Program Director, Exploration Team – New Ministries

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America • Chicago, IL

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Innovation Unit seeks to help the church generate ideas, unleash creativity, and create positive change. It champions organizational change and an innovation culture, the development of useful solutions, and the people and partnerships needed to bring those solutions to life. This position is part of the Exploration team and leads implementation of a donor-funded proposal to develop new, non-congregational, lay-led ministries that engage new people in a life of discipleship. The role has primary responsibility for developing 100 new ministries by January 31, 2031, in collaboration with the wider Innovation Unit, the Research and Evaluation team, churchwide partners, and the ELCA ecology. It will help discern viable models that can scale and grow the church’s capacity to reach new people.

This is a full-time, exempt, term-contract position ending December 31, 2031, or when the grant/project is completed. It is based in Chicago and hybrid, requiring office attendance two days each week and more as needed. Candidates must reside in one of the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. The position requires considerable domestic travel for leadership retreats, trainings, conferences, and other events; occasional in-person participation at the ELCA churchwide office and other organizational gatherings may also be expected.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience directing a large program, with experience in ministry development and leadership.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, ELCA structure, polity, and theology.
• Demonstrated leadership capacity, including knowledge of adaptive leadership principles and human-centered design approaches and the ability to apply them to innovation and ministry development.
• Strong interpersonal communication, facilitation, relationship-building, and public-speaking skills, including the ability to work across congregations, synods, churchwide teams, and external partners.
• Experience developing, launching, or supporting new ministries, programs, communities, or other emerging initiatives.
• Ability to learn through experimentation, work effectively with ambiguity, identify patterns across initiatives, and translate learning into practical improvements and recommendations.
• Experience coaching, teaching, and leading other leaders.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
• Computer knowledge sufficient to operate a Windows computer, follow basic troubleshooting instructions, use software efficiently, learn new software, follow processes, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Advanced experience using Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook.
• Must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid driver’s license preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development of 100 new ministries in partnership with churchwide leaders and teams, including Gather, micro-church, Fresh Expressions, college graduate ministries, and other emerging or innovative ministry models.
• Explore other ministry models for testing through early ideas, responding to emerging ideas, and developing prototypes in partnership with the Innovation Team.
• Steward the grants program, ensuring a strong applicant pool, solid proposals, and a clear process to develop and test five new ministry models.
• Partner with the Program Director – Exploration - Leadership Development to align ministry experimentation with recruitment, formation, education, coaching, and ongoing support for ministry leaders.
• Develop a communications plan with the Strategic Communications team to share stories of learning, growth, and development of new ministries.
• Maintain regular communications with new ministries and work with congregation and synod partners to provide support and problem-solving.
• Develop and continuously improve support systems for emerging ministries, coordinating resources, relationships, tools, and organizational partners from early development through implementation and learning.
• Work with the Senior Director Exploration and Innovation to explore prospective ministry models, assess and communicate progress and learning, and recommend adaptation, continued investment, transition, conclusion, or broader testing and application.
• Assist in evaluating all aspects of the ministries and assessing their viability for scaling.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employer-paid health premiums for employees
• Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Health savings account with employer contribution
• Life insurance
• Substantial employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan; no match required
• Generous paid time-off policy
• 17 paid holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed