Program Director, Exploration Team – New Ministries

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America • Chicago, IL

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Innovation Unit seeks to help the church generate ideas, unleash creativity, and create positive change. 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, and works with the wider Innovation Unit, Research and Evaluation team, churchwide organization, and ELCA partners to assess viable models that can expand the church’s capacity to reach new people.

The position is full-time, exempt, and a term contract ending December 31, 2031, or when the grant/project is completed. It is Chicago-based and hybrid, with two office days each week and additional office attendance as needed. Candidates must reside in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work in the United States. The role requires considerable domestic travel, including for leadership retreats, trainings, conferences, and other events. Occasional in-person participation at the ELCA churchwide office and other organizational gatherings may be expected.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience directing a large program.
• 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 these to innovation and ministry development.
• 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.
• Strong facilitation, communication, relationship-building, and public-speaking skills, with the ability to work across congregations, synods, churchwide teams, and external partners.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
• Computer knowledge sufficient to operate a Windows computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions; software skills to use applications 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 50 United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Oversee development of 100 new ministries, in partnership with leaders and teams across the churchwide organization and broader context. Models may include Gather, micro-church, Fresh Expressions, college graduate ministries, and other emerging or innovative approaches.
• Explore early ideas for other ministry models, respond to emerging ideas, and develop prototypes with the Innovation Team.
• Steward the grants program, building a strong applicant pool and ensuring sound 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 communication plan with the Strategic Communications team to share stories of learning, growth, and development.
• Maintain regular communication with new ministries and work with congregation and synod partners to provide support and address problems as needed.
• Develop and continually improve support systems for emerging ministries, identifying needs and 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 for testing.
• Assess and communicate progress and learning, and recommend to the Senior Director whether models should be adapted, receive continued investment, transition, conclude, or be tested and applied more broadly.
• 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, with no match required
• Generous paid time-off policy, including 17 paid holidays
• Benefits commence on the employee’s start date

What This Job Offers

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