Submit resumes to: minister@uuloudoun.org

Deadline to submit: March 7, 2021

Reports to:  Minister

Effective: April 1, 2021

Directly supervises: Childcare providers/Summer Staff

Status: Part-time (20 hours)

FLSA: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Religious Exploration directs, develops, maintains and evaluates faith formation programming for children, to the end that they experience a deeper connection to themselves, one another, the UUCL community, and the spirit of life; are nurtured in their Unitarian Universalist identities and learn to live their Unitarian Universalist values.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Implements and oversees all aspects of year-round religious education programming for children, preschool—grade 12.
• Researches, selects and implements the use of appropriate curricula and other resources, manages and cares for resources and equipment/supplies.
• Recruits, equips, schedules and supervises volunteer staff (teachers, assistants, mentors, advisors), including securing background checks (via Church Administrator).
• Hires, trains, and supervises childcare providers, as well as scheduling such for worship services and adult religious education classes (in coordination with supervisor and RE Committee)
• Ensures the safety of children and youth through implementation of congregational safety policies (including performing background checks with church admin) and additional safety measures.
• Ensures the integration of religious education with other areas of congregational life, including worship.
• Enables the growth of the religious education program.
• Evaluates effectiveness of program relative to goals.
• Pursues training with LREDA and Our Whole Lives.
• Generates a sense of hospitality and accessibility to people of all ages; creates a welcoming and supportive environment for families and volunteers; assures accessibility of RE classes to all children, youth and volunteers regardless of ability.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Professionalism

Communication: Is able to deliver a message clearly, articulately and with appropriate emotion in a variety of settings, including in writing; demonstrates communication styles appropriate to the situation at hand; adjusts the message, without losing the essence of the message, depending upon the circumstance and the listener or reader;

Follow Through: Consistently attends to the many small pieces which must be assembled into an organized whole; follows up on missing or out of balance items; resolves unanswered questions needed to address a problem; keeps the larger picture in mind while tending to details.

Personal Resilience: Can effectively cope with change and uncertainty; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty; is flexible.

Priority Setting: Spends his/her time and directs the time of others to what is important; quickly zones in on the critical issue, and ignores or minimizes distractions; can sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks; demonstrates focus.

Self-Development: Sets appropriate personal work objectives, measures own progress, identifies personal gaps in knowledge, understanding and skill; undertakes appropriate activities to develop needed skills; seeks regular feedback on performance; knows personal strengths and weaknesses, is sensitive to changing personal and organizational requirements and changes accordingly.

Leadership in Covenantal Community

Unitarian Universalist (UU) Identity: understands self as a UU; embodies and teaches UU values; is knowledgeable about UU history, polity and theology…or willing to learn.

Ethics and Values: Honors the core values and beliefs of the organization in his/her/their choice of behaviors; consistently embodies appropriate behavioral choices in both stressful and non-stressful situations; practices the behaviors he/she/they advocate(s) to others.

Integrity and Trust: Is seen as trustworthy by others; practices direct, honest and transparent communication; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t operate with hidden agendas; responds to situations with constancy and reliability.

Interpersonal Skills: Establishes good working relationships with all others who are relevant to the completion of work; works well with people at all levels of the congregation; builds appropriate rapport; considers the impact of his/her/their actions on others; uses diplomacy and tact; is approachable; avoids communication triangles.

Pastoral Care Support: Creates a spirit of openness that invites those who are spiritually or emotionally troubled to confide in her/him/them; demonstrates appropriate pastoral care boundaries; respects confidences; communicates with the minister about congregants’ pastoral care issues; encourages congregants to utilize the congregation’s pastoral care and conflict resolution resources, including utilizing the minister, caring committee and conflict resolution team should that be appropriate.

People/Volunteer Management: Provides direction, gains commitment, facilitates change and achieves results through the efficient, creative and responsible deployment of volunteers; engages people in their areas of giftedness and passion; creates a climate in which people want to do their best; motivates employees, volunteers and members; empowers others;

Self-Differentiation: Demonstrates strong and appropriate personal boundaries in relationships; has a healthy appreciation of self, without being egotistical; is emotionally mature; can maintain a non-anxious presence in the midst of turmoil; not overly dependent upon outside affirmation; works to build a strong personal support system.

SALARY, BENEFITS, AND HOURS

This is a half-time (20 hours) salaried position that reports to the Minister.

• Work hours are flexible, but need to include Sunday mornings and afternoons from September – mid June.
• Access to health insurance benefits
• Vacation: Four weeks of paid vacation (July).
• Membership in the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA).
• We are a Geo Index 05, small I congregation. While titled as a DRE position, the work lies in between Director and Coordinator.

2021-2022 Payment Package