Director, Mission Personnel Engagement and Support

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 shall foster and facilitate this church’s engagement in service with and among communities and promote 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 [serving as the means through which churches in other countries engage in mission to this church and society]; 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, as part of the Global Mission Team, directs the Global Service which identifies key objectives for ELCA strategic engagement as a sending church and leads the development of programmatic engagement to reach these objectives. In collaboration with Global Mission’s leadership and ELCA Human Resources, this position oversees the engagement process and partners with HR on deployment. This role supports approximately 150 ELCA global personnel (missionaries) in over 45 countries. Accompaniment will frame our integrated global and local work. 

This role will direct the strategic engagement of the ELCA in sending, supporting, and the return of all mission personnel in multiple forms of service. This work is conducted in collaboration with the Senior Director of the Global Mission team, Human Resources, and the Office of the Secretary. 

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

1. Global Service Development: Lead the development of all forms of global service and ensure consistent and equitable opportunities.
2. Personnel Funding and Planning: Oversee the identification and approval process for new mission personnel positions, collaborating closely with the Senior Director for Global Mission, Area Desk Directors, Human Resources and Finance team. 
3. Strategic Engagement: Define key objectives that guide the ELCA’s engagement as both a sending and receiving church in global mission using the accompaniment model.
4. Program Oversight: Shape and support new and existing global service programs, including capacity building, training, and educational opportunities for mission personnel.
5. Policy Compliance: Partner with ELCA Human Resources and Legal teams to ensure adherence to personnel policies and Terms and Conditions, legal standards, and organizational procedures.
6. Budget Management: Manage the global service budget, ensuring alignment of salaries and benefits with ELCA Terms and Conditions for each service category.
7. Pastoral Care and Personnel Management: Provide pastoral care, including spiritual and emotional support, to mission personnel. Coordinate the annual review process and the three-year review process in partnership with HR and in collaboration with the regional desks (Global Co-workers are included in this process). Address risk Management and safety in a complex context, support mission personnel in-country, conclusion of service, and reintegration. Aligning employee policies and Terms and Conditions for Long Term mission personnel and development of Terms and Conditions for Global Co-Workers.
8. Mission Innovation: Design and develop new global mission engagement opportunities that reflect the strategic priorities of the Global Mission team.
9. Partnership and Sponsorship: Strengthen engagement with global personnel and manage the relationship with the ELCA Development Team for missionary sponsorship.
10. Storytelling and Communication: Advance the sharing of mission stories and experiences to educate and inspire ELCA constituents and ecumenical partners. 
11. Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned.     

Supervisory Responsibilities 

1. Manager for Global Personnel

1. 7 years’ experience in programmatic administration; knowledge of the ELCA, its mission, goals, strategic directions and structure and expressions including churchwide, synods, and congregations is desirable. Rostered minister or pastoral care experience preferred. 

2. Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in Lutheran theology, missiological approaches and participatory learning methodologies. Experience with offering pastoral guidance and care to a community of people preferred. 

3. Demonstrated administrative, organizational, and interpersonal skills; strength in written and verbal communication skills and public speaking. 

4. Demonstrated commitment and ability to work with communities and leaders of color to increase the numbers of candidates and appointments of international personnel of color and/or people whose first language is other than English.

5. Experience in Global Service, preferred. Ability to envision new forms of service, lead trainings and events for mission personnel, and enhance relationships with seminaries, colleges, universities and with Independent Lutheran Organizations related to Global Mission.

6. Strong commitment to ELCA mission, vision, values, goals, and accompaniment vision for mission.

7. Experience using Microsoft Office suite of applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, etc.).

8. 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 

Some travel. This position requires some overnight, domestic and international travel by plane, car, etc. 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

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.