Program Director, Hunger Education

Description:

About the ELCA

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 worshiping communities across the 50 states, Caribbean, and U.S. Virgin Islands. With a vision to live in a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ makes for all people and creation, the ELCA strives to be a welcoming, thriving, and connected church that introduces people to Jesus so they can discover community, justice, and love.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of 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 & Justice unit, the ELCA Churchwide Organization fosters and facilitates this church’s engagement in service and promotes efforts to call and act for justice. It engages in mission, service, and justice in accompaniment with churches and organizations in other countries; serves as the means through which churches in other countries engage in mission to this church and society; engages with communities, coalitions and networks, congregations, and synods in service and justice work within the territorial jurisdiction of this church; and provides guidance to members on matters of social justice.

This employee is responsible for the coordination of initiatives to build strategic progress on “fostering the education of member of the ELCA to understand and confront the reality and underlying causes of hunger.” The primary focus of this work is to equip congregation leaders (directly and through Synods), networks of individuals, and staff colleagues to articulate and act from the connections between faith, justice and effective responses to hunger. This person attends to the latest insights on the root causes of hunger in the United States and globally, concern for sustainable hunger solutions, and clear insight into the church’s particular gifts and commitments to end hunger, bringing together reliable research and deep theological reflection, and providing thought leadership within key spaces in the ELCA. In addition to dynamic personal presentation, this employee helps to bring together and multiply the efforts of congregations and leaders, integrating hunger education into the fuller work of the larger churchwide organization.

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

Candidates for this remote 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. Strategic leadership: Conceptualize, plan, direct, and draw together key colleagues in the hunger education efforts of ELCA World Hunger. In collaboration with teams, direct the strategic planning and implementation of hunger education efforts.

2. Curriculum development: Set the vision for development of curricula and educational opportunities, including resources, multimedia and experiential, immersive education. Serve as lead writer and developer of content and curricula, utilizing and supervising contractors, when needed. Contribute to marketing efforts of ELCA World Hunger educational offerings.

3. Presentations and Leadership Presence: Articulate the comprehensive work of ELCA World Hunger and the root causes of and solutions to hunger through public speaking, teaching in person and online, and writing, both in print and online. Work in close collaboration with colleagues across the ELCA churchwide organization to ensure consistency, accuracy, authenticity and clarity of core messaging and stories.

4. Constituent Services: Prepare staff to respond to routine questions about hunger and respond in a timely way to requests for information and dialogue from those who are seeking to educate others or learn more about taking action to address hunger through the church. Support constituents with timely, accurate responses to inquiries or needs.

5. Relational Leadership: Draw together individuals and congregations with special knowledge, experience, or interest in the educational aspects of hunger awareness and action for solutions. Foster new or renewed relationships with key partners across and outside the ELCA, including existing and emerging leaders.

6. Thought Leadership: Provide significant expertise on critical issues related to hunger, poverty, and the root causes of both. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of trends and data on hunger and poverty, both in the US and globally. Provide leadership on theological articulation of mission and vision of ELCA World Hunger in written and oral communication with internal team and external constituents.

7. Financial Leadership: Together with the Director of Education and Networks, plan and monitor the budget for hunger education-related expenses (including but not limited to resource development, education events, staff travel, stipends and contracts, etc.).

8. Serve as the lead director of ELCA World Hunger’s Education and Networking Grants, with support from the program manager of Hunger Education. Manage external financial support for hunger education initiatives.

9. Team-Based Work: Together with the Director of Education and Networks, build and nurture supportive, collegial and collaborative relationships with colleagues. Take initiative in participation in internal networking, staff meetings and other spaces as needed to further the strategic vision of hunger education.

10. This position supervises 2 positions. 1) Program Manager, Hunger Education 2) Contract Personnel: Manage external consultants and contract personnel in projects related to hunger education.

11. Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.
• Knowledge of Lutheran-Christian theology and knowledge or experience[PC1] of the ELCA and/or the larger Christian community in the United States.
• Strong oral communication skills and ability to effectively represent ELCA World Hunger to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated exceptional research, writing and editorial skills. Ability to write for general audiences, from children to adults and to communicate clearly and effectively in different contexts. Strong ability to communicate complex ideas tailored to specific audiences and to represent ELCA World Hunger in diverse contexts.
• Extensive knowledge of hunger, poverty and the root causes of both, and/or demonstrated ability to acquire needed expertise. Knowledge of intersectional justice issues that impact hunger, including racial and gender disparities, marginalization and economic injustice.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism4
• 5 + years of relevant work experience. A bachelor’s degree in theology, theological ethics or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Appreciation for the mission, vision and values of the ELCA.
• Demonstrated knowledge and practical understanding of effective, inclusive pedagogy and instructional design, learning processes for multiple generations, and curriculum and resource development, design, marketing, and evaluation (with preference to church-based education).
• Working knowledge of project management in a team-based environment with preference for team-based project leadership involving volunteer and paid staff. Ability to manage a project from initial conception to implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to include diverse points of view in research and writing.
• Strong ability to work independently with efficiency.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of standard desktop programs for writing, editing and content creation.

Physical Effort

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. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel Frequency

Considerable travel. Position requires considerable overnight, domestic, travel by plane or car. Valid driver's license is required.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Minimum: $66,206.00.

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 11 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.