Plains Community Liaison - East Coast

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC); Ephrata (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 40,000 - 44,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision benefits

Paid vacation and holidays

Retirement plan with MCC contributions

Pro-rated benefits for 0.5 FTE

Job summary

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) seeks a Plain Community Liaison to build and sustain relationships with Plain Anabaptist groups, focused in Lancaster County and beyond. The half-time role prioritizes volunteer development and collaboration with MCC staff and volunteers to expand engagement in relief, development, and peacebuilding ministries.

Travel up to 25% across the East Coast; strong communication and planning skills are required to cultivate partnerships and mobilize resources for MCC

Qualifications

• Essential: 3–5 years in social work, education, ministry, theology, or related field.
• Ability to network and build relationships with Plain communities.
• Strong budgeting and planning skills.
• Public speaking abilities and outreach experience.
• Comfort with MS Office, databases, internet, and email.
• Self-motivated with minimal direction and initiative.
• Intercultural sensitivity to interact with diverse Plain communities.
• Legally eligible to work in the U.S. and pass background checks.
• Preferred: degrees in related fields or Masters; knowledge of MCC constituency; international experience.
• Anti-oppression and safeguarding commitments are expected.

Responsibilities

• Build and strengthen Plain community relationships, especially in Lancaster County.
• Develop a Plain community volunteer team and connectors.
• Support MCC engagement and resource development with communities.
• Serve as a resource to MCC staff and leadership.
• Track engagement and report progress to leadership.

Skills

Relationship building

Networking

Public speaking

Budgeting / Planning

Initiative

Interpersonal and intercultural skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work / theology / education or related field

Post-graduate degree (Master’s)

Knowledge of MCC constituency

Tools

MS Office

Database systems

Internet / Email

Job description

Job Synopsis

The Plain Community Liaison serves as a key relationship builder between MCC and Plain Anabaptist communities, with a primary focus on Lancaster County and strategic relationships beyond Lancaster County. These communities include Old Order Amish, Old Order Mennonites, Beachy Amish, and other conservative Anabaptist groups. Working collaboratively with MCC staff and volunteers, this position strengthens existing relationships, develops new connections, and creates opportunities for Plain communities to engage MCC’s ministries of relief, development, and peacebuilding in the name of Christ. As a half-time position, the role prioritizes relationship building and the development of a volunteer team of Plain community members who can extend and strengthen MCC’s ongoing engagement with Plain communities.

Contract type

Hourly Employee Part Time

Qualifications

• Organizational values and culture: All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active church membership; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.
• Essential: Prior experience of at least 3-5 years in social work, education, ministry, theology, or a related field.
• Understands and appreciates faith formation within the Plain Community context.
• Experience in networking and relationship building.
• Strong budgeting/planning skills.
• Strong public speaking skills.
• Capacity to develop skills in MS Office, database systems, internet and email.
• Initiative to develop and carry out plans with minimal direction.
• Interpersonal and intercultural skills to interact with both the progressive culture of some Anabaptists and more traditional culture of Plain Anabaptists.
• Employment eligibility: Legally eligible to work in the U.S. MCC offers of employment are subject to a successful criminal background check(s).
• Preferred: Bachelor's degree or coursework in social work, theology, education or related field or equivalent experience.
• Post-graduate degree (Masters).
• Knowledge of all MCC constituency generally and Plain groups particularly.
• International experience.
• Anti-oppression commitment: MCC expects all staff to actively participate in an organization culture that focuses on dismantling any barriers based on race, economic inequality or gender-based oppression. This includes an expectation to assess and address any barriers within themselves, within their team(s), and within MCC; supervisors are expected to take leadership in assessing and addressing these barriers.
• Safeguarding commitment: All MCC Staff are expected to work collaboratively to create and maintain an organizational culture that prevents and responds to situations of abuse of power (sexual harassment, child abuse, racism, exploitation, and fraud among other situations).

This job description is designed to be a thorough list of the employee’s responsibilities. It may not be an exhaustive list of duties, particularly for short-term duties that may arise. This Job Description will be reviewed and updated at least annually to ensure recurring and routine duties are included in this job description.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and Strengthen Plain Community Relationships
• Develop a Plain Community Volunteer Team
• Support MCC Engagement and Resource Development
• Serve as a Resource to MCC
• Track and Strengthen Engagement

Build and Strengthen Plain Community Relationships

• Maintain and deepen relationships with Plain churches, leaders, donors, schools, organizations, and community members, with particular attention to Lancaster County.
• Develop strategic relationships with Plain communities beyond Lancaster County as time and priorities allow.
• Identify opportunities for Plain communities to participate in MCC ministries through service, giving, learning, and other forms of engagement.
• Maintain important relationships with Plain community organizations and networks that intersect with MCC’s work.

Develop a Plain Community Volunteer Team

• Recruit and cultivate a volunteer team of individuals from Plain communities who can support MCC’s engagement.
• Equip volunteers to serve as connectors and ambassadors between MCC and their communities.
• Create opportunities for volunteers to assist with relationship building, special initiatives, community events, and communication.
• Develop a sustainable volunteer network that broadens MCC’s relational capacity within Plain communities.

Support MCC Engagement and Resource Development

• Connect Plain communities to meaningful opportunities for service, giving, training, and participation in MCC programs.
• Collaborate with Communications and Donor Relations and other appropriate MCC staff around Plain donor relationships and engagement.
• Support key East Coast activities involving Plain communities, including Lancaster-area initiatives and other established partnerships.
• Support appropriate communication through Plain community publications and other culturally relevant channels.

Serve as a Resource to MCC

• Provide counsel and cultural insight to MCC staff engaging Plain communities.
• Help MCC staff understand emerging concerns, opportunities, and trends within Plain communities.
• Facilitate appropriate connections between MCC staff and Plain community leaders.
• Collaborate with MCC colleagues across regions as appropriate while maintaining the primary East Coast and Lancaster County focus.
• Regular presentations and presence at the Ephrata MRC when Amish groups are volunteering
• Other speaking engagements in churches, schools and gatherings.

Track and Strengthen Engagement

• Maintain appropriate records of significant relationships, contacts, contributions, volunteer engagement, and follow-up.
• Help evaluate MCC’s Plain community engagement through relational contacts, participation, service, giving, and other appropriate measures.
• Provide regular updates to the Regional Executive Director regarding relationships, opportunities, and priorities.

Other Responsibilities

• Attend MCC internal meetings as requested.
• Other duties as assigned on a temporary basis.

Supervision

This position does not directly supervise any other positions but does provide indirect supervision for volunteers.

Travel expectations

Travel up to 25% primarily within the East Coast and sometimes beyond that across the U.S.

Physical Activity/Demands

This position will occasionally have the need for: remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time; moving about to accomplish tasks or move from one worksite to another; light work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers; operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment. This position will also constantly have the need for assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of work assigned. This position is not regularly exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Start Date

16 Nov, 2026 - Start date is flexible, dependent on candidate's availability.

Salary Details

Base salary: $29.21 - Starting salary may be adjusted up to $32.45 based on previous experience.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision, 23 days paid vacation, sick time and 10 holidays/year
• Life insurance provided, as well as long and short term disability coverage
• The retirement plan, with MCC contribution of 7%, begins after six months of employment.
• All benefits are pro-rated for 0.5 FTE.

Location Description

Work is based in the MCC- East Coast office in Ephrata, PA office and meeting with community members at varying locations.