Contemporary Worship Director

Contemporary Worship Director – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & Preschool, Irvine

• 4800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92604

• Part-time, 25-30 hours per week, $32–$37 per hour

Job Description

The Contemporary Worship Director leads and oversees all aspects of musical worship for Good Shepherd's contemporary service, special services, and events. This role is responsible for building and developing a thriving worship team, curating music that connects people to God's Word, and ensuring excellence in both the spiritual and technical dimensions of worship. The Contemporary Worship Director works closely with the pastoral staff and tech team to create an engaging, Christ-centered worship experience each week.

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead worship for the Contemporary service on a weekly basis as a vocalist and instrumentalist 
• Recruit, develop, and empower worship team members through regular rehearsals, coaching, and feedback 
• Select music in collaboration with the Senior Pastor and publish set lists to Planning Center Online three weeks in advance 
• Oversee all Planning Center Online scheduling, song sets, chord charts, and resources 
• Coordinate with the A/V team to ensure smooth transitions and technical execution during services 
• Support musical needs across Good Shepherd ministries, including special events and preschool chapels

Worship Leadership

• Lead the weekly Contemporary serviceas both a vocalist and instrumentalist with spiritual depth and musical excellence 
• Share the biblical context of each worship set using the CDAR (celebrate, declare, adore, respond) model 
• Model a spiritual posture that invites the congregation into authentic worship 
• Guide worshippers verbally to engage with the meaning of songs during the service 
• Lead rehearsals with all band members weekly on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings

Band Development & Care

• Recruit and oversee the musical and spiritual development of worship team members
• Schedule staff and Servant Leaders in Planning Center
• Facilitate weekly rehearsals with all worship team members and tech staff
• Connect personally with current and potential band members on a regular basis
• Include prayer and community-building as a regular part of weekly rehearsals
• Foster a culture of encouragement, teamwork, and spiritual growth on the worship team
• Create opportunities for worship team members to gather outside of rehearsals and services

Youth Worship Development

• Build genuine relationships with youth by attending youth group weekly and investing in students personally
• Spend intentional time with student musicians and vocalists to help them develop and hone their skills
• Discern musical gifts and readiness among youth, providing coaching and encouragement suited to each student
• Guide and direct a youth band, creating a space where students can grow in both their faith and musicianship
• Collaborate with Youth Leaders to identify students with talent and interest in worship ministry

Music Management & Organization

• Collaborate with the Senior Pastor to discern song selection that supports and aligns with the sermon topic each week
• Ensure song sets are published to Planning Center three weeks prior to each service
• Maintain and create charts for the church's song list in Planning Center Online

Ministry Connections

• Design and lead worship experiences for Preschool chapels
• Lead worship for Staff Development Days
• Provide musical support for special events such as Advent and Holy Week as needed
• Support other ministry events throughout the year in a mutually agreed-upon manner

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading contemporary worship in a church setting
• Strong vocal ability and proficiency on at least one instrument (both are required for this role)
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to recruit, encourage, and support servant leaders
• Able to manage details and troubleshoot challenges on Sunday mornings
• Collaborative team player with a servant-hearted leadership style
• Coachable and willing to learn and adapt as needed

Additional Information

All Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Staff:

• Love Jesus and call themselves Christians.
• Display Christ-like attitudes and behavior through personal conduct and lifestyle.
• Are Coachable and open to feedback and growth.
• Do Whatever It Takes to serve the mission of the church and support the team.
• Are actively Growing in Christ through their personal faith and participation in the life of the church.
• Create a Warm and Inviting environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
• Show accountability in their role and on the team.
• Exhibit a passion to build God’s Kingdom.
• Invest in Good Shepherd’s community of faith.
• Attend Good Shepherd and participate regularly.