Kids Ministry Manager

Illuminate Community Church; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Illuminate Community Church seeks a Kids Ministry Manager to lead birth through 4th grade ministry, creating safe, welcoming environments where children are known, loved, and spiritually discipled.

You will oversee weekly ministry readiness, developmentally appropriate curriculum, volunteer and lead-teacher development, classroom environments, SHINE support, childcare oversight, and supervision of Kids Ministry Assistants.

Qualifications

• Maintains confidentiality and sound judgement.
• Strong verbal and written communication.
• Works effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Displays initiative, reliability, and organizational skills.
• Leads, coaches, and develops volunteers.
• Relates well with adults and children, with clear feedback.
• Manages multiple priorities with attention to detail.
• Remains calm and adaptable to changing ministry needs.
• Experience with young children preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Sunday and applicable midweek programming with staffing and resources.
• Develop age-appropriate curriculum for birth–4th grade.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and schedule volunteers and lead teachers.
• Oversee ministry flow on Sundays; ensure rooms are ready.
• Coordinate SHINE support and inclusion for services.
• Maintain safe, clean classroom environments and supplies.
• Supervise childcare assistants and teams.
• Build relationships with families and communicate growth needs.
• Collaborate on Easter/Christmas and family events.

Skills

Confidentiality

Communication skills

Teamwork

Organization

Multitasking

Volunteer leadership

Pastoral sensitivity

Adaptability

Child development

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

KIDS MINISTRY MANAGER

JOB TITLE: Kids Ministry Manager

REPORTS TO: Director of Family and Women's Ministries

HOURS/WEEK: 40 hours/week

FLSA DESIGNATION: Full time, Non-exempt

STAFF CATEGORY: Kids Ministry

ILLUMINATE'S MISSION

We are called to love all people, make disciples, and empower them to be on mission for God.

ILLUMINATE'S VISION

Our vision is to be a "city on a hill" where the broken, hurting, and searching are drawn to the light and love of Jesus.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Kids Ministry Manager provides hands-on leadership and ownership for Illuminate Kids Ministry from birth through 4th grade, creating safe, welcoming, and Christ-centered environments where children are known, loved, and intentionally discipled. This role oversees weekly ministry readiness, developmentally appropriate curriculum for ages 2 through 4th grade, volunteer and lead teacher development, classroom environments, SHINE support, and supervision of the Kids Ministry Assistants. The Kids Ministry Manager leads proactively with organization, encouragement, accountability, adaptability, and excellence with purpose: the intentional stewardship of the people, spaces, resources, and ministry opportunities God has entrusted to us.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Birth-4th Grade Ministry Leadership

Lead Sunday and applicable midweek programming; ensure each classroom has the staffing, curriculum, supplies, setup, and resources needed for effective ministry; serve as the primary point person for volunteers and lead teachers; maintain effective schedules, records, supply systems, and communication rhythms; and proactively identify, solve, and communicate significant ministry needs.

Curriculum and Teacher Development

Prepare and adapt biblical, Christ-centered, engaging, and developmentally appropriate curriculum for ages 2 through 4th Grade. Provide lesson materials and expectations with sufficient lead time, observe classrooms, and equip teachers through encouragement, coaching, and actionable feedback in child engagement, behavior management, classroom leadership, and age-appropriate discipleship.

Volunteer Leadership

Recruit, onboard, train, schedule, develop, and care for Birth-4th grade and childcare volunteers. Anticipate staffing gaps, identify and develop emerging leaders, delegate effectively, and build a culture in which volunteers feel known, valued, equipped, connected to the mission, and appropriately accountable.

Sunday Ministry Leadership

Arrive by 6:30 AM; confirm that environments, supplies, and staffing are ready before families arrive; lead pre-service huddles for prayer, encouragement, and updates; remain visible and available; oversee ministry flow; troubleshoot classroom, staffing, child, family, and supply needs; step into ministry roles when necessary; and ensure rooms are reset and significant concerns receive follow-up.

SHINE Support and Inclusion

Help ensure the SHINE room is staffed and prepared for the 9:30 and 11:00 AM services. Coordinate with families and volunteers; provide age-appropriate Bible lessons, activities, sensory supports, and materials; pursue inclusion in age-appropriate classrooms when it best supports the child; and maintain SHINE as an intentional smaller-class environment for students needing individualized care.

Classroom Environments and Safety

Maintain the appearance, organization, functionality, cleanliness, safety, and readiness of Birth-Kindergarten and SHINE environments and storage areas. Proactively coordinate needed repairs, replacements, technology, furniture, signage, supplies, and improvements, and know, model, and uphold all safety policies, classroom ratios, incident procedures, and confidentiality expectations.

Childcare Oversight

Directly supervise, support, and develop the Childcare Assistant; recruit and develop a dependable childcare team; and ensure childcare environments meet the same standards of safety, care, organization, and excellence expected during Sunday ministry.

Family Care and Communication

Build trusted relationships with children and families, create a warm experience for new families, communicate appropriately with parents, and partner with them in their children’s spiritual growth. Escalate significant pastoral, behavioral, safety, medical, or family concerns to the appropriate leader.

Events and Team Collaboration

Collaborate in planning and executing Easter, Christmas, VBS, family events, and other ministry initiatives. Participate in team planning, setup, execution, cleanup, and evaluation, and step into team-wide needs in support of the greater mission.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Maintains strict confidentiality and sound judgement when handling sensitive information related to church operations, staff, and congregants.
• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Works effectively in a team-oriented environment, collaborating with staff, volunteers, and ministry leaders.
• Displays initiative, reliability, and strong organizational skills.
• Able to manage multiple responsibilities while maintaining attention to detail and professionalism.
• Functions effectively both behind the scenes and in public-facing situations, depending on ministry needs.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead, encourage, coach, develop, and appropriately hold volunteers or teams accountable.
• Relates and communicates effectively with adults and children and provides clear feedback with grace.
• Is highly organized, attentive to detail, and able to manage multiple priorities, schedules, and deadlines.
• Takes initiative, anticipates needs, develops solutions, delegates effectively, and works without continual direction.
• Remains calm, adaptable, and effective when plans or ministry needs change and receives feedback with a commitment to continued growth.
• Possesses experience working with young children; knowledge of early childhood development and previous church or ministry experience are strongly preferred.

SPIRITUAL & CHARACTER QUALIFICATIONS

• A committed follower of Jesus Christ whose life reflects biblical character and aligns with Illuminates Community Church's Statement of Faith, Position Statements and Staff Handbook.
• Demonstrates a high level of personal and professional integrity, striving to live above reproach in both personal life and ministry responsibilities.
• Supports and promotes a Christ-centered work environment, contributing positively to staff unity and the mission of the church.
• Serves as a Christlike example to the church body, fellow staff and the broader community through conduct, attitude, and relationships.
• Demonstrates humility, teachability, and a servant-hearted approach to ministry.
• Demonstrates a genuine love for Jesus, His Church, children, families, and volunteers through a warm, approachable, dependable, and servant-hearted presence.
• Is proactive, team-oriented, willing to take ownership, and able to balance high standards with grace when navigating corrective conversations.
• Is inclusion-minded and committed to helping children of varying abilities experience belonging and meaningful participation.
• Is committed to excellence with purpose, recognizing excellence as intentional stewardship rather than perfection.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• Supports and participates in the overall ministry and mission of Illuminate Community Church.
• Attends required staff meetings and church events (including Easter and Christmas) as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support the effectiveness of the ministry and staff team.
• Maintains Sunday attendance and availability as essential functions of the role, including arrival by 6:30 AM.
• Is available for staff meetings, evening programs, special events, Easter, Christmas, and other significant ministry dates; hours and responsibilities may shift during high-demand ministry seasons.
• Serves as one team with one mission by noticing needs, taking initiative, supporting others, and stepping in when help is needed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Constant sitting, standing, moving and viewing of screens. Occasional lifting of 20 pounds or more.