Title of Opportunity: Interim Director of Religious Exploration

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First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton

Job Description: Interim Director of Religious Exploration

Title: Interim Director of Religious Exploration

Employment Status: Exempt, ¾ Time

Reporting: The Interim DRE reports to the Chief of Staff.

Overview Of Responsibilities

Joining in a commitment to our shared values, the Interim DRE works with the Senior Co-Ministers and staff in support of the congregation’s work toward its mission and vision. The Interim DRE collaborates with the Religious Exploration Committee and its teams to oversee the congregation’s programming for spiritual growth for children and youth.

The Interim DRE supervises the childcare staff, youth staff, and paid and volunteer religious education staff.

Evaluation

An initial performance review at the three month mark, as well as an Annual performance review for each of the anticipated two years of interim services will be conducted by the Chief of Staff and communicated to the Board of Trustees.

Primary Responsibilities

• Interim Tasks:
• Assists the Senior Co-Ministers with understanding the history of FUUSN’s RE program and past transitions of the congregation’s Religious Educators;
• Works with the congregation to focus and re-imagine the congregation’s mission and mission-centered goals which will inform the congregation’s approach to religious exploration;
• Reviews alternative approaches to UU RE for children and youth and offers recommendations to RE committee and Senior Co-Ministers;
• With the congregation, explore leadership changes that might better serve the congregation during a time of transition;
• Works with the congregation, volunteers, parents/guardians, and RE Committee on interim tasks to increase the congregation’s support and excitement for its RE ministry.
• Religious Education Administration
• Coordinates the development and implementation of Religious Exploration programs for children and youth;
• Works in collaboration with the Chief of Staff and Religious Exploration Committee to set annual goals for RE programs and to review, select, and obtain or create curricula for RE programs;
• Facilitates ministerial engagement with RE programming;
• Coordinates paid and volunteer teacher recruitment and hiring, assures weekly teacher scheduling and training, and organizes annual teacher orientation sessions;
• Supervises and schedules youth employed as RE classroom aides, beadles, and other employment opportunities FUUSN creates for its youth;
• Administratively oversees staff and volunteers preparing supplies and lesson plans for RE classes and maintaining physical classroom space, storage spaces, and materials;
• Facilitates regular Our Whole Lives and Coming of Age programming, including;
• Recruiting teachers and arranging for new-teacher trainings;
• Recruiting COA mentors;
• Scheduling and organizing classes;
• Preparing and maintaining supplies and updated materials;
• Working with volunteers and ministers on annual celebration.
• Worship: In collaboration with the ministers:
• Supports Ministers in creating multigenerational worship services on fourth Sundays as well as holiday pageants, RE Sunday;
• Connects families with Ministers for child dedications;
• Develops monthly Children’s Chapel;
• Assists or leads the Time for All Ages in Sunday Services;
• Creates and maintain children’s worship supplies for use during services;
• Participates in special services, such as Homecoming, Christmas Eve, Easter, Flower Communion, and CODA service.
• Other Administration:
• Manages the RE program in collaboration with the ministers, including:
• Attends staff meetings and Congregational Meetings;
• Manages the RE budget in collaboration with the Ministers;
• Submits an annual report for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation;
• Recruits, trains, supervises, and evaluates the RE Staff, volunteers, and Nursery Care staff;
• Assists the Chief of Staff and Volunteer Supervisors with recruitment, supervision, and evaluation of Youth Employees;
• Keeps Safety Protocols updated and effective and trains volunteers and staff in maintaining safety measures;
• Serves on the Sexually Safer Review Team if an incident related to a child or youth occurs;
• Maintains registration, permission, and medical information forms for all participants in Youth Religious Exploration and Youth activities;
• Obtains, reviews and approves background checks on all Youth Religious Exploration assistants, Youth Advisors, Child Care Providers, Classroom Teachers, and volunteers.
• Communication: Communicates effectively about RE programming to parents and Congregation:
• Produces and maintains annual marketing materials for RE as well as an RE bulletin board;
• Provides support, materials and information for parents for faith development at home in a brief weekly newsletter;
• Welcomes parents and children on Sunday mornings and notifying database manager.
• Pastoral Care
• Provides pastoral care for families, youth and children in consultation with the ministers.
• Additional Duties
• With volunteers, facilitates special events such as an Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Party, Parents’ Night Out, and Coming of Age trips.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor
• Wider UU Faith:
• Maintains connections with professional colleagues;
• Participates in continuing education;
• Maintains membership in the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) and the New England Region LREDA (NELREDA)
  
  

Core Competencies

• Accountability: Able to lead in support of the Congregation’s Mission and Vision.
• Interpersonal Skills
• Demonstrates the ability to lead;
• Uses active listening to understand others, identify issues, and build relationships;
• Abides by a Professional Code of Conduct.
• Communication Skills: Demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively in writing and speaking.
• Program Management Skills:
• Manages programs and projects efficiently
• Designs and implements viable plans (e.g., resources, issues, action steps, timetables, and outcomes)
• Produces timely and effective outcomes
• A basic working understanding of congregational systems and transitions.
  
  

Specific Job Prerequisites

• Experience as a UU Religious Educator; credentialed religious educator highly preferred
• Experience as an Interim Religious Educator preferred; willingness to attend interim training required;
• Continuing education in UUA Sparks modules or UU Institute programs highly desirable;
• Respect for UU Shared Values and Principles;
• Ability to demonstrate understanding and experience with UU congregational life;
• Must pass a background check.
  
  

Compensation And Other Information

• Salary: Salary, benefits, and expectations follow UUA recommended best-practices;
• Retirement: contributions to the UUA Retirement plan matched at 10% of salary with minimum one year of service to a UU congregation
• Disability and Life Insurance provided;
• Health Insurance: FUUSN pays 80% of the individual premium for the basic plan;
• Professional Development: 10% of salary;
• Vacation and Study Leave provided, with one Sunday off per month and four weeks of vacation plus FUUSN’s time-off between Christmas and New Years. Approved professional Development included in work hours.
  
  

Contact and application information

Position open until filled. Contact Rev. Joel Miller at rev.joel@fusn.com with cover letter and resume.

The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton

1326 Washington St.

Newton, MA 02465