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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Why Join the OBU Community

OBU is a thriving Christian University focused on future growth and improvements under the visionary leadership of Dr. Heath Thomas. Dr. Thomas and his Cabinet model servant leadership and are dedicated to hiring employees who are Christian individuals with a common focus on building God's Kingdom by working together to provide a first-class education experience that is grounded in a Christian worldview for all OBU students.

U.S. News and World Report rates OBU as a top regional university in the west for 31 consecutive years and Oklahoma’s highest rated regional university for 29 of those years. OBU also ranks among the best universities by the Princeton Review and Forbes.com. OBU employees enjoy more than a top ranked university—becoming part of a workplace anchored by faith with opportunities for growth and advancement. OBU employees are encouraged to contribute to and participate in shared governance opportunities at all levels. The ability to walk out Christian values and work alongside other believers makes working at OBU a rich and fulfilling experience for every team member.

Comprehensive Benefits

OBU offers a competitive benefits package that includes generous employer contributions for health insurance and robust retirement matching.

Employee Benefit Information

Contribute to Something Bigger

OBU does more than focus on being future shapers for our students. We strive to give back and be excellent stewards of every resource God has provided us. On campus, OBU uses renewable energy products like geothermal heating and cooling. All of our future expansion and improvement plans incorporate solar and other energy-conserving resources. OBU also has several energy conservation closure days each year that conserve energy, reduce university costs, and provide extra time off for employees.

In the community, OBU engages in several local outreach initiatives, including Serve Shawnee. We go out into the city to complete projects in support of our fellow citizens and positively impact the town that supports our campus. Other local outreach programs include:

  • Age2Age: Promotes connection and worship for nursing home residents.
  • Hope House: Provides a temporary youth shelter.
  • Mission Exchange: Engages with Oklahoma City youth.
  • Spero Project: Supports refugees with English tutoring and basic needs provision.
  • Cargo Ranch: Offers horsemanship outreach for Shawnee youth.
  • Prayer for the Nations: Lifts nations in prayer that need the gospel.
  • Project:Safe: Provides advocacy and support for survivors of domestic violence in Shawnee.

Local and Global Missions

Across the U.S. and around the world, the Avery T. Willis Center for Global Mobilization coordinates several Global Outreach (GO) trips every year. OBU employees are eligible to participate in a GO trip once every three years and receive additional paid time off for the trip. Opportunities in the U.S. exist as close to home as Tulsa and as far away as New York City. There are also numerous trips out of the country to places, including Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Switzerland, and South Africa. Each trip provides a different level of service with some including extensive hiking and physical engagement and others allowing for low levels of physical activity, ensuring that people of all abilities can participate.