Children's Ministry Program Director - Edina

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT WOODDALE CHURCH

Wooddale Church is a multigenerational, Bible-teaching church in Minnesota with campuses in Eden Prairie, Edina, and the University of Minnesota. With a mission to honor God by making more disciples for Jesus Christ, Wooddale has a rich history and a future of sharing the gospel locally and globally by planting churches, supporting global partners, and serving its local community.

OVERVIEW

The Children’s Ministry Program Director leads a thriving Woods Kids ministry at the Edina campus by building teams, developing leaders, and equipping volunteers to help children know and follow Jesus. Serving children ages six weeks through fourth grade and their families, this leader creates safe, welcoming, gospel-centered environments where children experience God’s love, families find belonging, and volunteers serve with confidence and joy. We’re looking for a relational, proactive leader with the initiative to grow ministry and the discipline to follow through. Leading with joy and generosity, this person sees potential in people, invites them into meaningful ministry, and provides them the training, encouragement, and ownership they need to lead well. They bring both a heart for people and an appreciation for clear systems, strengthening established practices and helping develop better ones where needed. As an active member of both the Edina campus staff and Wooddale’s broader Children’s Ministry team, the director contributes to shared planning, learning, and ministry alignment. The director implements shared curriculum, ministry strategy, and safety standards while adapting delivery to the Edina campus. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Build teams and develop leaders

• Recruit, onboard, equip, and retain volunteers for nursery, preschool, elementary, and ministry support teams.
• Identify and develop team captains and other volunteer leaders who can lead people, own ministry responsibilities, and equip others.
• Delegate meaningful responsibility with clear expectations, appropriate decision-making authority, resources, and regular coaching.
• Establish consistent rhythms of training, prayer, encouragement, feedback, and appreciation that strengthen volunteers’ faith and effectiveness.
• Develop team depth and dependable coverage so ministry runs well across services, seasons, and leadership absences.

Lead an excellent children’s ministry

• Oversee Sunday morning and Wednesday evening Woods Kids programming, ensuring age-appropriate biblical teaching, meaningful relationships, and engaging experiences.
• Equip teams to prepare and lead every part of the ministry experience, including check-in, classrooms, teaching, worship, activities, and transitions.
• Maintain a visible, relational presence with children, families, and volunteers; model excellent ministry and coach others through hands-on involvement.
• Plan and lead campus children’s and family ministry events, including VBS and outreach opportunities, in partnership with campus and Children’s Ministry staff.

Partner with parents and welcome families

• Build trusting relationships with parents and caregivers, equipping them with practical resources and encouragement to nurture faith at home.
• Create a welcoming experience for new families, with clear next steps and timely, personal follow-up.
• Communicate proactively with families and volunteers about ministry plans, schedules, expectations, and opportunities.
• Respond thoughtfully to family needs and concerns, coordinating additional care and support with appropriate staff.

Strengthen systems and steward resources

• Maintain clear, dependable processes for volunteer onboarding and scheduling, classroom preparation, attendance, communication, and guest follow-up.
• Implement Wooddale’s child safety policies and procedures, including volunteer screening, check-in and release, supervision, and incident reporting; ensure teams understand and follow them.
• Use established church tools and shared processes consistently. Identify gaps, recommend improvements, and help document and implement approved changes.
• Plan ahead for staffing, space, supplies, and ministry growth; steward assigned resources and spending within approved budgets.
• Review participation, volunteer engagement, family feedback, and ministry effectiveness with the Campus Pastor, translating observations into practical improvements.

Collaborate and move ministry forward

• Translate campus vision and shared Children’s Ministry direction into clear goals, plans, and team responsibilities.
• Participate actively in campus, Children’s Ministry, and churchwide staff rhythms, contributing ideas and following through on commitments.
• Work constructively across teams, communicate capacity and priorities early, and address differences with humility, clarity, and respect.
• Pursue opportunities to reach new families and expand ministry capacity while sustaining healthy teams and dependable execution.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Spiritual maturity: A growing relationship with Jesus, a heart for children and families, and a life marked by integrity, prayer, humility, and service.
• Proven team leadership: Demonstrated success recruiting, developing, and retaining volunteers or leading comparable teams, with evidence of equipping others to own responsibilities.
• Relational strength: Warmth, emotional maturity, sound judgment, and the ability to build trust with children, parents, volunteers, and colleagues from varied backgrounds.
• Initiative and execution: A self-directed approach, healthy ambition for ministry growth, and the ability to turn ideas into realistic plans and completed work.
• Organizational ability: Strong planning, communication, delegation, and follow-through; comfort using ministry technology and maintaining clear, repeatable processes.
• Collaborative leadership: Ability to contribute to multiple teams, receive feedback, navigate shared expectations, and remain accountable to campus leadership.
• Ministry understanding: Experience in children’s ministry or a related setting, with an understanding of age-appropriate discipleship, child development, and safe ministry practices.
• Church commitment: Affirm Wooddale’s Statement of Faith and Covenant; support its mission, vision, values, and leadership; participate regularly in worship and become or remain a member in good standing.

RELATIONSHIPS
• Reports to the Edina Campus Pastor
• Works collaboratively with Edina Staff & Eden Prairie Children’s Ministry Staff

SCHEDULE & WORKING EXPECTATIONS
This full-time role includes weekday responsibilities, Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and occasional additional evening or weekend events. The primary work location is the Edina campus, with occasional travel to other campuses for meetings, training, and shared ministry activities. The Campus Pastor establishes the regular schedule and on-site expectations. The director participates in regular supervisor meetings, campus and Children’s Ministry meetings, full-staff gatherings, and staff development. 

BENEFITS & COMPENSATION
Wooddale Church offers a comprehensive benefits package for all 40+ hour full-time employees, which includes opportunities to elect Medical (30+ hour full-time), Dental, Life/AD&D, HSA, Flex, LTD, optional Vision, optional Life/AD&D, and a 403(b) retirement plan with company match and immediate vesting. Projected salary is $55,00 - $65,000 depending upon experience and qualifications.

OTHER DUTIES
This description outlines the role’s primary responsibilities and is not an exhaustive list. Duties and responsibilities may change as ministry needs develop. WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe Children’s Ministry role requires the ability to be physically present and actively engaged in a dynamic ministry environment involving children, families, volunteers, classrooms, worship spaces, and ministry events.
• Ability to remain on one’s feet for extended periods, including standing, walking, and moving throughout classrooms, hallways, worship spaces, and event areas.• Ability to frequently walk, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and move between different ministry environments as needed.• Ability to safely interact with and supervise children in a variety of settings and activities.• Ability to lift, carry, push, or move ministry supplies, equipment, boxes, tables, chairs, and other materials as needed.• Ability to assist with setup, teardown, room preparation, activities, transitions, and special events such as Camp Woods Kids (VBS) and family outreach events.• Ability to work in an active environment that may include varying noise levels, frequent movement, and interaction with groups of children and adults.• Visual requirements: Ability to read printed and electronic materials, schedules, signage, attendance information, safety procedures, communication materials, and computer screens; ability to visually observe children, volunteers, activities, room conditions, and safety concerns. • Hearing requirements: Ability to hear and respond to verbal communication from children, parents, volunteers, staff members, and ministry leaders in individual and group settings; ability to hear announcements, instructions, alarms, and other safety-related sounds. • Ability to communicate effectively in person and through electronic and other standard workplace communication methods.• Ability to safely perform the essential physical functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.• Physical demands may vary based on ministry programming, special events, seasonal activities, and campus needs.

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Other DutiesPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

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