Director of Connections

Position Summary:

The Director of Connections facilitates connections within the Grace Fellowship Church (GFC) community and beyond, ensuring a welcoming and engaging environment for guests and members alike to be effectively integrated into discipleship and the life of the church. This role involves developing and implementing programs that foster relationships, guides newcomers, and encourages participation in various ministries and services.

The Director is strategically minded, administratively skilled, intentional with recruitment and team development, has a pastoral heart, and values relational ministry. This position has demonstrated experience providing oversight and leadership to coordinate strategic long-range and tactical ministry plans, goals, and objectives. The Director fully embraces the vision, mission, and theology of Grace Fellowship Church and partners with other ministries to facilitate engagement in the four core marks of GFC membership – Giving, Grouping, Inviting, and Serving.

Primary Position Responsibilities:

·       Pray for, support, and be an extension of the vision and values of the lead pastor and GFC (please visit gfc.org).

·       Develops, implements, and manages strategic initiatives for the Connections Ministry (i.e., guests services, Grace Cafe, and baptism).

·       Recruits, disciples, equips, and collaborates with Connections volunteer teams to welcome and engage guests, ensuring they feel valued and connected from their first encounter with GFC.

·       Facilitates member connections, encouraging a sense of belonging and involvement (i.e., helping members discover their gifts and find opportunities to serve and grow spiritually).

·       Creates a positive first impression and welcoming environment from the parking lot to the worship center (i.e., parking lot team that is trained to serve with purpose and excellence; volunteers equipped to create a safe, smooth, and welcoming experience for guests and returning attendees).

·       Creates effective strategies and systems to integrate guests and attenders into the church community, providing clear pathways for them to connect with groups and serving opportunities.

·       Maintains accurate records of visitors, members/attenders, serving teams, and volunteer involvement utilizing technology to track engagement metrics and assess the effectiveness of connection initiatives.

·       Creates systems and processes to follow up with newcomers and guide them towards deeper engagement.  

·       Works collaboratively with other ministries to ensure that individuals are connected to the appropriate next steps (i.e., Launch - Bible Basics; Welcome to Grace - Introduction to the Church; Rooted and Groups – Discipleship Pathway; Baptism – Public Declaration of Faith; Student Ministry – Youth Engagement; and Serving Opportunities – Volunteer Engagement).

·       Continuously evaluates and improves the connections processes and effectiveness (i.e., enhance the guest experience for seamless integration into church life; analyze feedback from attendees and volunteers to refine ministry operations; develop strategies to increase engagement and participation).

·       Engages in the community and develops effective outreach opportunities.

·       Provides input into the ministry presence on social media platforms.

·       Ensures all environments and team members are safe and adheres to Grace Fellowship Church policies and procedures.

·       Collaborates with ministry teams (i.e., Adult Ministries, Children’s, Pastoral Care) to ensure there is cohesion in providing an integrated environment.

·       Provides efficient and effective communication for inclusivity of first-time attendees and returning attenders and volunteers.

Minimum Qualifications/Expectations:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·       Vibrant Christ follower with strong character

·       Live the staff values of GFC

·       Commitment and support of Grace Fellowship’s purpose, vision, and mission

·       Desire and ability to encourage greater unity and interaction amongst people from diverse backgrounds

·       Must be an active and engaged member of GFC

·       Passionate about making more and better disciples in a church environment

·       Calling for this ministry demonstrated by a passion for helping individuals grow in their faith and find community

·       Experience implementing systems and strategies

·       Knowledge of trends in the delivery of training including the use of technology and best practices related to the development and delivery of training

·       Experience with effective organizational, communications, and consensus building skills

·       Highly proficient with technology and office software as well as an aptitude for learning necessary software for data management and communications.

·       Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills

·       A team builder who values and supports multiculturalism
 

Education/Experience

·       Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred but not required

·       Prior experience in ministry leadership or a related field is preferred

·       Experience in a large Church or not-for-profit organization would be beneficial

Working Hours and Conditions:

Business Hours/Exceptions  

This position is full time that will work 40 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, and Sunday.  

There are currently three “all hands” events per year, Christmas, Easter, and Fall Launch, where extra hours are required.

Working Environment

Most work is done on site although some work may be done remotely.

The individual in this role will thrive in, as well as contribute to, a working environment that is spiritual, prayerful, cooperative (team), relational, unified (shared goals), celebrative, and productive.

Travel Requirements and Expectations

Occasional offsite staff meetings and periodic travel for training and enrichment may be required.

Salary

Commensurate with experience and capability. To be discussed in hiring process.