Assistant Director of Urban Community Engagement

Overview:

Christian leaders to think theologically, engage globally, and live biblically. With nearly 1,400 students across campuses in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Florida, and online, Gordon-Conwell’s student body represents more than eighty-five denominations and fifty countries. The seminary offers master’s and doctoral programs—delivered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese—that combine academic excellence, spiritual formation, and a deep commitment to Scripture. Its 12,000 alumni serve Christ through ministry in the church, the academy, and the workplace. Gordon-Conwell is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the New England Commission of Higher Education, and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Position Summary:     

The Assistant Director of Urban Community Engagement provides strategic leadership, relationship development, and oversight for urban ministry education-focused initiatives at Gordon-Conwell's Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME). This role serves as a bridge between CUME and urban churches, ministries, and Christian nonprofits, cultivating partnerships and designing training opportunities that strengthen Christian leadership in diverse urban contexts. The Assistant Director reports to the Director of CUME, with working relationships between Advancement, Admissions, and Marketing. 

This role is ideal for a visionary urban ministry leader who can combine theological depth, entrepreneurial energy, and relational credibility to strengthen and expand urban programming in service of the Church.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Leadership & Reporting: Collaborates closely with Advancement, Admissions, and Marketing to ensure alignment of strategy, recruitment, fundraising, and promotion of CUME and its mission.

2. Public Relations & Community Organizing

•    Develop and maintain strong relationships with urban congregations, pastors, and Christian NGOs.

•    Listen attentively to the needs of urban ministry leaders and connect them with CUME’s educational resources.

•    Serve as a visible ambassador for CUME in Boston and other urban centers.

3. Program Development & Execution: In consultation with the Director and urban church leaders, plan and execute seminars, leadership training events, non-credit educational programs.

•    Ensure that each event or program is financially sustainable and generates a surplus.

•    Serve as project manager for special programs and initiatives in partnership with local churches.

4. Regional Expansion

•    Initiate and develop partnerships in additional urban areas, beginning in New England, to sponsor training events and courses.

•    Identify opportunities for scalable urban programming in other cities.

5. Enrollment Growth

•    Work collaboratively with Admissions and Marketing to increase enrollment in Urban Ministry concentrations in various degree programs at Gordon-Conwell.

•    Identify prospective students through church and ministry partnerships and help cultivate enrollment pathways.

6. Church Partnerships

•    Work with the Director to nurture and expand partnerships with churches representing diverse ethnicities and languages.

•    Facilitate training events and courses in Boston and other cities that reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of urban ministry contexts.

7. Advancement Collaboration

•    Partner with the Advancement Office to raise funds for student scholarships and urban programming initiatives.

•    Assist in donor cultivation and communicate the impact of urban programs.

Required Competencies

•    Communication and Interpersonal Effectiveness: Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and must have excellent relational and networking abilities. Must have collaborative spirit with strong initiative and follow-through.

•    Cultural Intelligence: Commitment to collegiality, diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. Demonstrated ability to collaborate and serve in a team environment that requires collegiality and regular collaboration across matrixed, multi-campus environment.

•    Technical Knowledge: Competent in using Outlook, Word, Excel, PDF Editor, Teams. The ability to use web conferencing software (e.g., Zoom) preferred.

•    Customer Service: Strong customer service skills with ability to display empathy with all constituents. Commitment to a high level of confidentiality and attention to detail is required. 

•    Organization and Project Management: Must have demonstrated experience as self-starter with innovative thinking. Able to manage time well in order to accurately perform detailed work while balancing competing priorities. Must be highly organized and detail oriented.

•    Christian Higher Education: Familiarity with Christian higher education, preferably with passion for urban ministry and leadership development.

•    Clear understanding of the Seminary’s mission and willingness to affirm the Community Life Statement of GCTS. 

Education and Experience

•    Master’s degree in theology, or related field, required. 

•    Experience in Christian leadership, preferably as a pastor or ministry leader, strongly preferred. 

•    Experience training leaders in management, leadership, or ministry contexts, strongly preferred.

•    Commitment to the mission of theological education for the global church required. 

Application Process

Please apply through Gordon-Conwell’s Career Center available here: https://www.gordonconwell.edu/employment/ 

Please include these documents in either Microsoft Word or PDF formats:

•    A cover letter explaining your interest in the position.

•    A formal resume/CV.

No hard copy materials, please. Opportunities to interview will be made available at the search committee’s initiative. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.