Disability & Inclusion Ministries Director
Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL, United States
Description
At Willow, we believe every person is created on purpose, for a purpose. That includes individuals with intellectual disabilities—and the families who love them. Our Willow Friends ministry exists to create safe, engaging, and sensory‑informed environments where kids, teens, and adults with disabilities can experience God’s love, grow in faith, and fully participate in church life.
Position Details Part‑time (30 hours per week). Salary ranges from $56,250 – $76,500 depending on experience and education. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, Health Savings Account, mental health counseling expense reimbursement, retirement savings planning, parental leave, and generous paid time off.
What You’ll Lead
Champion Vision & Strategy – Set and drive the direction for Willow Friends across all age groups—Kids (0–12), Teens (13–22), and Adults (22+). Ensure adaptive, inclusive programming aligns with our church‑wide discipleship strategy.
Build Adaptive Discipleship Pathways – Collaborate with Willow Kids, Willow Students, and Adult Ministries to create accommodations and modifications that allow individuals with intellectual disabilities to fully engage—through tailored curriculum, modified Rooted experiences, and adapted serving opportunities.
Lead & Develop Teams – Recruit, train, and empower volunteers and staff. Build a culture where people feel equipped, encouraged, and confident in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.
Support & Equip Families – Come alongside parents, siblings, and caregivers with empathy, practical support, and clear communication. Ensure families feel valued and connected.
Oversee Willow Friends Musical Production & Weekend Experience – Lead planning and execution of the annual Willow Friends Production and lobby experience. Collaborate with campus teams—including Production, Guest Experience, Building Services, and Programming—to ensure seamless, unified weekend services (including Saturday).
Communicate, Advocate & Collaborate – Serve as a bridge between campus and central teams. Advocate for inclusive practices and foster strong partnerships across ministries.
Manage Budget & Resources – Oversee and steward both the general Willow Friends budget and Production budget, ensuring resources are used strategically for maximum impact.
What Success Looks Like
Families impacted by disability feel seen, known, and deeply valued.
Individuals with intellectual disabilities are connected in community, learning about Jesus in adaptive ways, and serving alongside their typically developing peers.
Volunteers are confident, equipped, and engaged.
Inclusion isn’t an add‑on—it’s embedded across the life of the church.
Requirements What You Are: You’re a builder and an advocate. You see barriers—and you instinctively start removing them. You are both visionary and hands‑on, comfortable setting direction while also coaching volunteers and solving practical challenges.
Key Strengths & Traits
Strong team builder and developer of people
Vision caster who can translate big ideas into clear plans
Skilled in conflict management and thoughtful decision‑making
High emotional intelligence and deeply relational
Warm, approachable, and collaborative
Self‑aware, humble, and confident
Passionate about inclusion and amplifying under‑represented voices
Committed to staying current on disability ministry best practices
A Jesus follower who leads with integrity and authenticity
What You Bring
Undergraduate degree (or higher) preferred
Proven experience serving families affected by disability
Experience supporting individuals with disabilities across multiple age groups
Background adapting curriculum—ideally in a ministry setting
Deep understanding of the intersection of faith and disability
Experience leading teams and transferring vision across different levels of leadership
If you’re passionate about building communities where everyone belongs—and you’re ready to shape a ministry that makes inclusion tangible and transformative—we’d love to connect. Come help us create a church where every person can grow, serve, and thrive.
Salary $56,250 – $76,500 annually
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Position Details Part‑time (30 hours per week). Salary ranges from $56,250 – $76,500 depending on experience and education. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, Health Savings Account, mental health counseling expense reimbursement, retirement savings planning, parental leave, and generous paid time off.
What You’ll Lead
Champion Vision & Strategy – Set and drive the direction for Willow Friends across all age groups—Kids (0–12), Teens (13–22), and Adults (22+). Ensure adaptive, inclusive programming aligns with our church‑wide discipleship strategy.
Build Adaptive Discipleship Pathways – Collaborate with Willow Kids, Willow Students, and Adult Ministries to create accommodations and modifications that allow individuals with intellectual disabilities to fully engage—through tailored curriculum, modified Rooted experiences, and adapted serving opportunities.
Lead & Develop Teams – Recruit, train, and empower volunteers and staff. Build a culture where people feel equipped, encouraged, and confident in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.
Support & Equip Families – Come alongside parents, siblings, and caregivers with empathy, practical support, and clear communication. Ensure families feel valued and connected.
Oversee Willow Friends Musical Production & Weekend Experience – Lead planning and execution of the annual Willow Friends Production and lobby experience. Collaborate with campus teams—including Production, Guest Experience, Building Services, and Programming—to ensure seamless, unified weekend services (including Saturday).
Communicate, Advocate & Collaborate – Serve as a bridge between campus and central teams. Advocate for inclusive practices and foster strong partnerships across ministries.
Manage Budget & Resources – Oversee and steward both the general Willow Friends budget and Production budget, ensuring resources are used strategically for maximum impact.
What Success Looks Like
Families impacted by disability feel seen, known, and deeply valued.
Individuals with intellectual disabilities are connected in community, learning about Jesus in adaptive ways, and serving alongside their typically developing peers.
Volunteers are confident, equipped, and engaged.
Inclusion isn’t an add‑on—it’s embedded across the life of the church.
Requirements What You Are: You’re a builder and an advocate. You see barriers—and you instinctively start removing them. You are both visionary and hands‑on, comfortable setting direction while also coaching volunteers and solving practical challenges.
Key Strengths & Traits
Strong team builder and developer of people
Vision caster who can translate big ideas into clear plans
Skilled in conflict management and thoughtful decision‑making
High emotional intelligence and deeply relational
Warm, approachable, and collaborative
Self‑aware, humble, and confident
Passionate about inclusion and amplifying under‑represented voices
Committed to staying current on disability ministry best practices
A Jesus follower who leads with integrity and authenticity
What You Bring
Undergraduate degree (or higher) preferred
Proven experience serving families affected by disability
Experience supporting individuals with disabilities across multiple age groups
Background adapting curriculum—ideally in a ministry setting
Deep understanding of the intersection of faith and disability
Experience leading teams and transferring vision across different levels of leadership
If you’re passionate about building communities where everyone belongs—and you’re ready to shape a ministry that makes inclusion tangible and transformative—we’d love to connect. Come help us create a church where every person can grow, serve, and thrive.
Salary $56,250 – $76,500 annually
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