Connections Director/Pastor

Wooddale-Church; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 62,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Life/AD&D

HSA

Flex

LTD

Vision

Life/AD&D (optional)

STD (optional)

Health & Wellness Plan

403(b) retirement plan with company 4%

Job summary

Wooddale Church, based in Minnesota, invites applications for a Pastor/Director of Connections to lead the guest and engagement experience across campuses. This role shapes hospitality, first impressions, and seamless pathways from first visit to involvement in worship, baptism and membership.

You will develop scalable systems, recruit and equip volunteer leaders, collaborate with ministry partners, and work with the data team to improve attendance and follow‑up.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated character and calling to vocational ministry.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to speak with confidence in large group settings.
• Motivated to see people become connected to the local church through creating intentional, memorable first impressions.

Responsibilities

• Establish Wooddale Church as the premier church in our community for hospitality, guest engagement and intentional first impressions.
• Provide vision and strategic leadership for the complete guest experience across all campuses and church wide events.
• Own the transition from First Time Guest to discipleship environment, ensuring each guest is strategically invited to a next step and is transferred to a grow environment.
• Champion an environment where every guest is welcomed with warmth, excellence, intentionality and care.
• Implements strategy and systems and owns the responsibility of identifying guests, capturing information, prompt and intentional follow‑up to connect guests with the best Next Step here at Wooddale.
• Oversee the Baptism process and celebration in our services including invitations, interviews, and execution.
• Provide primary leadership and vision to Get to Know Wooddale, strategically inviting our guests to take a next step in getting involved at Wooddale.
• Recruit, develop, train, coach and empower volunteer leaders serving throughout the Connections ministry.
• Build healthy volunteer leadership pipelines that equip volunteers to lead with ownership, confidence and excellent hospitality.
• Works with the data team to understand data trends related to attendance, guests, and follow‑up.
• Develops scalable systems and measurable processes that improve guest engagement, volunteer effectiveness and ministry outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Volunteer management

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s in ministry preferred

Job description

Wooddale Church is a multigenerational, Bible-teaching church in Minnesota with campuses in Eden Prairie, Edina and the University of Minnesota. With a mission to honor God by making more disciples for Jesus Christ, Wooddale has a rich history and a future of sharing the gospel locally and globally by planting churches, supporting global partners and serving its local community.

OVERVIEW

Wooddale Church is looking for a Pastor/Director of Connections who will provide strategic leadership for creating an exceptional guest and engagement experience across Wooddale Church ministries. From a guest’s first moment on our campus to their next step of engagement, this leader ensures every interaction is marked by warmth, excellence, intentionality, and genuine hospitality. This individual sets the vision and strategy for creating the premier guest experience in our community, ensuring Wooddale Church is known for extraordinary hospitality, intentional follow‑up, and meaningful engagement. This role champions a culture that anticipates needs before they arise, helps every person feel seen, known, and valued, and removes barriers that prevent people from taking their next step in their faith and here at Wooddale. The Pastor/Director of Connections develops systems, environments, and volunteer teams that create seamless pathways into worship, community, serving, baptism and membership. This role collaborates across ministries to deliver a unified, excellent weekend experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish Wooddale Church as the premier church in our community for hospitality, guest engagement and intentional first impressions.
• Provide vision and strategic leadership for the complete guest experience across all campuses and church wide events.
• Own the transition from First Time Guest to discipleship environment, ensuring each guest is strategically invited to a next step and is transferred to a grow environment.
• Champion an environment where every guest is welcomed with warmth, excellence, intentionality and care.
• Implements strategy and systems and owns the responsibility of identifying guests, capturing information, prompt and intentional follow‑up to connect guests with the best Next Step here at Wooddale.
• Oversee the Baptism process and celebration in our services including invitations, interviews, and execution.
• Provide primary leadership and vision to Get to Know Wooddale, strategically inviting our guests to take a next step in getting involved at Wooddale.
• Recruit, develop, train, coach and empower volunteer leaders serving throughout the Connections ministry.
• Build healthy volunteer leadership pipelines that equip volunteers to lead with ownership, confidence and excellent hospitality.
• Works with the data team to understand data trends related to attendance, guests, and follow‑up.
• Develops scalable systems and measurable processes that improve guest engagement, volunteer effectiveness and ministry outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Active and growing faith in Jesus. Demonstrated character and calling to vocational ministry.
• Subscribe to and affirm the Statement of Faith and Covenant of Wooddale Church.
• Be a regular participant in public worship at Wooddale Church.
• Become or remain a member in good standing of Wooddale Church.
• Demonstrated character and calling to vocational ministry.
• Gifted in organizational leadership and management of projects and teams.
• Proven ability to recruit, train, empower and sustain volunteer teams and structures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to speak with confidence in large group settings.
• Highly relational systems leader with proven ability to cast vision and sustain ministry.
• Motivated to see people become connected to the local church through creating intentional, memorable first impressions.
• Champions multi‑generational and diverse teams and gatherings.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s in ministry preferred.

RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to: Executive Pastor of Weekend Experience
• Serves as a member of: Weekend Experience Team
• Supervises volunteer leaders involved in Connections Ministries
• Partners collaboratively with ministry leaders to ensure a unified weekend experience for all congregants.

BENEFITS & COMPENSATION

Wooddale Church offers a comprehensive benefits package for all 40+ hour full-time employees, which includes opportunities to elect Medical (30+ hour full-time), Dental, Life/AD&D, HSA, Flex, LTD, optional Vision, optional Life/AD&D, optional STD, a Health & Wellness Plan and a 403(b) retirement plan with company match and immediate vesting.

• Medical (30+ hour full-time)
• Dental
• Life/AD&D
• HSA
• Flex
• LTD
• optional Vision
• optional Life/AD&D
• optional STD
• a Health & Wellness Plan
• 403(b) retirement plan with company match and immediate vesting
• The compensation range for this role is $61,750 – $85,100 depending upon qualifications.
• The position may be filled as either a Director or Pastor, with compensation determined by the level of pastoral responsibility, qualifications, experience, and scope of ministry leadership.
• Director-level compensation will generally fall below Pastor-level compensation within the stated range.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods during the workday, including church services, meetings, and special events.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through video conferencing with staff, volunteers, and guests.
• Ability to hear and speak clearly in both quiet office settings and large, crowded environments.
• Ability to use a computer, keyboard, mouse, and other standard office equipment for prolonged periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds, such as event supplies, signage, or hospitality materials.
• Ability to bend, stoop, reach, kneel, and climb stairs as necessary to support ministry activities and event setup.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during church services, conferences, and special events.
• Ability to maintain the stamina and mobility necessary to oversee multiple activities simultaneously in a fast‑paced ministry environment.

EXPECTED WORK HOURS & TRAVEL

• Typical schedule includes weekday hours as well as consistent weekend responsibilities
• Evening, weekend, and extended hours as holiday and other events require
• Requires the ability to occasionally commute to and work from other campuses as needed

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

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