Introducing IFI, and why you want to be an Local ISM Director with us:
International Friendships, Inc. is a growing faith-based organization, whose mission is to extend life-changing hospitality and friendship to international college students. We do this by offering services, such as airport pickups, holiday hosting, temporary housing, conversation partnerships, and social events and trips. Our home office is based in Columbus, OH, and this position can be a work-from-home position from elsewhere in the U.S.
Expected work schedule for the Local ISM Director
Occasional evenings and/or weekends for specific events/projects Attendance at several conferences each year, including IFI Staff Retreats Pay structure for an Local ISM Director
Requires the development of a ministry partner team which supplies the necessary prayer and financial support to cover salary, benefits, and ministry expenses Training is provided to develop a team of ministry partners Pay range is typically between $51,140 and $131,552 after the period of support development, based on experience and other factors Local ISM Director Benefits
Paid vacation, sick, holidays, and more (once eligible) Health benefits (medical, dental, and vision) 403(b) retirement savings plan to help you plan for the future Flexible hours and work-from-home availability Work for a growing Christian organization Staff care to support mental, social, and spiritual health for all staff Responsibilities of a Local ISM Director
The Local ISM Director will (list not all inclusive): National ISM Strategy and Oversight (40%) Lead the national strategic direction for Local ISM within IFI, ensuring growth, alignment, and long-term health across 50+ ministry locations. Build and continually refine scalable ministry systems, including volunteer pathways, discipleship models, partnership frameworks, and annual planning rhythms. Develop the operating architecture that undergirds IFI's local ministry, integrating national standards with contextualized flexibility. Establish national ministry metrics, evaluation tools, and reporting processes to assess local effectiveness. Identify national trends, emerging opportunities, and risks affecting international student ministry; propose strategic responses. Partner with the Chief Program Officer to shape multi-year ministry strategy, resource allocation, and organizational priorities. Oversee processes for launching new local ISM sites, including readiness frameworks, partnership models, and support systems. Coaching and Staff Development (35%)
Lead and develop a national team of Regional/Area Coaches who directly support, mentor, and monitor local ISM staff and leaders. Create coaching frameworks, accountability structures, and resource toolkits that strengthen consistency across regions. Provide macro-level analysis and guidance to Coaches to ensure local teams are spiritually healthy, mission-aligned, and operating effectively. Facilitate cohorts to share best practices, address systemic challenges, and align on national priorities. Ensure Coaches have clarity, support, and strategic guidance to execute their roles with excellence. Collaborate with Staff Care and Mobilization to ensure local staff pathways, onboarding systems, and development processes are functioning effectively. National Partnerships, Churches, and Volunteer Ecosystems (15%)
Design and oversee national partnership strategies with churches, denominations, volunteer networks, and university stakeholders that strengthen the local ISM ecosystem. Collaborate with the Partnerships Lead to develop scalable partnership models, agreements, and engagement pathways usable by all local teams. Build and maintain high-level relationships with national church networks, ministry organizations, and key volunteers who advance IFI's mission. Equip Regional/Area Coaches with frameworks and tools that help them support local teams in cultivating strong partnerships and volunteer pipelines. Strengthen IFI's national presence through speaking engagements, conference involvement, and partner-facing communication. Develop and maintain financial and prayer partnerships for the budgeted needs of the role by sharing the vision of the ministry, ensuring minimum monetary standards are achieved, partner care, and sending out a ministry newsletter at least every other month to partners Cross-Departmental Alignment and Organizational Integration (10%)
Serve as the primary connector between Local ISM and other national initiatives, ensuring alignment with the Innovation Lab, Administrative, Fundraising and Communications. Represent Local ISM within the Senior Leadership Team, shaping national program priorities and resource strategies. Ensure that new national initiatives, including curriculum, trainings, technology platforms, innovation pilots, etc., are integrated into local ministry systems smoothly and coherently. Provide strategic input and feedback loops to ensure national resources meet the real needs of local sites. Other duties, as assigned. Duties/responsibilities may change at any time. Qualifications needed of a Local ISM Director including Spiritual Characteristics
Adherence to IFI's statement of faith, core values, and policies Is faithful, loyal and dedicated to IFI's mandate from the Lord to extend life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students out of reverence for Jesus Godly character that follows the examples defined in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 Strong strategic planning and organizational design capabilities. Ability to develop scalable ministry systems and implement national-level processes. Competence working with CRM/database systems (G-Suite preferred). Strong communication skills, including facilitation, presentation, and high-level relationship management. Ability to interpret data, create evaluation tools, and develop reporting systems that enable decision-making. International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) is a faith-based organization. Therefore, only those willing to adhere to IFI's statement of faith, core values, and policies will be reviewed for this open position. International Friendships, Inc. is otherwise an equal opportunity employer. What is your preferred method of communication?
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Occasional evenings and/or weekends for specific events/projects Attendance at several conferences each year, including IFI Staff Retreats Pay structure for an Local ISM Director
Requires the development of a ministry partner team which supplies the necessary prayer and financial support to cover salary, benefits, and ministry expenses Training is provided to develop a team of ministry partners Pay range is typically between $51,140 and $131,552 after the period of support development, based on experience and other factors Local ISM Director Benefits
Paid vacation, sick, holidays, and more (once eligible) Health benefits (medical, dental, and vision) 403(b) retirement savings plan to help you plan for the future Flexible hours and work-from-home availability Work for a growing Christian organization Staff care to support mental, social, and spiritual health for all staff Responsibilities of a Local ISM Director
The Local ISM Director will (list not all inclusive): National ISM Strategy and Oversight (40%) Lead the national strategic direction for Local ISM within IFI, ensuring growth, alignment, and long-term health across 50+ ministry locations. Build and continually refine scalable ministry systems, including volunteer pathways, discipleship models, partnership frameworks, and annual planning rhythms. Develop the operating architecture that undergirds IFI's local ministry, integrating national standards with contextualized flexibility. Establish national ministry metrics, evaluation tools, and reporting processes to assess local effectiveness. Identify national trends, emerging opportunities, and risks affecting international student ministry; propose strategic responses. Partner with the Chief Program Officer to shape multi-year ministry strategy, resource allocation, and organizational priorities. Oversee processes for launching new local ISM sites, including readiness frameworks, partnership models, and support systems. Coaching and Staff Development (35%)
Lead and develop a national team of Regional/Area Coaches who directly support, mentor, and monitor local ISM staff and leaders. Create coaching frameworks, accountability structures, and resource toolkits that strengthen consistency across regions. Provide macro-level analysis and guidance to Coaches to ensure local teams are spiritually healthy, mission-aligned, and operating effectively. Facilitate cohorts to share best practices, address systemic challenges, and align on national priorities. Ensure Coaches have clarity, support, and strategic guidance to execute their roles with excellence. Collaborate with Staff Care and Mobilization to ensure local staff pathways, onboarding systems, and development processes are functioning effectively. National Partnerships, Churches, and Volunteer Ecosystems (15%)
Design and oversee national partnership strategies with churches, denominations, volunteer networks, and university stakeholders that strengthen the local ISM ecosystem. Collaborate with the Partnerships Lead to develop scalable partnership models, agreements, and engagement pathways usable by all local teams. Build and maintain high-level relationships with national church networks, ministry organizations, and key volunteers who advance IFI's mission. Equip Regional/Area Coaches with frameworks and tools that help them support local teams in cultivating strong partnerships and volunteer pipelines. Strengthen IFI's national presence through speaking engagements, conference involvement, and partner-facing communication. Develop and maintain financial and prayer partnerships for the budgeted needs of the role by sharing the vision of the ministry, ensuring minimum monetary standards are achieved, partner care, and sending out a ministry newsletter at least every other month to partners Cross-Departmental Alignment and Organizational Integration (10%)
Serve as the primary connector between Local ISM and other national initiatives, ensuring alignment with the Innovation Lab, Administrative, Fundraising and Communications. Represent Local ISM within the Senior Leadership Team, shaping national program priorities and resource strategies. Ensure that new national initiatives, including curriculum, trainings, technology platforms, innovation pilots, etc., are integrated into local ministry systems smoothly and coherently. Provide strategic input and feedback loops to ensure national resources meet the real needs of local sites. Other duties, as assigned. Duties/responsibilities may change at any time. Qualifications needed of a Local ISM Director including Spiritual Characteristics
Adherence to IFI's statement of faith, core values, and policies Is faithful, loyal and dedicated to IFI's mandate from the Lord to extend life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students out of reverence for Jesus Godly character that follows the examples defined in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 Strong strategic planning and organizational design capabilities. Ability to develop scalable ministry systems and implement national-level processes. Competence working with CRM/database systems (G-Suite preferred). Strong communication skills, including facilitation, presentation, and high-level relationship management. Ability to interpret data, create evaluation tools, and develop reporting systems that enable decision-making. International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) is a faith-based organization. Therefore, only those willing to adhere to IFI's statement of faith, core values, and policies will be reviewed for this open position. International Friendships, Inc. is otherwise an equal opportunity employer. What is your preferred method of communication?
#J-18808-Ljbffr