Senior Director, Service and Justice Operations

Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-in-Americ; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Employer-paid health premiums

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) seeks a full-time, exempt leader in Chicago to oversee Service & Justice operations. This role will drive strategic planning, budget oversight, and cross-unit collaboration in a national church context.

Based in Chicago with a two-day-per-week office expectation, the position requires 9+ years in program leadership, nonprofit experience, and commitment to ELCA mission and values. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 9+ years’ experience in program leadership.
• Experience with oversight of large budgets and strategic planning.
• Ability to drive growth, inspiration and innovation in an organization.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with different areas of this church.
• Understanding of the mission and values of the ELCA.
• Strong organizational, leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate the implementation of long-term and short-term strategies for the unit; oversee deployment of resources for the Service & Justice unit.
• Oversee an annual budget in alignment with strategies; analyze programs and budgets, allocate funds, evaluate staff positions.
• Represent the unit at organization-wide level and direct activities with the executive director.
• Lead internal communications across teams and coordinate Service & Justice stories of impact.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Program leadership

Nonprofit experience

Collaboration skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

This posting will close November 2, 2026, at 11:00 pm central time.

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 (SJ)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 will be a change champion focused on excellence in effectiveness, efficiency and innovation with Service and Justice teams and in coordination with other units.

This position, in close collaboration with the executive director, will be responsible for providing operational oversight and leadership for the day-to-day activities of SJ including: strategic planning, goal setting, monitoring, evaluating and reporting; unit personnel and staffing in partnership with Human Resources; liaise with other staff/teams/unit on operations including Information Technology, Office of the Treasurer (budget and finance), Innovations, Christian Community and Leadership and Human Resources; supports the unit budget management in partnership with the finance director; and serves as back-up supervisor when needed. Facilitates the unit’s work relating to the ELCA Church Council, Churchwide Assembly, and the Conference of Bishops. This position works closely on developing collaborative strategies, in partnership with Office of the Presiding Bishop, with ecumenical partners and related organizations to work toward a more faithful, just and whole world. The person represents the unit on behalf of the Executive Director when needed.

This is a full time, regular, exempt, Chicago-based position. This position has responsibilities that will require being in the office a minimum of 2 days each week and more as needed.

The eligibility of a candidate for 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.

• Facilitate the implementation of the long-term and short-term strategies for the unit; oversee and monitor progress for unit responsibilities in the CWO, support the executive director in overseeing strategic deployment of human, financial and information resources for the Service and Justice unit.
• Oversee, in coordination with the executive director, senior leadership and finance partners, an annual budget in alignment with Service and Justice strategies and program areas across the unit. Provide analysis of programs and budgets, align allocation of restricted and unrestricted funds, evaluate staff positions, and monitor endowments and restricted funds.
• Represent the unit at the organization-wide level and direct the activities of the unit in coordination with the executive director and handle time-specific responsibilities assigned by the executive director.
• Lead and inspire internal communications across teams and coordinate through CWO communications the Service and Justice stories of impact.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 9+ years’ experience in program leadership, preferably in a nonprofit or social ministry setting. Experience in a non-profit and/or social ministry setting preferred. Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience. ELCA rostered minister or lay leader preferred.
• Experience with oversight of a large, complex budgets, and strategic planning.
• Ability to drive growth, inspiration and innovation in an organization; proven ability to work effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative relationships with different areas of this church, such as other churchwide units, bishops of the church, and congregational leaders.
• Ability to understand and commit to the vision, and mission of the ELCA, ability to articulate and operate within the accompaniment theology for mission, and in-depth knowledge of international and national church issues and trends.
• Outstanding organizational skills, strategic agility and flexibility, disciplined, able to meet deadlines, self-starter, able to work under the pressure of demanding priorities and deadlines.
• Experience in change management and leadership for alignment of teams to mission.
• Appreciation for the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
• Active membership in an ELCA congregation or worshipping community.
• Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred.

Physical

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

Travel

Position requires minimal travel. Valid driver’s license preferred. U.S. passport required.

Minimal travel; up to 5% - approximately 3 weeks

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 email us at [e-mail].

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. As a religious organization, we reserve the right, where permitted by applicable federal and state law, to employ individuals who share and support our religious beliefs, mission, and values.