Director, Disability and Mental Health Storytelling Initiative

Baylor University • Waco, TX

13d • Onsite

About The Position

Baylor University is seeking a visionary, highly capable, collaborative, and passionate Director to lead our national storytelling initiative. This is a rare opportunity for a leader who can bring strategic clarity and deep empathy to the work of stewarding powerful stories, guiding creative partnerships, and translating best practices into a movement that reshapes how churches imagine and practice life together. The ideal candidate is energized by complexity, rather than overwhelmed by it. They are equally at home managing timelines and budgets as they are working with creatives and scholars. They bring initiative, creativity, and disciplined follow-through to move from big-picture vision to day-to-day execution. We are looking for someone whose Christian faith animates their leadership, who is committed to belonging, and who is eager to help us tell stories that are transformative for the Church. The Director will serve as the connective leader of this multi-partner initiative, responsible for day-to-day decision making, grant reporting, and overall implementation. This position is full-time, in person, and housed within the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing in partnership with the Program for the Future Church and other campus collaborators.
Baylor University is launching The Whole Body Project, a new Storytelling Initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. A 5-year initiative, The Whole Body Project will showcase transformative stories of vibrant faith and mutual flourishing in Christian congregations when those with and without disabilities or mental health challenges move from exclusion and isolation to mutual belonging by worshipping, learning, serving, leading, and living life together. Through a first-of-its-kind national impact campaign—rooted in research, supported by deep partnerships, and sustained through practical resource pathways—this unique initiative seeks to inspire and equip tens of thousands of church leaders, members, and families to reimagine and pursue faithful life together.
This project is a collaborative effort across five Baylor centers and departments, bringing together partners throughout the university and across the nation. It is led by Co-Principal Investigators Erik Carter, Dustin Benac, and Jason Le Shana. Collaborating centers include the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing, the Program for the Future Church, the Center for Church and Community Impact, the Dunn Center for Christian Music Studies, and the Institute for Faith and Learning. The Executive Summary and press release provide additional detail on the project.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant work experience are required.
• All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Nice To Haves

• A Master's degree and eight years of relevant work experience are preferred.
• A combination of education and experience will be considered in lieu of one another. Degree preferred in a relevant field such as:
• Communication, Journalism, or Media Studies
• Organizational Leadership or Nonprofit Management
• Public Affairs, Public Policy, or Social Impact
• Theology, Ministry, or Religious Studies
• Disability or Mental Health
• Prior experience successfully leading a large-scale project
• Personal and/or professional experience related to disability and/or mental health
• Implementing social impact or media campaigns
• Work in church/parachurch ministries
• Experience managing externally funded projects (foundation or grant-funded preferred)
• Experience working across academic, nonprofit, and/or faith-based contexts
• Experience translating research, lived experience, or complex ideas into public-facing narratives
• Grant experience or expertise
• Knowledge of disability and/or mental health in faith or community contexts
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks while meeting deadlines
• Confidence and ability to speak to and with diverse audiences
• Excellent written communication
• Familiarity with budgeting processes and systems
• Strong organizational skills
• Understanding of vendor and partner management
• Passion for seeing faith communities become places of inclusion and belonging for children, adults, and families impacted by disability and mental health challenges

Responsibilities

• Strategically leads the overall implementation and integration of all aspects of The Whole Body Project
• Provide leadership for daily operational functions while serving as the central point of contact
• Direct all aspects of the branded storytelling campaign, convene partners and stakeholders to drive shared initiatives
• Manage timelines and deliverables to ensure project activities are executed on schedule, within budget, of high quality, and aligned to strategic outcomes
• Work closely with external and internal partners to execute the initiative, including collaborating with our creative partners to capture, brand, and widely disseminate an impact-driven storytelling campaign
• Drive strong integration between storytelling assets, resource development, dissemination strategy, and evaluation efforts
• Oversee all project timelines
• Supervise project staff and coordinate contractors
• Draft initial grant reports in order to meet funder’s reporting deadlines
• Coordinate a team to develop church resources in partnership with Co-Principal Investigators
• Foster collaboration across multiple Baylor centers to ensure shared vision, role clarity, and aligned execution
• Perform all other duties as assigned to support Baylor’s mission
• Ability to comply with university policies
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance

Benefits

• As part of the Baylor family, eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous time off, tuition remission, and outstanding automatic retirement contributions.
• Baylor has a comprehensive benefits plan that supports you and your family’s wellbeing and allows you to be a part of the life of a vibrant and active college campus.
• To learn more, go to Baylor Benefits & Advantages.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director