Positions Available

Congregational Development Consultant for St. Lawrence District and Central East Regional Group

Position Title: Congregational Development Consultant – St. Lawrence District and Central East Regional Group
Staff Group: Congregational Life
Reports To: Director for Congregational Life in conjunction with the Central East Regional Group Lead
Location: St. Lawrence District*
Grade: 13, full-time

Start Date: August 1, 2012 (expected)

Basic Purpose: To provide support and resources for congregational/organizational development for the St. Lawrence District (SLD) and stewardship and resource development for the Central East Regional Group (CERG) of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), which includes the SLD.

Principal Roles and Responsibilities

1. Provides an accessible and available presence to SLD congregations as the point of first contact for congregational staff and leaders; provides assistance and resources to congregations while articulating and maintaining district mission, strategies, and vision.
2. Extends a vision of healthy, covenantal and purposeful congregational and cluster functioning by providing or arranging for appropriate consultation and programming. Works to ensure that quality consulting is available in organizational structure and cluster development and that congregational training is available in a variety of skills such as organizational planning, conflict resolution, and leadership development.
3. Assists CERG congregations and clusters in learning 21st century stewardship theory and practice through appropriate workshops, webinars, conferences, etc., and supports the implementation of best practices.
4. Along with other CERG staff, actively encourages cluster development and collaboration among congregations to share resources and strategies for volunteer and leadership development; helps organize congregational learning communities both by geography and affinity.
5. Organizes resources from the district, region and the UUA to meet congregational and cluster needs, draws on existing (and sometimes still latent) congregational, cluster, district, regional and national resources to provide a predictable and valued set of learning opportunities.
6. Identifies SLD growth opportunities and encourages congregational efforts toward growth in numbers, organizational health, associational connectivity, depth of faith and outreach; works with SLD and CERG committees, individuals, and congregations to extend and promote Unitarian Universalism in the district and region.
7. Serves as a representative of the SLD and the UUA to district ceremonial functions, interfaith efforts, and to ancillary organizations of the SLD and UUA as required.
8. Periodically assesses and reports on district and regional activities and congregational needs and the efficacy of stewardship and congregational development efforts.
9. Participates actively in the UUA Congregational Life and CERG staff groups, including annual personnel assessments.
10. Writes staff blogs and newsletter articles as required and keeps an up-to-date and accurate account of expenses.
11. Performs additional duties as requested by supervisors, the Vice President for Ministries and Congregational Support, or the President.

Qualifications: This is an exempt Grade 13 position (entry $56,000; midpoint $71,500 with expected starting salary of $58,000). Qualifications of our ideal candidate include:

• Substantive leadership experience at the District and/or UUA level.
• Either a fellowshipped Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister or a UU lay leader with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with ordained and lay leaders, volunteers, boards and committees..
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of Unitarian Universalism.
• Personal religious depth.
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a District and regional team.
• Ability to work in covenant in any team.
• A commitment to and understanding of organizational development.
• Ability to teach Systems Thinking or willingness to learn.
• Knowledge and experience of group and organizational change dynamics.
• Knowledge of modern stewardship theory and practice or willingness to learn.
• Commitment to anti-oppression and social justice.
• Excellent written communications and public speaking skills.
• Proficiency with standard office computer and e mail programs, especially Microsoft Windows and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to take initiative, set priorities and manage time well.
• Significant travel involved; the ability to travel within the SLD and CERG and to other national events, including some nights and weekends.

* It is expected that the Congregational Development Consultant will live within the St. Lawrence District.

How to Apply: People with disabilities, people of color, Hispanic/Latino/a and B/G/L/T/I/Q/Q candidates are encouraged to apply. Send cover letter and résumé by April 15, 2012—indicating "SLD Congregational Development Consultant" in the subject line—via e mail (preferably) to Rev. Joan Van Becelaere at jvanbecelaere at uua.org, via fax to (866) 460-7969 or to Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, 7430 Grand Bahama Drive, Columbus, OH 43085.

About the St. Lawrence District: The St. Lawrence District is made up of 35 chartered congregations belonging to the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. The congregations are located in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. The District's mission is to "Serve, Connect and Grow our congregations as we continually strive to Widen and Deepen the experience and impact of Unitarian Universalism." This mission is a key part of the 5-year Long Range Plan of the District that was overwhelmingly adopted by delegates at our District Assembly in April 2010. The Board of Trustees is comprised of eight people: six Trustees, one Youth Trustee and one District UUA Trustee. Additional staff consists of a part-time Administrator, part-time Lifespan Faith Development Consultant and several adjunct consultants.

About the UUA and the Central East Region: The Unitarian Universalist Association is an historic, progressive, religious denomination headquartered on Boston's Beacon Hill. Our faith community of more than 1,000 self-governing congregations brings to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance, and social justice. The Central East Region consists of the Joseph Priestley District, the Metro New York District, the Ohio-Meadville District, and the St. Lawrence District. The four districts have almost 200 congregations among them. This position is part of a new shared staff arrangement between the four districts. We pay an 80% contribution towards health insurance premiums, 11% towards retirement (after 1 year), and have generous paid time-off policies. We are a great place to work and are seeking to increase the diversity of our staff. The UUA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information on the UUA, visit us online at UUA.org.