Senior Director, Building Resilient Communities

Description

This posting will close December 5, 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 (S&J) home area, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (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 regional ELCA synods in service and justice work within the territorial jurisdiction of this church; and providing guidance to members of the denomination on matters of social justice.

This position directs the Building Resilient Communities (BRC) team, within the Service and Justice home area, providing leadership in the ELCA’s work with global companions in relief, sustainable development, and related ministries. This position reports to the Executive Director for Service and Justice. This position plans strategically to enable effective ELCA/S&J engagement in international development and disaster response, coordinating churchwide efforts with those of international and domestic partners. This position supervises the work of the Service and Justice BRC team, which (1) provides a comprehensive Service and Justice system of planning, monitoring and evaluation in support of the ELCA’s engagement with global companions; (2) manages funds raised by the ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response (including both grants to the Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Relief, and ecumenical partners and support for ELCA companion churches in their diaconal/service ministries); (3) coordinates an effective ELCA response to international disasters/emergencies, in collaboration with Lutheran and ecumenical companions; and (4) coordinates the ELCA’s participation in international health ministries. (5) oversees the direction of the ELCA AMMPARO strategy. The position represents ELCA at governance and planning tables of related organizations that engage in international relief and development and participates in the Executive Committee of Service and Justice home area.

This is a full-time, Chicago-based hybrid, regular, exempt, churchwide employee position. This position has responsibilities that require being in the Lutheran Center office on a regular weekly basis, at minimum 2 days each week and more as needed.

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. Strategic visioning and planning, budget development, direction setting, and supervision for a large team.

2. Program development, implementation, and oversight: ELCA Companion Churches (with the Service and Justice Area Desks).

3. Program development, implementation, and oversight: Lutheran World Federation, ACT Alliance, Church World Service, Lutheran World Relief and other related agencies.

4. Program development, implementation, oversight and communication: Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger and AMMPARO, education and networks.

5. Program coordination: Lutheran Services in America and social ministry organizations (SMOs) and ecumenical partners.

6. World Hunger program communication and coordination in collaboration with other leaders and home areas in the churchwide organization.

7. Support for the executive director relating to disaster response, sustainable development, and Service and Justice matters.

8. Skilled public speaker at ELCA events, synods, and congregations about mission and ministry.

9. Other duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

1. Supervises the BRC directors, coordinator, and short-term contractors as needed.

Requirements

1. 9+ years of relevant experience in development, social sciences, non-profit, emergency response and/or sustainable development work. Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

2. Strong understanding and appreciation for the vision, values, goals, purpose, polity and theology of the ELCA.

3. Understanding of Lutheran and ecumenical companions working in development and humanitarian response. Experience with cross-cultural engagement in developing countries.

4. Experience with business administration, strategic planning, and communication. Strong financial, budgeting (international financial management a plus), supervising a diverse staff, and management skills and ability to oversee and contribute to complex systems of program development and implementation.

5. Ability to develop, manage, and interpret effective programs in development and disaster response that give expression to the core values of the ELCA, including its commitment to the accompaniment model for mission.

6. Ability to apply knowledge of sound principles of international humanitarian response and sustainable development when crafting effective programs that are appropriate in a variety of global contexts and faith-based organizations.

7. Understanding of the dynamics of decision-making within complex and multi-cultural church and NGO systems, and the ability to listen to global companions, to analyze, and to plan strategically to achieve desired outcomes.

8. Ability to engage effectively in cross-cultural program planning, decision-making, and team building in this country and in developing countries.

9. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.

10. 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.) required. Accounting and budgeting software and other complex systems and data.

Physical

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands and finge