First Presbyterian Church, Fernandina Beach, FL

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*Director of Children and Family Ministries*

*Position Summary*

The Director of Children and Family Ministries shares God’s love with children and their families and helps the church fulfill its baptismal vows: “to guide and nurture by word and deed, with love and prayer and to encourage them to know and follow Christ and to be faithful members of his church.” _Book of Common Worship, p. 425_

The Director is responsible for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships with parents and their children from birth through fifth grade. This role involves providing faith-based resources to parents and guardians and fostering a welcoming and safe environment that supports children's understanding of God, the Bible, the Church, and the Christian faith.

Additionally, the Director serves as the staff liaison to the Children’s Ministry Committee and collaborates with the Youth and Adult Christian Formation ministries as required. This position enhances faith formation by offering faith development opportunities on Sunday mornings and other designated occasions. This is a part-time role requiring 28 hours per week. The Director reports directly to the Pastor/Head of Staff and works closely with the Children's Ministry Committee.

*Key Responsibilities*

*Family Engagement & Relationship Building*

The Director’s first priority is fostering supportive relationships with families who have children from birth to fifth grade, through regular check-ins, Sunday morning presence, and creating other meaningful connection opportunities during the week. As a trusted point of contact, the Director will offer Christian education resources, pray regularly for all families, and celebrate milestones.

Working with the Children's Ministry and Connections Committees, the Director will organize family-centered events that promote spiritual growth and opportunities for parents to form relationships and friendships in an environment where families feel valued and supported as they raise their children. The Director will routinely engage parents of small children and encourage involvement from all families in the church.

*At-Home Faith Resourcing*

The Director will curate, create, and distribute age-appropriate discipleship materials for families to develop spiritual practices at home. These might include “learning benchmarks” about Scripture, the church, the PC(USA) and serving others; Bible story discussion guides; conversation starters; prayer aids; and seasonal devotionals available through a variety of electronic means used by families and the congregation.

*Children's Ministry Programs*

With support from the Children's Ministry Committee, the Director will implement Sunday School and/or other Sunday morning worship opportunities for children, Vacation Bible School, and other programs using curriculum aligned with the theology of the PC(USA). The Director will enhance worship for children and support the participation of children and families in worship, overseeing the acolyte ministry and engaging children in other worship as appropriate (such as Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, etc.).

The Director will: * Ensure safety of the children by understanding and strictly implementing the church’s policies (including Child and Youth Protection Policy), recruiting and training volunteers, organizing and maintaining church spaces * Oversee check-in procedures for Shirley Owens Hall in compliance with policy and in a way that is friendly and welcoming * Supervise, support, evaluate and coordinate the hourly children’s ministry staff (nursery and Front Desk Receptionist) * With the help of the Children's Ministry Committee, recruit, train, and support volunteers * Ensure proper safety protocol training for all volunteers and staff * Create safe, welcoming, and accessible spaces for children of all abilities * Develop positive, supportive relationships with Children’s Ministry volunteers * Be present in the life of the church, building relationships with members and positively representing the Children’s Ministry * Build a sustainable ministry structure with the Children's Ministry Committee that does not rely solely on staff * Organize all Children's Ministry physical spaces (including front desk area) so all spaces are accessible and welcoming to all children and families; ensure that classrooms are stocked and prepared with necessary materials; maintain accurate and up to date records (contact info in Realm, registrations for special events, attendance roles, etc.). Delegate tasks appropriate to the Front Desk Receptionist and volunteers.

*Communication and Collaboration *

The Director will maintain regular contact with families through personal connection (including in-person meetings, phone calls, texts or emails), newsletters, and social media, highlighting events and providing curriculum previews in ways that honor family communication preferences.

The Director will be a team player, working closely and collaboratively with the staff team to fulfill the church’s mission. The Director will collaborate with staff and Youth and Adult Christian Formation ministries as appropriate.

Additional responsibilities include participating in weekly church staff meetings, engaging in continuing education opportunities offered by the PC(USA) or aligned with our theology, and tracking family participation to evaluate and improve ministry effectiveness.

*Qualifications & Skills*

*Spiritual Foundation* * A love of children * Personal faith commitment * Ability to articulate the Christian faith in age-appropriate ways * Understanding of or willingness to understand the theology of the PC(USA)

*Professional Skills* * Strong communication and organizational abilities * Capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously * Ability to find work/life balance and identify priorities * Previous work experience with children * Understanding of and ability to apply child development principles and learning styles

*Creative Abilities* * Skill in developing engaging faith-based resources * Willingness to adopt innovative methods in ministry practices * Sensitivity and adaptability to different family structures and needs

*Educational Requirements* * High school graduate (required) * Bachelor’s degree in education, youth/children’s ministry, theology or related field (preferred) * Training in child development (preferred)

*Availability* * Must be available to work on Sunday mornings and other special times in the church year (i.e., Christmas Eve) * Other days/hours will be set in consultation with the Pastor/Head of Staff * Some events may require working evenings and Saturdays * Dependable transportation

*Essential Physical Skills* * Acceptable eyesight and hearing (with or without corrections) * Ability to communicate orally and in writing * Reaching, pulling, pushing, lifting, sitting, standing, kneeling, and bending. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability

This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact in the spiritual lives of children and families, equipping them for lifelong discipleship.

To apply, send letter of interest and resume to Rev. Dawn Mayes, Pastor at

DawnMayes@FirstPresFB.org

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $32,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 28 per week

Benefits: * Paid time off

Work Location: In person