Rector - Tantur Ecumenical institute

Company Description

The University of Notre Dame, founded in 1842 in Notre Dame, Indiana, is a premier American research university. As a Catholic institution, it uniquely blends faith with intellectual inquiry, striving for excellence in teaching, research, and serving the common good. Notre Dame offers a dynamic and rewarding environment for its diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, who are all dedicated to fostering an inclusive campus and being a force for good in the world. With world-class facilities, acclaimed academic programs, and a strong commitment to innovation and ethical leadership, Notre Dame is an ideal place to make a meaningful impact.

Job Description

About the Tantur Ecumenical Institute

The Tantur Ecumenical Institute envisions a world-wide Christian community that is focused on Jesus, attentive to the poor, and thirsting for unity, responding to Jesus’s prayer that all may be one. Founded by Pope Paul VI and entrusted to the stewardship of the University of Notre Dame, the Tantur Ecumenical Institute works to contribute to the healing of divisions among Christians. Anchored in Jerusalem and at Notre Dame in the United States, the Institute today is a catalyst for scholarship, pilgrimage, prayer, and encounter among Christians and other religious believers. The Institute derives special meaning from its opportunity to elevate the global Christian community’s attention to the needs and lived realities of the Christian community in the Holy Land. In line with its mission, the Institute has become a global hub for the formation of clergy, pastoral leaders, and pilgrims from a wide array of Christian traditions.

About the Position

The Rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute is responsible for the leadership of the Institute’s initiatives in the Holy Land, represents Tantur throughout the world, and is a leader within the global ecumenical movement. The Rector supervises a host of pastoral education programs and pilgrimage experiences for clergy, pastoral leaders, and other visitors to the Holy Land, and is empowered to work creatively to build, within available resources, additional pastoral, scholarly, and spiritual initiatives aligned with the Institute’s ecumenical mission. Special opportunities exist to develop – in a manner appropriate for an academic institution – the Tantur Ecumenical Institute’s service to the Christian community in the Holy Land. The Rector animates the prayer and spiritual life at Tantur and the Institute’s global contributions to spiritual ecumenism.

The Rector represents the Tantur Ecumenical Institute to the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel / the Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, and other ecclesial institutions. In representing the Tantur Ecumenical Institute to local Church authorities, the Rector collaborates with the Director of Notre Dame Jerusalem (D-NDJ) when matters relate to property, tax, and other similar administrative matters. The Rector collaborates closely with the D-NDJ to ensure operational and administrative support for the Ecumenical Institute’s programming. The Rector and the D-NDJ are equal partners who communicate regularly. The two leaders work collaboratively and in support of each other, representing the values of the University of Notre Dame.

The Rector resides at Tantur, located in Jerusalem near Bethlehem. The Rector is an employee of the University of Notre Dame and will report to the Executive Director of the University’s Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs (OMECA). The Rector collaborates with the D-NDJ, the Senior Ecumenical Fellow (a Notre Dame faculty member charged with leading ecumenically-relevant scholarly activities), the leadership of Notre Dame Global, and other faculty and administrators of the University of Notre Dame.

The anticipated start date for the next Rector is early summer 2027.

Delineation to Notre Dame Jerusalem

The Ecumenical Institute shares the Tantur campus with Notre Dame Jerusalem (NDJ). NDJ is an academic center that administers research, education, and outreach initiatives and collaborates with various local universities, research institutes, and religious organizations. Among other activities, it administers various study abroad programs for Notre Dame students and an academic forum that is sponsored by the Catholic Church. NDJ is also responsible for the stewardship of the University's physical, financial, and legal resources in Jerusalem. This includes stewarding the Tantur campus (hospitality, operations, security, etc.) and representing the Tantur Ecumenical Institute as a legal entity to all relevant secular authorities (finance, legal, etc.), including when relations to secular authorities are mediated by Church officials. Notre Dame Jerusalem is led by the D-NDJ, who is the authorized signatory of the legal entity. The D-NDJ and the Rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute are expected to collaborate and consult with each other on a consistent, regular and collegial basis on all relevant financial, legal, planning or programmatic engagements as appropriate. By respecting each other's expertise and designated responsibilities in this way, Notre Dame's mission, vision, and values for engaging in the Holy Land can be fully realized for the common good.

Key responsibilities of the Rector include:

In collaboration with the leadership of the University of Notre Dame, provide vision for the Tantur Ecumenical Institute and the pursuit of its mission.
Provide administrative, pastoral, and educational leadership to the Tantur Ecumenical Institute and its initiatives.
Hire, supervise, and collaborate with the Institute’s staff (including the Program Director, Program Coordinator, and any future positions) in such a way that ensures the excellent quality of all of the Institute’s initiatives.
Participate in the leadership of pastoral education programs, including introducing pilgrims to various communities and holy sites, lecturing on various relevant themes, and assisting pilgrims in processing their experiences in the Holy Land.
Undertake measures to ensure that the Institute’s pastoral education programs are sufficiently enrolled.
Within available resources, conceive, plan, and implement additional pastoral, scholarly, and spiritual initiatives aligned with the Institute’s ecumenical mission.
Cultivate a rhythm of prayer and worship at the Institute, attending to the spiritual lives and needs of the community at Tantur. Work with Notre Dame Jerusalem colleagues to ensure visiting students (especially undergraduate students) and faculty have access to the same pastoral services.
In collaboration with the Executive Director of OMECA, attend to the Institute’s budget and administration, and implement sustainable management of financial resources.
Represent the Tantur Ecumenical Institute to the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel / the Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, and other ecclesial institutions. Communicate and collaborate with the D-NDJ when relations with the Apostolic Nuncio relate to tax and legal issues.
Strengthen relationships that are important to the Institute. Key constituents include the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel / the Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine; international leaders and scholars of ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, including global ecumenical institutions and communities; local, regional, and global religious leaders, including the leaders of the churches and communities of the Holy Land; and benefactors of the Institute.
Represent the Tantur Ecumenical Institute at appropriate meetings and conferences that align with the Institute’s mission and objectives.
Communicate and collaborate with the Executive Director of OMECA, the D-NDJ, and the Senior Ecumenical Fellow, as well as other Notre Dame officials.

Qualifications

An advanced degree in divinity, theology, or a related field; sensitivity to research and scholarly activities.
Demonstrated interest in ecumenism and the formation of clergy and pastoral leaders; sensitivity to inter-religious dialogue and ability to succeed in an inter-faith and multi-cultural environment.
Familiarity with and appreciation of numerous traditions within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Commitment to the Catholic Church’s teachings on ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue.
A robust track record of leadership and at least 10 years of work experience in pastoral, administrative, or academic settings.
Exceptional organizational and communication skills.
Strong sense of character, integrity, work ethic, and commitment to developing and sustaining collaborative relationships with a diverse constituency.
Language proficiency in English. Proficiency in other languages is a plus.
Experience in the Holy Land is preferred.
Must be eligible to reside and work in Israel/Palestine.

Additional Information

The Rector holds a full-time position with benefits. Salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience.

RESUME & COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED to be considered for this position. Please add in the attachments section of your application.

Applications will be accepted through October 1, 2026 and considered highly confidential.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.