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Director for Southern and Eastern Africa

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Chicago (IL)

Remote

USD 80,000 - 120,000

Full time

Yesterday
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Job summary

A leading organization in the Evangelical Lutheran Church seeks a Director for Southern and Eastern Africa to lead engagement in service and justice. The role involves planning, managing personnel, and collaborating with international partners to fulfill mission objectives. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in global mission, strategic planning, and intercultural relations, along with a commitment to the church's values.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package
Employer-paid health premiums
Generous paid time-off policy

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of relevant experience in global mission and social justice.
  • Extensive knowledge of mission and accompaniment methodology.
  • Proficiency in English and French; knowledge of regional language preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Set vision and implement strategic engagements with global companions.
  • Manage personnel, oversee budgets, and evaluate programs.
  • Facilitate ELCA relationships with churches and agencies.

Skills

Collaborative decision making
Intercultural ministry
Program management
Budgeting
Strategic planning

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,600 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians, and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of approximately 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation, and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

About The Position

Through the Service and Justice unit, the ELCA Churchwide Organization fosters and facilitates this church’s engagement in service and promotes efforts to call and act for justice. Its work includes engaging in mission, service, and justice in accompaniment with churches and organizations in other countries; engaging with communities, coalitions, and networks, congregations, and synods in service and justice work within the territorial jurisdiction of this church; and providing guidance to members on matters of social justice.

This position directs and leads the Southern and Eastern Africa, and South Sudan Africa Desk’s engagement of the ELCA through its Service and Justice unit. The primary purpose of this position is to set vision, develop and implement strategic engagements through relationships with global companions in the region, align human and financial resources, manage mission personnel, administer the region's budget and grants, monitor and evaluate programs, collaborate with ecumenical partners and agencies in common mission objectives, and engage other expressions of the ELCA in companion relationships.

This is a full-time, regular, exempt, remote position.

The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

  • Relationships: Within the continent and areas of responsibility, accompanies and facilitates ELCA relationships with churches, agencies, and institutions for mutual engagement in God's mission; represents the ELCA and the Service and Justice home unit at ecumenical tables.
  • Program Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: Develops continental, regional, and country strategies in consultation with global companions, Diakonia, and other unit staff; directs and coordinates the implementation of these programs and global personnel placements to reflect strategic priorities; implements the Service and Justice unit’s planning, monitoring, and evaluation process for grants to companion churches and other organizations.
  • Personnel Management/Global Personnel: Manages and supervises Global Personnel appointed by ELCA and oversees Continental Desk role in shared placements with synods. The Director administers personnel policies and support provisions; provides for the pastoral care and well-being of personnel; participates in candidate evaluation and appointments and directs and assigns roles to Regional Representatives in unit's relationships with global companions and in carrying out assigned activities and functions.
  • Budget Management: Administers budget for Fund One and World Hunger funding in the continent (all three sub-regional expressions of the LWF); participates in unit-wide budget planning and decision-making processes; proposes programs for extra-budgetary financial support.
  • Specialist and Resource for Unit: Provides analysis of continental and regional political, social, religious, and security developments; serves as resource for understanding issues and trends in the continent, regions, and within countries; proposes avenues for response.
  • ELCA and Inter/Intra-unit Responsibilities: Cooperates with ELCA synods, congregations, other ELCA units, and the Service and Justice home area in common mission programs and activities.
  • Personnel Management: Supervises the staff of the continental Desk Team.
  • Responsibilities Specific to the Continent Covered by Director: Refer to appendix for more details.
  • Other Duties as Assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

  • Regional representatives.
  • Mission Personnel.

Requirements

  • 7+ years of relevant experience. Master's degree or equivalent, M. Div/MTh preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience; extensive coursework, knowledge, and ability to articulate understandings of mission, particularly accompaniment as a lens and methodology for global mission. Lived experience in the culture, cultural competence, and professional experience in the region highly preferred.
  • Collaborative work style within and across teams and skill in collaborative decision making; facility in building and maintaining strong relationships with international companions, ecumenical colleagues, ELCA synods and congregations, and in inter-faith relationships; demonstrated and well-developed competencies in intercultural ministry.
  • Knowledge and commitment to the global mission of the ELCA and an appreciation for the church in all its expressions; in-depth knowledge and appreciation for the values, customs, and decision-making processes in cultures specific to the region; articulate in expressing the strategic intent and commitments of this church.
  • Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, program implementation, project management and evaluation, budgeting; able to meet the unit’s tight work deadlines while maintaining demanding travel schedules; able to maintain high volume of e-communication in a timely manner.
  • Ability to both supervise and provide support to mission personnel and staff.
  • Proficiency in English and French, and language, preferably a language of the region; effective verbal, written, and listening skills.
  • Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.).
  • Appreciation for the mission, vision, values, and goals of the ELCA.
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

Physical

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. May be required to lift boxes of materials. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel

Considerable travel. This position requires considerable overnight, domestic, and international travel by plane, car, etc. Approximately 80-100 days travel per year, mostly international but some domestic; able to operate vehicle. Valid driver’s license preferred.

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer-paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 17 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact Human Resources.

Salary

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