Director of Ministries and Faith Development at Unitarian Universalist Assoc of Congregations.

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

30 Jan, 26

Salary

149000.0

Posted On

01 Nov, 25

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Leadership, Collaboration, Team Management, Public Speaking, Interpersonal Skills, Ethical Judgment, Cultural Competence, Training Development, Conflict Resolution, Strategic Planning, Diversity Advocacy, Community Engagement, Religious Education, Change Management, Communication, Innovative Thinking

Industry

Religious Institutions

Description

Updated: October 31, 2025 Title: Director of Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group: Ministries and Faith Development Reports To: Vice President for Programs and Ministries Location: Open* Job Category: Executive Director II, full-time Hours/Week: 35 * Location is open in the continental United States. You should have easy access to a major airport due to the travel requirements of this position. Purpose Lead and oversee the Ministries and Faith Development staff group to support, sustain, and advance multicultural, anti-oppressive, justice-centered, welcoming, and innovative Unitarian Universalist leadership and professional ministry for all ages. Principal Responsibilities 1. Direct and supervise the Ministries and Faith Development (MFD) staff and their budgets in partnership with the Deputy Director of MFD, including the Credentialing and Professional Development, Ministerial Transitions, Worship Arts, Lifespan Faith Engagement, and LGBTQ/Multicultural Ministries staff teams. 2. Ensure adequate and appropriate staffing and team structures throughout MFD, and in collaboration with direct reports maintain responsibility for ensuring the support, competence, and performance of all staff teams within MFD. 3. Lead the development and implementation of strategies and systems to train, credential, settle, support, and develop religious professionals for service in congregational and community ministries across a range of disciplines. In partnership with professional organizations, seminaries, and credentialing bodies (Ministerial Fellowship Committee, Religious Education Credentialing Committee, Music Leadership Credentialing Committee), ensure credentialing and professional development programs are equipping leaders with the adaptive skills to minister in the context of the evolving religious and political landscape, with a particular focus on ministries that confront and dismantle systems of oppression. 4. In collaboration with other key UUA staff, support the accountable and responsive functioning of multiple systems designed to address and adjudicate ethical issues and safety concerns between credentialed religious professionals and congregations, as well as the safety of minors participating in UUA programs. Actively work to increase the UUA’s infrastructure, skill, and capacity to address and repair legacies of professional misconduct and conflict avoidance, both present and historic. 5. Guide and collaboratively develop a comprehensive, integrated system of training, education, and spiritual formation that equips UU lay and professional leaders to dismantle white supremacy and other systems of oppression while working toward the beloved community of justice and liberation. Oversee and expand the UUA’s support systems for religious professionals with a focus on centering the needs and experiences of those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); LGBTQIA+ (with an emphasis on those who are transgender/nonbinary); disabled; poor and working-class; and from other historically marginalized communities. 6. Oversee the UUA’s Lifespan Faith Engagement team in developing robust, impactful resources, programs, curricula, and other ministries to and with religious educators, children, youth, emerging adults, and adults. Facilitate the UUA’s advocacy of clear faith development goals across the lifespan, integrated with the development of lay and professional religious leaders. 7. Act as a trusted public representative of the UUA with key constituency groups, including UU professional organizations, identity-based groups, and other key independent stakeholder groups that interact with UU lay and professional leaders. Design and oversee the functioning of transparent communication channels and feedback-seeking processes with key constituencies and groups as related to the practice of ministry across the range of disciplines. 8. Convene the MFD Coordinating Council and serve as a member of both the UUA’s Executive Team and Staff Group Directors’ Council. Provide high-level thought and strategic leadership to further the mission and goals of the Association, with special attention to leading the UUA’s strategy in supporting and developing credentialed and professional leadership. 9. Lead the design and implementation of rigorous assessment systems that regularly engage constituents and staff in gauging the impact, responsiveness, and functioning of MFD’s work. Foster a culture of ongoing learning and shared stewardship of mission in which individuals and teams regularly reflect on their work, assess its effectiveness and impacts, and integrate feedback into future iterations. 10. Support MFD staff and teams to engage effectively in collaborative projects or tasks that intersect with other staff groups. 11. Perform additional duties as requested by the President, Executive Vice President, and Vice President for Programs and Ministries. Qualifications This is an exempt position with a salary midpoint of $149,000. Compensation may vary based on factors such as experience, qualifications, and geographical location, with offers potentially ranging from 10-15% higher or lower than the midpoint. Note that qualifications may be met as a result of lived experience, volunteer work, professional experience, and/or formal or informal training. Requirements include: * The Director shall be a credentialed UU religious professional, with preference for a minister in Full Fellowship or a Leadership Level credentialed religious educator. * Deep understanding of Unitarian Universalism, including 10-15 years of experience with UU congregations and institutions, with a preference for experience in multiple UU settings. * Profound respect for shared ministry and collaboration across professional religious disciplines and credentials. * Exceptional skills in leading diverse teams, delegating tasks, managing change, and aligning operations with mission and strategy. Management experience is required, with a preference for those who have supervised other supervisors. * Comfort with acting as a public faith leader, with a sense of inner spiritual grounding and an ability to articulate the theological and historical groundings of contemporary Unitarian Universalist systems and practices. * Passion for growing skilled, faithful lay and professional Unitarian Universalist leaders for the 21st century, with a commitment to expanding and centering the leadership of people from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and other historically marginalized communities. * Demonstrated skill set with developing leaders and staff teams to counter systems of oppression and cultural marginalization, and with promoting a staff culture of intercultural fluency and humility. * Worked or lived experience with communities of color or Indigenous peoples is of particular value. * Supportive of and knowledgeable about religious and spiritual diversity. A strong understanding of culture, social location, and internationalism (and globalism) is desired. * Exceptional judgment and discretion in acting on a wide range of sensitive and ethical topics, including personnel matters. The highest level of personal and professional integrity is expected. * Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including written and speaking ability. * Experience in innovative or entrepreneurial organizations and settings is preferred. * Experience as a staff member in a UU congregation preferred. * Bachelor’s degree expected, and advanced degree in a relevant area preferred (e.g., management, theology, education), but note that this qualification can be met as a result of other professional, educational, and lived experience. * Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word). * Comfortable with using Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and other web-based applications including Zoom virtual meeting software and other emerging communications and remote learning technologies. * Semi-regular travel and weekend work is required, including attendance at the annual UUA General Assembly in June. * Understanding of issues around anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism * Work or lived experience with BIPOC communities is of particular value * Eagerness to work in an organization in which the dismantling of white supremacy is a high priority How to Apply People with disabilities, people of color, indigenous people, Hispanic/Latine, and LGBTQ candidates are encouraged to apply. The UUA is committed to developing a diverse and talented staff team. If you are excited about this role, but are unsure whether you meet 100% of the requirements, we encourage you to inquire and/or apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter via our applicant portal (ADP WorkforceNow) on uua.org/jobs. If you have any questions, please reach out to careers@uua.org. About the UUA The Unitarian Universalist Association is a progressive religious denomination headquartered in Boston’s waterfront Fort Point Innovation District. Our faith community of more than 1,000 self-governing congregations brings to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance, and social justice. Our normal workweek is 35 hours, we pay 80% contribution towards health insurance premiums, 10% towards retirement (after one year), and have generous paid time-off policies. We are a great place to work, and we value diversity. The UUA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all. As part of this commitment, the UUA will ensure that applicants and staff with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Department of Human Resources at careers@uua.org. For more information on the UUA, visit us online at UUA.org and uuworld.org. Support for the Mission and Values of the Association The Unitarian Universalist Association is a progressive and historic religious denomination. All UUA staff members are expected to perform their job duties in accordance with the UUA’s values, principles, and mission. Unitarian Universalism puts love at the center of our commitments, which embrace the Shared Values of justice, equity, transformation, interdependence, pluralism and generosity. The following points drawn from these Shared Values are of particular importance for the UUA’s work environment and staff culture: * Pluralism and generosity: We affirm the need for a human-centered workplace that allows our diverse staff to flourish. We also understand that our wider culture and society oppresses and denies human dignity, and we seek to counter the effects of that oppression in our hiring and workplace culture so that each person feels whole and valued. * Justice and equity: We speak openly and publicly of our support for social and political issues, including LGBTQ equity, racial justice, climate justice, gender equity, and reproductive justice. * Interdependence and transformation: We recognize that the liberation of all people is interwoven, and we work to counter patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, environmental exploitation, and other interrelated systems of marginalization.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the Ministries and Faith Development staff group to support and advance multicultural, anti-oppressive, justice-centered Unitarian Universalist leadership. Develop and implement strategies for training and supporting religious professionals while ensuring ethical practices within the organization.