Director Reimagining Theological Education Project

GTA Toronto, ON

Director, Reimagining Theological Education Project

The Theology and Ministry Leadership Unit is seeking an individual to fill the role of Director, Reimagining Theological Education Project on a full-time basis (35 hours per week). This is a five-year project that concludes December 31, 2030. This is a contract position for the length of the Reimagining Theological Education Project.

The Theology and Ministry Leadership Unit brings together all the pieces relating to leadership, taking seriously the understanding of the ministry of the whole people of God. The unit includes the Office of Vocation, which is responsible for the assessment, candidacy, Admissions, and accreditation of ministry personnel, the standards of practice and ongoing oversight and, when necessary, discipline, of ministry personnel, and Pastoral Relations. The unit also includes Member Engagement (including nominations for national committees, boards, and task groups), the work of the Theology and Inter-Church Inter-Faith Committee (TICIF), and United Church theological schools.

Position Purpose

The Director of the Reimagining Theological Education Project is to serve as the primary coordinator of the five-year large-scale collaborative Pathways to the Tomorrow grant project from the Lilly Endowment, entitled “Reimagining Theological Education Across The United Church of Canada Theological Schools: Confronting the Narrative of Decline.” The Director will support the Theological Schools Circle (TSC) in holding the vision of the grant and leading transformative change in theological education and formation in The United Church of Canada. The Director of the Reimagining Theological Education Project will work closely with the Implementation and Oversight Committee of the Theological Schools Circle in development and implementation of this project.

Primary Areas of Responsibility

Project Planning and Accountability (15%): Develop a five-year project plan for the Reimagining Theological Education project, including timelines for development, implementation, and evaluation, with the collaboration of the Implementation and Oversight Committee. Ensure alignment of all activities of the five-year project with the original grant application. Recommend to the Implementation and Oversight Committee and to the Theological Schools Circle proposals for change in project activities as necessary, within the guidelines set by Lilly.
Project Implementation (40%): Direct and execute the project implementation plan, including evaluative checkpoints for each aspect of the project. Direct and advise staff in developing field education, continuing education, and communications strategies. Lead planning for national gatherings in accordance with the purposes of the grant. Develop recruitment and discernment strategies for theological education in collaboration with recruitment staff at the schools.
Reporting and Evaluation (15%): Develop evaluative frameworks for all parts of the Reimagining Theological Education Project. Oversee data collection and evaluation per timelines in the grant application. Recommend changes to the overall project and/or to specific Parts and Sections, based on evaluative data and ongoing research and learning. Prepare annual reports for Lilly, to be reviewed and approved. Ensure that interim reports and communications are shared on a periodic basis with the schools to share best practices and emerging results from grant activities.
Budget (5%): Manage the $10 million (CAD) project budget under oversight of the Implementation and Oversight committee. Report regularly to the President of the Vancouver School of Theology, as the lead project holder.
Supervision and Leadership of Staff (15%): Supervise the “First Five” Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, and other staff as required and determined by the Implementation and Oversight Committee. Direct and support the “First Five” Coordinator in the collaborative development with the schools of continuing education needs assessment, programming, and resources for ministers in their First Five years post-ordering. Carry out the communication plan as developed by the Theological Schools Circle and the UCC, in conjunction with other specified staff.
Research, Sustainability, and Innovation (10%): Establish a Centre for Flourishing Pastoral Leadership, with the theological schools, to offer education and formation for lay and ordered leadership roles. The Centre will hold the research, resources, etc. for this project. Research best practices and developments in field education and formation for ministry leadership, with the SME Coordinator and contextual theology/field education faculty from the schools. Assess needs of ministry personnel for continuing education programs; collaborate with the First Five Coordinator, continuing education faculty/staff at the schools, and regional council and national staff, to meet expressed needs.

*To request a copy of the full position description, please email: careers@united-church.ca

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Theology, Religious Studies, or a related field; or equivalent experience in theological education, formation, and ministry leadership;
Project Management certification or demonstrated expertise in managing complex projects;
Minimum 7-8 years of experience in project management within educational, non-profit, or faith-based organizations;
Proven track record of managing multi-year, multi-stakeholder initiatives with measurable outcomes;
Experience in budget oversight and financial reporting;
Familiarity with grant administration and compliance reporting;
Familiarity with higher-level education in Canada; familiarity with theological education an asset;
Familiarity with The United Church of Canada ethos and theology, or willingness to become familiar, is an asset;
Strong strategic planning and evaluation skills, including development of frameworks and data analysis;
Excellent leadership and supervisory skills, with experience managing diverse teams in remote work environments;
Outstanding communication skills and collaboration abilities across multiple institutions and contexts;
Ability to navigate theological diversity and engage constructively with academic and church leaders;
Demonstrated competence in change management and fostering innovation in educational settings;
Excellent organizational and situational analysis skills to prioritize and plan work, meeting deadlines, and completing multiple tasks on time with limited supervision, together with flexibility to deal with changing situations and priorities;
Ability to take initiative and work proactively;
Excellent skills in team development;
Strong computer skills in the use of various software applications – Office 365, Dynamics, SharePoint, OneDrive, Access, Adobe, Teams, Zoom and other platforms for virtual meetings, and a willingness to use new technologies;
Proficiency in French is an asset;
Alignment with the aims of the grant proposal and with the vision and values of The United Church of Canada – respect, integrity, passion and diversity; and

Working Conditions

The United Church of Canada has adopted a hybrid workplace model, providing flexibility for this position, working both off-site and in the General Council Office, in Toronto, ON. The incumbent will be provided, for work purposes, use of secure devices and must be available by email, phone, teams or zoom during regular office hours Monday to Friday. Sitting and viewing a computer screen for long periods, keyboarding/using assistive devices or technologies, intermittent physical activity including sitting, standing and being on a call for long periods of time will be required. Occasional additional hours may be required.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Code, The United Church of Canada will provide reasonable accommodations to employees with human-rights related needs.

Compensation

The target hiring range for this position is $95,841.98 to $109,232.17 with the ability to progress to a maximum of $127,789.77. This is based on category 10 on our salary range. Placement on the salary range will depend on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and the candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role. Pension and group benefit plans coverage and annual vacation round out this compensation package.