Kids Pastor

ESSENTIALS

• Love for God, Scripture, and the Church

• Committed to the Vision, Mission, and Values of Hillside

• Growing in humility

• Able to smile and laugh

• Collaborative Team Player

• Willing to engage in accountable relationships

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

CORE STAFF VALUES

• Christ-Centered – Love for God, Scripture, and the Church. Committed to the Vision, Mission and Values of Hillside Community Church.

• Care – Caring Person, Slowing down to check in with one another, living in empathy.

• Collaboration – Team player, value every voice, willing to engage in accountable relationships.

• Communication – Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Celebration – Able to smile and laugh.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Lead and oversee a staff team that programs Kids Ministry (birth–5th grade): Sundays, midweek Kids discipleship, Summer Blast (VBS), events, and new initiatives.

• Direct a team of staff & babysitters, plus 250 volunteers.

• Develop annual ministry goals, calendar, and budget.

• Ensure safety and excellence across environments.

Partner with the Communications Team for effective family engagement.

Parent Partnership

• Equip parents as the primary spiritual leaders of their children.

• Provide resources, classes, and communication that strengthen the Home Church connection.

• Build meaningful, ongoing relationships with families.

• Meet, connect, and equip new families to love Jesus and become an integral part of the Hillside family.

Volunteer Development

• Recruit, equip, and celebrate volunteers.

• Implement a discipleship and leadership pipeline for Kids Ministry leaders.

Oversee volunteer onboarding, training, and scheduling systems (PCO).

Kids Spiritual Formation

• Create engaging, age-appropriate teaching and experiences that help kids encounter God’s truth.

• Foster small group environments where kids feel known and loved.

Continually evaluate and refresh curriculum for cultural and developmental relevance.

Team Development

• Lead, coach, and care for Kids Ministry staff and key leaders (Parent Lead Team, Kids Worship Team, Kids Teaching Team, Summer Blast Lead Team)

• Set vision, goals, and rhythms for collaboration and accountability.

Facilitate weekly team meetings and 1-on-1s with Kids Team staff.

Pastoral Duties

• Participate in weddings, baptisms, hospital visits, and funerals.

• Contribute to the broader pastoral ministry and teams of the church.

A WIN LOOKS LIKE…

• The Kids Ministry is innovative, growing, and magnetic. A place where families love to be involved and volunteers love to serve.

• Kids are making personal decisions to follow Jesus and are learning to share their faith with others.

• Volunteers are equipped, valued, and multiplying leaders.

• Kids love coming to church and grow in faith weekly.

• Parents feel supported and spiritually empowered at home.

• The ministry is proactive, organized, and aligned with Hillside’s vision.

• The team culture is joyful, caring, collaborative, and Christ-centered.

• There is vision and excitement for creative expansion and numeric growth.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Christian Education, Biblical Studies, Ministry, or a related field required.

• Master’s degree in Kids Ministry, Theology, or Leadership preferred (or equivalent ministry experience).

• Ordination or willingness to pursue ordination within Hillside’s leadership framework of the Aspire Network of Churches.

Experience:

• Minimum 5-8 years of full-time ministry leadership experience, with at least 3 years in Children’s or Family Ministry within a church of 500 attendance.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams of staff and volunteers (100 people).

• Proven success in visionary leadership, creative program design, and curriculum development for children’s spiritual formation.

• Experience partnering with parents and integrating Home Church discipleship strategies.

• Strong skills in organization, administration, and systems building for multi-service ministry environments.

• Ability to communicate Biblical truth in fun, engaging, age-appropriate ways.

• Proficiency with Planning Center Online (PCO), volunteer scheduling systems, budget planning, and digital communication tools preferred.

Personal & Ministry Alignment:

• Committed follower of Jesus Christ with a lifestyle that reflects biblical values and integrity.

• Alignment with Hillside’s Vision, Mission, and Core Staff Values, and with the Aspire Network of Churches’ leadership development and multiplication philosophy.

• Team-oriented leader who thrives in collaboration, innovation, and excellence for God’s glory.

Required Licenses/Certifications

• CPR/AED

• Ordination or Pastoral License

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

This position has access to confidential information.