christian community and discipleship.

   In support of this responsibility, one of the selection criteria for the position is the Christian faith, character, and maturity of the applicant.

   PBC will normally hold a commissioning service at the commencement of employment to publicly recognise this ministry role and its pastoral authority.

   The role is suited to job share. Indeed, the ideal applicants are a husband-and-wife team who can provide chaplaincy to male and female residents.

3. Key Responsibilities

   The Executive Chaplain leads by either:

   • taking responsibility (retaining ultimate accountability through oversight),
   • doing (required to perform personally and cannot delegate), or
   • serving alongside (without sole responsibility).

   1. Discipleship and Evangelism

      Take responsibility, with the PBC pastor and elders, for shaping the ministry approach to discipleship and evangelism within FHL and its connection with PBC.

      Works with PBC elders and the Secondary Chaplain to design, develop, and implement a coherent approach to young adult discipleship and evangelism across both ministries.

      Serves alongside the Secondary Chaplain, Senior Residents, and PBC pastoral staff to develop, equip, and encourage residents in Christian faith and outreach.

   2. Community, Care and Culture

      Take responsibility for the overall community life, care, and culture of FHL so that residents are well cared for and the environment is conducive to safety, growth, friendship, discipleship, and evangelism.

      Provide pastoral care, mentoring, discipline, and community leadership, in partnership with the Secondary Chaplain and Senior Residents.

      Serve alongside the Secondary Chaplain and Senior Residents in developing and maintaining the spiritual and relational health of the community.

   3. Organisational Leadership

      Take responsibility for leading the organisation, including staff, residents, and operations; ensuring sound financial, property, and risk management; maintaining compliance; and ensuring FHL operates sustainably.

      Lead and supervise staff, including the Secondary Chaplain and Business and Operations Manager; understand and monitor financial performance via the bookkeeper; and make key operational decisions.

      Serve alongside the Business and Operations Manager, bookkeeper, other staff or contractors, and the FHL committee.

   4. Accommodation and Operations

      Take responsibility for ensuring the effective operation of the catered accommodation provided by FHL, including compliance, safety, and quality of resident experience.

      Oversee the overall management of the residential community.

      Ensure day-to-day logistics and service delivery through the assistance of the Business and Finance Manager, staff and contractors (e.g. cook, cleaners), and Senior Residents.

   5. Governance and Reporting

      Take responsibility for reporting to the FHL Committee on all aspects of the organisation’s life and performance to allow transparency, operational sustainability, and strategic planning.

      Prepare reports, agenda items, and supporting documentation for Committee meetings in consultation with the FHL Committee Chair and Business and Operations Manager to ensure the Committee has the information necessary to exercise effective governance and oversight.

      Serve alongside the FHL Chair and Committee, PBC Pastor, and PBC Leadership Team in strategic planning and implementation for the long-term viability and ministry development of FHL.

   6. Relationship with Petersham Baptist Church

      Take responsibility for ensuring the ongoing partnership between FHL and PBC, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration, and working to develop deeper connections.

      Build and maintain relationships with the PBC Pastor, Leadership Team, and congregation; encourage resident engagement with PBC’s life and mission.

      Serve alongside the Secondary Chaplain and Senior Residents in connecting residents to the PBC community.

4. Key Relationships

   Reports to:

   • The FHL Committee (via the Chair for day-to-day purposes, and to the full Committee for issues of governance through meetings and reviews).

   • Hours and Conditions of Work

     This is a full-time, salaried position. The Executive Chaplain’s workload varies according to FHL’s seasonal rhythms, and especially during peak periods, such as the beginning of FHL year. Flexibility is expected to meet pastoral and operational needs rather than fixed hours.

     The role includes an on-site accommodation component as part of the salary package, to facilitate pastoral availability and engagement in community life.

     Six weeks' annual leave is included in the salary package in recognition of the integrated living and working conditions. Leave will typically be taken outside of the start of year peak period, and semester time.

     This role has an ‘on call’ component, which involves being contactable and able to respond to emergencies in a timely way. These include

     • monitoring the FHL phone, while being within an hour’s distance of FHL; and
     • being contactable by residents and the public.

     During on-call periods, a Senior Resident will be rostered as the primary contact for FHL. On-call staff are expected to advise and assist Senior Residents as needed.

   The FHL committee exercises governance oversight and is not typically involved in daily management.

   Directly oversees:

   • Secondary Chaplain
   • Business and Operations Manager
   • Senior Residents

   • Hours and Conditions of Work

     This is a full-time, salaried position. The Executive Chaplain’s workload varies according to FHL’s seasonal rhythms, and especially during peak periods, such as the beginning of FHL year. Flexibility is expected to meet pastoral and operational needs rather than fixed hours.

     The role includes an on-site accommodation component as part of the salary package, to facilitate pastoral availability and engagement in community life.

     Six weeks' annual leave is included in the salary package in recognition of the integrated living and working conditions. Leave will typically be taken outside of the start of year peak period, and semester time.

     This role has an ‘on call’ component, which involves being contactable and able to respond to emergencies in a timely way. These include

     • monitoring the FHL phone, while being within an hour’s distance of FHL; and
     • being contactable by residents and the public.

     During on-call periods, a Senior Resident will be rostered as the primary contact for FHL. On-call staff are expected to advise and assist Senior Residents as needed.

   Works closely with:

   • FHL Committee Chair
   • PBC Pastor and other PBC pastoral staff
   • Contractors, suppliers, and service providers as needed

   • Hours and Conditions of Work

     This is a full-time, salaried position. The Executive Chaplain’s workload varies according to FHL’s seasonal rhythms, and especially during peak periods, such as the beginning of FHL year. Flexibility is expected to meet pastoral and operational needs rather than fixed hours.

     The role includes an on-site accommodation component as part of the salary package, to facilitate pastoral availability and engagement in community life.

     Six weeks' annual leave is included in the salary package in recognition of the integrated living and working conditions. Leave will typically be taken outside of the start of year peak period, and semester time.

     This role has an ‘on call’ component, which involves being contactable and able to respond to emergencies in a timely way. These include

     • monitoring the FHL phone, while being within an hour’s distance of FHL; and
     • being contactable by residents and the public.

     During on-call periods, a Senior Resident will be rostered as the primary contact for FHL. On-call staff are expected to advise and assist Senior Residents as needed.

   • Applications should be via email. Please include a cover letter, resume, and details of at least two referees