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Job Description Summary
The Director of Church Relations leads, develops, inspires, and enables the church relations team in order to further the work and ministry of Bible translation through building relationships with church leaders and sharing church resources with staff and departments across Wycliffe USA. The team partners with churches in mutually beneficial ways, exploring areas of overlapping interest or engagement, seeking how Wycliffe can serve the church, and offering opportunities for Bible translation engagement to the church. With an eye on denominational, ethnic, age, and gender diversity, the team will serve churches and networks of churches across the United States. All of this will be done in line with the core principles of the church relations team which revolve around being led by the Holy Spirit, relationship-focused, collaborative, a listener to churches, open to many avenues of engagement, and maintaining a mindset of generosity and abundance.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities:
Build and maintain the team that carries out the work of Church Relations with a focus on ministry and diversity in order to understand and better serve the full scope of churches in the U.S.
Develop, implement, and refine various church relations strategies in a creative, fresh, and mutually beneficial way to both church leaders and the Bible translation movement.
Continually re-evaluate strategies based on feedback from church and denominational leaders as well as board members, the broader church relations team, Wycliffe staff, and other partners.
Develop and implement the systems and training to make the partnerships and relationships successful and support the team. Conduct and provide guidance on moves management planning.
Develop and maintain cross-functional partnerships and communication with other Wycliffe teams including partnership development, recruitment, staff care, advancement, prayer, events, etc.
Manage a small caseload of churches and partner organizations, including development and execution of a moves management plan for each.
Manage travel plans, expense reports, budget requests, etc. through administrative processes in a timely and thorough manner.
Speak in group settings (missions committee meetings, church services etc.) and facilitate discussions about Wycliffe, Bible translation, and key foci/issues.
Set and pursue individual spiritual and professional growth objectives, and manage time to meet those objectives.
Champion and hold the team accountable to organizational culture standards, and demonstrate spiritual maturity.
Organizational Representative: Present the global ministry of Wycliffe and encourage interested individuals and churches to participate in this work. Maintain an exemplary standard of ethics and conduct that reflects biblical principles.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Coordinate direct or indirect supervisory responsibilities for 2-10 staff in accordance with the ministry’s policies and applicable laws, including spiritual leadership, mentoring, interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining staff, gathering feedback, addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Travel Requirements: Must be able to travel domestically and internationally occasionally.
Minimum Skill Sets (KSAs):
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Spiritual Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ): Demonstrates desire and ability to support corporate Biblical and religious goals and participate in regular work-related spiritual activities without reservation.
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the staff person is regularly required to use hands to handle or feel; talk and/or hear; walk, stand, and/or sit. Must carry, lift, and/or move up to 40 pounds items used for displays or materials to give to interested churches a few times per year. Must be able to assemble displays. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to spend significant amounts of time using a computer, tablet, and cell phone.
Highly effective at relationship-building and influencing senior leadership. Able to partner effectively as a team player both within the department and with other teams and work well in group problem-solving situations as needed.
Ability to oversee significant resources and identify and resolve complex problems in a timely manner. Ability to develop alternative solutions and use reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Knowledge expert of the challenges, goals, and practices of churches in the U.S., as well as relationship-building/partnership practices. Recognizes broad and underlying cultural issues including Bible literacy in the U.S., church diversity, history of church/parachurch relationships, etc.
Skilled as an energetic leader in building, maintaining, coaching, and encouraging a strong team.
Able to interact with church leaders and other influential individuals with a high degree of professionalism, including those of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Committed to Wycliffe USA being able to minister well to a diverse constituent base, including ethnicity, age and gender, modeling customer service and professionalism to all.
Demonstrate godly character exemplifying qualities of honesty, trustworthiness, initiative, creativity, tenacity, diligence and dependability. Able to solve conflict using biblical principles.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal and presentation skills in relating to people at all levels of positions and diverse backgrounds. Comfortable asking individuals to engage with Wycliffe USA, including for funding as appropriate, in large group, small group and one-on-one settings.
Technical Skills: Able to, with training, learn new software, procedures and techniques for engagement.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree plus five or more years of significant, related experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Previous experience as a successful manager and collaborator with cross-cultural experience required. Pastoral experience is also highly beneficial.
Compensation and Benefits:
Wycliffe’s purpose-driven culture allows you to use your gifts and talents to serve the global work and ministry of Bible translation.
Minimum starting annual salary for this position is $65k/year but may be higher based on education, experience and skills.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
Medical, dental, vision and life insurance options.
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
Retirement savings matching.
Paid time off with vacation and sick pay, 10+ paid holidays and short-term disability pay.
Flexible work arrangements and infants in the workplace for most positions. Detailed information per position is available upon request.
Regular spiritual development, worship, prayer, community gatherings and connection opportunities for all staff in all locations.
Our Orlando Headquarters features an onsite café, a serene walking path around a small lake, local events and hybrid work arrangements for most positions.