Director, Northwest Indiana Regional Office

The Director is responsible for advancing the mission of the Center for Congregations with the congregations and people of Northwest Indiana. The Director helps congregations in Northwest Indiana identify and address their needs through resource consulting, educational events, and grants. The Director manages the operations of the Northwest Indiana Regional Center consistent with its purpose and the initiatives outlined in approved Lilly Endowment Inc. grant proposals.

Key Responsibilities

Resource Consulting

• Utilize the Center’s methodology of resourcing congregations of all types to find resources to meet their needs
• Ask questions and listen actively to understand the concerns and needs of congregations
• Help congregational leaders articulate their challenges
• Research and identify the resources that best address congregations’ questions and needs
• Provide congregations with resource information
• Assist congregations in requesting Center for Congregations grants
• As appropriate, assist congregations with utilization of resources
• Enter relevant information into the Contact Management System and the Congregational Resource Guide
• Evaluate the Center’s effectiveness in serving Northwest Indiana congregations
• Work with Center colleagues to improve approaches and strategies for providing resources to congregations

Educational Events

• Lead planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational events throughout the state in coordination with other Regional Directors as directed by the Executive Director for Programs and the Senior Director of Resources and Grants
• Hosts live online and in‑person education events with an emphasis on hospitality and interactivity
• Promote educational events in other areas of the state
• Discern issues and challenges from Northwest Indiana congregations and then strategize to host in‑person and online events to address those issues
• Proactively reach out by telephone, video conference, and in‑person visits to clergy and laity in Northwest Indiana congregations
• Cultivate constructive relationships with the congregations of Northwest Indiana to widen the Center’s circle of relationships
• Represent the Center at gatherings that are strategically aligned with the Center’s mission

Operations Management

• Maintain timely and accurate work records; details related to cases and grants; in the Center’s contact management system
• Manage the day‑to‑day operations of the Northwest Indiana Regional Center
• Supervise direct‑reports and regularly evaluate and coach their performance
• Support and contribute to the effectiveness of a seamless statewide Center network
• Other duties as assigned

Essential Education, Experience, and Knowledge

1. Experience working in or with congregations in a clergy, lay, or consulting capacity; positive view of congregations
2. Familiarity with congregational issues, needs, and resources
3. Relevant work experience in a congregational setting, social sector, and/or private sector, including at least five (5) years in relationship management or a leadership role.
4. Experience supervising staff in the areas of administrative, event, facility, and operations management in highly collaborative workspace
5. Experience with search engines as research tools
6. Proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams; experience working in proprietary databases
7. Experience in online synchronous video platforms (Zoom, etc.)

Desired Education, Experience, and Knowledge

1. Understanding of how adults and congregations learn
2. Extensive experience working with congregations
3. Continuing education and/or certifications in related field
4. Proven record in working across cultural, socio-economic, theological, and disciplinary boundaries and with people of many different backgrounds and beliefs

Position‑Specific Skills and Competencies

1. Excellent communication skills, especially questioning, active listening, and articulating what is being learned
2. High sensitivity to cultural and theological differences; hospitable, flexible and adaptable in interpersonal interactions
3. Well‑organized; able to plan and use time effectively
4. Proven skills in relationship management and group facilitation
5. Curious; eager to discover new resources and gain knowledge
6. Quick study; puts knowledge to work quickly
7. Problem‑solver; finds and offers alternative solutions
8. Able to maintain objectivity and appropriate boundaries; empowering, not prescriptive
9. Able to manage difficult situations effectively
10. Strong professional impact, work standards, and judgment

Personal Traits for Cultural Fit

1. High degree of alignment with Center’s mission to strengthen Indiana congregations by helping them find and use the best resources to address their challenges and opportunities
2. Lifelong learner; desire to grow professionally and personally through interactions with diverse audiences
3. Able to pivot between collaborative and consultative in a multi‑faceted decision‑making setting
4. High personal work standards to succeed in high expectation workplace

Travel

• The Director will travel regularly throughout Northwest Indiana with occasional overnight travel. The Director will travel to Indianapolis one or two times per month and occasionally to all‑staff activities and education event sites around the state, which may also require overnight travel. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the Center.

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