Associate Director of Church Relations

Point Loma Nazarene University • San Diego, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director for Church Relations cultivates and sustains strategic relationships between PLNU/CPL and pastors, congregations, and denominational leaders across the San Diego region. Working in close partnership with and under the strategic direction of the CPL Director, this role operationalizes the Director’s vision—building partnerships, expanding student vocational pathways, promoting Wesleyan‑Holiness formation, and translating CPL strategy into actionable, church-facing initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience in church relations, denominational engagement, ministry placements, or community partnership development.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic plans into operational actions and sustained partnerships.
• Familiarity with the San Diego church landscape and denominational structures; experience with the Church of the Nazarene preferred.
• Event planning and logistics experience for church and denominational gatherings.
• Commitment to PLNU’s Wesleyan‑Holiness tradition, Christian higher education mission, and collaborative work with CPL leadership.
• Openness to professional growth and internal advancement within PLNU.
• Evidence of Christian commitment and active church involvement.
• Staff agree to live in agreement with PLNU’s Community Life Covenant.
• The job offer is contingent on the successful completion of a background check.
• PLNU will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local "Fair Chance" laws.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s in theology, ministry, leadership, or related field preferred.
• Experience working with students or in higher-education ministry contexts.
• Track record of building sustainable church–university partnerships and measurable placement outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deepen relationships with San Diego pastors, church leaders, district superintendents, and denominational contacts to foster collaborative partnerships.
• Represent CPL in the broader church community; invite churches to engage with campus programs, retreats, workshops, and community events.
• Serve as a relational bridge between PLNU and local congregations to encourage sustained, mutual partnership.
• Translate CPL strategic priorities and multi-year plan into concrete outreach and partnership plans that align with PLNU’s mission and OnePLNU priorities.
• Coordinate logistics and local partnerships for CPL programs (workshops, retreats, learning cohorts, coaching initiatives), ensuring theological alignment with Wesleyan‑Holiness commitments and responsiveness to contemporary ministry needs.
• Provide operational support for program delivery and assist in program evaluation and iterative improvement.
• Develop and maintain pipelines placing students in internships, field education, mentoring relationships, and ministry placements with healthy congregations.
• Collaborate with the School of Theology & Christian Ministry (SOTCM), Spiritual Life & Formation, faculty, and student services to support students discerning vocational ministry.
• Track student placements and outcomes; report findings and recommend improvements to the Director.
• Serve as CPL’s primary operational contact for district assemblies, district leadership retreats, and denominational gatherings; coordinate travel, registration, and logistics for CPL staff and students.
• Attend denominational events to strengthen district relationships, promote CPL initiatives, and gather strategic insights for follow-up by the Director.
• Liaise with denominational leaders to facilitate collaborative initiatives and sustained engagement.
• Collaborate with University Advancement, campus partners (Wesleyan Center, Spiritual Life), and community organizations to promote collaborative initiatives and resource-sharing.
• Provide timely constituent feedback and partnership intelligence to support fundraising, donor engagement, and grant opportunities advanced by the Director.
• Serve as a credible, relational representative of PLNU and the CPL, embodying the university’s Wesleyan‑Holiness heritage and mission.
• Facilitate church–campus dialogues, forums, and events that integrate theological reflection with practical ministry concerns and cultural awareness.
• Participate in CPL and university events that promote the center’s mission and foster the Christian community.

Benefits

• health, dental, tuition benefits for employees and dependents, competitive retirement matching, vacation and sick time, and 15 paid holidays per year.
• many opportunities to engage with our community including staff chapel and a robust wellness program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees