Kids Ministry Director

Job Description

POSITION: Kids Ministry Director

DEPARTMENT: Next Gen

REPORTS TO: Executive Director of Ministries

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time Salary

The Kids Ministry Director is responsible for providing vision, leadership, and oversight for Orchard Kids, creating environments where children are known, loved, and encouraged to take their next step as they find and follow Jesus

This role leads the overall Kids Ministry strategy, develops and equips staff and volunteers, oversees the weekend experience, partners with parents, and ensures that Orchard Kids is a safe, welcoming, fun, and spiritually engaging environment for every child.

The Kids Ministry Director should be a strong spiritual leader, an excellent team builder, and someone who can build systems that help a growing ministry remain healthy, organized, and relational.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Submits life to God and strives to live out His Word.
• Agrees with Orchard’s belief statement.
• Embodies Orchard’s values and mission of “People Helping People Find and Follow Jesus."
• Agrees with and exemplifies Orchard’s team values (O.R.C.H.A.R.D. - Organized, Reliable, Chemistry, Health, Accountable, Reproducible, Driven).
• Be a team player that supports Orchard’s vision with one’s time, talents, and treasures (i.e., tithe).
• Applies and adheres to Orchard’s policies and procedures.
• Maintains a professional attitude and demeanor that strives for excellence, collaboration, growth, and innovation.

LEADERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Alignment with the theology, mission, and values of Orchard Church.
• Experience leading children's ministry and/or teams of volunteers.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and retain volunteers.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to lead both strategically and relationally.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a growing church environment.
• Experience working with children and families in a church or ministry setting.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in ministry, leadership, education, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of children's ministry leadership experience.
• Experience leading a Kids Ministry in a growing or multisite church.
• Experience leading paid staff as well as large volunteer teams.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Vision & Spiritual Leadership

• Champion the vision and values of Orchard Church within Kids Ministry.
• Develop and execute a clear vision and strategy for reaching and discipling children.
• Create ministry environments that help children know Jesus, grow in their faith, build relationships, and take next steps.
• Ensure the ministry is aligned with Orchard Church's overall mission, vision, theology, and discipleship strategy.
• Stay current on children's ministry trends, resources, and best practices while maintaining Orchard's unique culture and approach.
• Pray consistently for the children, families, volunteers, and leaders within the ministry.

Weekend Kids Experience

• Provide leadership and oversight for all Orchard Kids weekend environments.
• Ensure every child's experience is safe, welcoming, engaging, age-appropriate, and spiritually meaningful.
• Develop and maintain a consistent experience from check-in through pick-up.
• Partner with appropriate teams to ensure facilities, classrooms, technology, curriculum, and environments are prepared and excellent.
• Evaluate the weekend experience regularly and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure that first-time children and families receive an exceptional experience and are connected to the appropriate next step.

Volunteer & Leadership Development

• Build a healthy volunteer culture where people feel valued, equipped, and excited to serve.
• Recruit, onboard, train, coach, and retain Kids Ministry volunteers.
• Develop a strong leadership pipeline within Kids Ministry.
• Identify potential leaders and create opportunities for them to grow in responsibility and influence.
• Establish clear expectations, roles, and responsibilities for volunteers.
• Provide ongoing training, encouragement, appreciation, and pastoral care for Kids Ministry leaders.
• Work toward a healthy ratio of leaders to children and proactively address volunteer needs.

Staff Leadership

• Lead, develop, and pastor Kids Ministry staff and key leaders.
• Establish clear goals, expectations, and accountability for team members.
• Conduct regular one-on-ones and leadership development conversations.
• Build a healthy, collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Delegate effectively while maintaining appropriate oversight.
• Recruit and develop staff and volunteer leaders as ministry growth requires.

Parent & Family Partnership

• Develop strategies that help parents see themselves as the primary spiritual influence in their child's life.
• Create meaningful opportunities for parents to engage with and participate in their child's spiritual development.
• Communicate clearly and consistently with parents.
• Respond appropriately and pastorally to parent questions, concerns, and needs.
• Develop resources, events, and experiences that support families beyond the weekend.

Safety & Ministry Standards

• Ensure Kids Ministry consistently follows all Orchard Church policies and procedures related to child safety.
• Maintain appropriate volunteer screening, background checks, check-in procedures, classroom ratios, and emergency protocols.
• Ensure volunteers understand and follow child protection and safety expectations.
• Respond appropriately to incidents, concerns, and emergencies.
• Maintain an environment where children are physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe.

Ministry Growth & Next Steps

• Develop intentional pathways for children and families to take their next step at Orchard.
• Partner with Next Steps and other ministry departments to create seamless connections for families.
• Track and evaluate key Kids Ministry metrics, including attendance, volunteer engagement, first-time guests, family engagement, salvations, baptisms, and other meaningful indicators.
• Use data and feedback to evaluate ministry health and make informed decisions.
• Identify opportunities to reach more children and families in the community.
• Help create a culture where Kids Ministry is not simply about providing childcare, but about making disciples of children and reaching families with the Gospel.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

• Model a growing relationship with Jesus.
• Live with personal integrity and biblical character.
• Fully embrace Orchard Church's mission, vision, values, and culture.
• Lead with humility, excellence, and intentionality.
• Be relational and approachable while maintaining appropriate leadership authority.
• Build teams rather than simply doing ministry personally.
• Take initiative and solve problems rather than waiting to be directed.
• Communicate clearly and consistently.
• Handle conflict in a healthy, biblical, and timely manner.
• Create a culture of encouragement, ownership, accountability, and excellence.
• Be willing to do what is necessary to serve children, families, volunteers, and the church.
• Other duties and responsibilities as needed.