Director of Children’s Ministries

Reports to: Pastor of Next Gen Ministries (Noah Smith)

Start Date: November 2025, if possible

Schedule: 40 Hours per week

Position Type: Full-time, Exempt

Position Summary

This is not just a job, it’s a calling. The Director of Children’s Ministries (DCM) is a high-capacity, highly relational leader who is passionate about sharing the gospel and discipling children in their faith. 

The new DCM will oversee the children’s ministry strategy of Calvary Church under the direction of the Pastor of Next Gen Ministries, Noah Smith. This role requires a strong understanding of (and alignment with) Calvary Church’s mission (“experiencing the gospel changing lives forever”), vision, theological distinctives, discipleship pathway, and strategies as they partner with parents and families to lead children to a genuine sense of belonging, an understanding of the gospel, and ongoing spiritual growth.

The new DCM will passionately embody Calvary’s team culture (keeping Jesus at the center, pursuing excellence that honors God, building one another up, and learning and growing together). They should actively cultivate a growing personal relationship with Christ and demonstrate integrity in their words, relationships, and actions as they serve the Calvary Church family. 

Full details of the position can be found by clicking the Apply Now Button below. If you have any questions about this position, please contact Matt Parker, Lead Pastor of Ministries (matt.parker@calvaryweb.net), or Noah Smith (noah.smith@calvaryweb.net).

Responsibilities and Duties

1. Provide excellent leadership to Children’s Ministries (CM) staff and volunteers:

· Cast vision and set the direction for CM across all Calvary campuses in alignment with Calvary’s overall mission, vision, values, and strategic goals.

· Implement the agreed strategies and goals for CM.

· Create an environment that recruits, empowers, and invests in CM leaders.

· Galvanize, engage, and onboard volunteers and build systems and structures that champion leadership development.

· Effectively lead, mentor, train, and shepherd staff and volunteer leaders.

· Provide staff and volunteer teams with information about current trends and best practices in children’s ministry.

· Build healthy partnerships with families and within the broader church family.

· Represent CM as part of Calvary’s Leadership Council and contribute to church-wide initiatives.

2. Ensure the delivery of high-quality Sunday programming and other events and activities:

· Provide insight and direction for big-picture programming and creative planning processes at all Calvary campuses.

· Ensure that check-in areas, ministry spaces, and signage at all campuses are clear, current, and focused on welcoming new children and families.

· Oversee the curriculum and teaching provided at CM on Sunday mornings, ensuring that the gospel is presented clearly and in an age-appropriate way.

· Collaborate with Communications Team staff about communications related to CM and, as needed, produce written and digital communications about CM to be shared with families and the broader Calvary congregation.

· Work with CM staff and Calvary leadership to establish a calendar of CM programs and activities (e.g., VBS, My Faith Foundations, Pursuit for Families, Easter and Christmas events, musical, etc.) and support CM staff in planning these.

· Provide teaching to children as appropriate (for example, in Sunday morning large group, My Faith Foundations, etc.)

· Support with conducting baptism interviews, child dedications, and similar ministry activities.

· Provide oversight, support, and guidance to the lay leadership of MomCo as appropriate.

· Evaluate ministry effectiveness, track key metrics, and introduce improvements in response to identified weaknesses and needs.

3. Give effective oversight to Children’s Ministries operations:

· Develop and oversee CM budgets, demonstrating effective stewardship and resource allocation.

· Oversee systems for background checks, safety, and security procedures, scheduling, training, and care of volunteers.

· Ensure that children are protected from abuse as far as possible and oversee the implementation of Calvary’s safeguarding procedures for children.

· Attend Calvary’s whole-staff gatherings and prayer meetings

Qualifications

Education & Experience

· Relevant formal qualification(s) and/or training in working with children are strongly preferred.

· Extensive prior practical experience serving (as staff or volunteer) in a church’s children’s ministry is essential.

Work Schedule

· Typical hours: 40 hours a week.

· Must be available at weekends (especially Sundays), some evenings, and for holiday services.

Physical Requirements

· This position requires the ability to perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, which may include extended periods of sitting, standing, or light physical activity.

Skills and Character Requirement

Calvary Core Skills & Character Expectations

· A committed follower of Jesus fully aligned with Calvary’s mission, vision, values, statement of faith (calvaryweb.net/visionvalues), and theological distinctives.

· Able to champion Calvary’s team culture and live this out daily in interactions with others.

· A compassionate heart and desire to serve others.

· A humble, committed team player who listens well, communicates clearly, and works to resolve conflict with grace.

· Excellent communication skills – able to listen well, share ideas, and collaborate effectively.

· Teachable and willing to ask questions, receive feedback, and pursue ongoing growth and learning.

Director-Specific Expectations

· Proven leadership skills: able to cast vision and align teams with Calvary’s mission and values.

· A self-starter, able to work effectively with minimal supervision.

· Experience in galvanizing, mentoring, and developing both staff and volunteer leaders.

· Strong strategic thinker; able to design, implement, and evaluate ministry goals.

· Able to “think outside the box” and generate innovative and creative ideas.

· High-level communication skills; able to teach, train, and present effectively to groups.

· Budget development and oversight experience.

· Ability to assess ministry effectiveness and lead improvements.

· Models spiritual leadership; known as a trusted and wise voice within the church.

· Capable of handling complex challenges with discernment, wisdom, and grace.

General Guidelines and Expectations for All Calvary Church Staff:

· Resolving Conflict: All staff members are expected to follow the principles outlined in Matthew 18:15-20 and resolve conflicts biblically, first regarding other staff members, second in relation to the individuals they are ministering to, and third, concerning the church family at large.

· Safeguarding: All staff members must be committed to following Calvary’s Safeguarding policies and take all necessary steps to prevent children experiencing any form of abuse.

· Calvary Church Staff Team Guidebook: All staff are expected to uphold the mission and culture of Calvary Church and to follow the standards outlined in the Calvary Church Staff Team Guidebook.

· Confidentiality: Every staff member is required to use discretion regarding privileged information (information obtained during the regular performance of duties, including but not limited to information from or about the staff, elders’ meetings, counseling cases, or any other matters). Love for God and others should be the goal in all our communication and information sharing.

· Additional Note: This description highlights the primary responsibilities of the role but is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every task. Team members may be asked to help in other ways as ministry needs arise. Employment at Calvary Church is at will, and nothing here should be understood as a contract. Essential functions of the role can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.