Job Title

Psalms That Sing Guide-writer

Location

South Africa

 

Job Description Summary

This role is successfully fulfilled when the guide-writer has successfully completed the drafting, revising and finalizing the guides allocated to him or her by his or her her supervisor, the Chief Guide Editor of Psalms That Sing

Job Description

Key Result Area 1: has done adequate research

• In-depth academic research into the assigned psalms will be required for every guide
• This research is not limited to the allocated psalms but will include extensive reading in the Psalter as a whole, how a specific psalm fits into the Psalter as a whole and into the storyline of the history of redemption laid out in the whole Scriptures
• Guide-writing also includes growth in the area of knowing about poetry as a whole, not only in Hebrew poetry but also an awareness of poetry in different parts of the world

Key Result Area 2: has written the guides for the allocated psalms

• A selection of psalms will be allocated to the guide-writer
• Planning, drafting, editing and preparing to the point of submission of the guide to the Chief Guide Editor
• Following the template and guidelines to the optimal estent while allowing for personal style

Key Result Area 3: has maintained peer guide-writer collaboration

• The guide-writer does not have complete or final ownership of any guide he or she writes, and does not own the copyright to the guide. The copyright belongs to Psalms That Sing
• The guide-writer is also not the sole writer of any specific guide. Parts of the guide will be written in collaboration with others on the team, as coordinatod by the Chief Guide Editor
• The guide-writer will be part of frequent meetings and interaction with fellow guide-writers in this regard

Key Result Area 4: has completed ongoing editing and revision as needed

• Even after completion of a guide and submission to the Chief Guide Editor, who in turn will submit the guide to the Editorial Committee, the guide-writer’s work on the guide is not yet completed
  • The guide-writer will incorporate the suggestions and recommendations of the Chief Guide Editor and the Editorial Committee, and re-submit the guide to the Chief Guide Editor
  • Even after a beta version of the guide appears on the website for global use and downloading, ongoing revision will take place. No guide is ever perfect. Every year the guide-writer will submit a revised edition to the Chief Guide Editor on a timeline specified by the Editor

Role Competencies

• Ability to write technically and academically
• A good working knowledge of Biblical Hebrew
• A good working knowledge of Old Testament Theology and Biblical Theology
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to make good use of commentaries and other resources about the Psalms
• Software skills and abilities: Microsoft Word, Zoom, internet research

Spiritual culture and interpersonal skills

• Patience and perseverance in the midst of the obstacles and challenges of guide-writing. The writing of a good guide is not easy.
• Responsive to feedback and input from fellow guide-writers, from the Chief Guide Editor, and from the Editorial Committee
• A willingness to listen and to learn
• Respectful and culturally sensitive with team members
• Having the character and the interpersonal skills to be part of an international, remote-assigned, multi-cultural team
• Able to spiritually manage well any conflict, inter-personal and inter-organizational differences of opinion, and misunderstandings

Additional points

• Travel. Willing and able to travel globally for Psalms That Sing up to 4-8 weeks per year
• Financial renumeration (to be negotiated, either as a salary or a stipend)
• Convene monthly staff zoom meetings, set the agenda with the Director and facilitate the meetings
• Attend regular zoom meetings for the guide-writers, as determined by the Chief Guide Editor