Faithful Resilience Program Director

Faithful Resilience Program Director

Creation Justice Ministries

Position: Faithful Resilience Program Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Job Type: Full-Time, Remote

Duration: Grant-funded through December 2027 (with possibility of renewal)

Salary Range: $70,000-$80,000

About Creation Justice Ministries

Creation Justice Ministries educates, equips, and mobilizes Christian individuals, congregations, and denominations to protect, restore, and rightly share God’s creation. Grounded in ecumenical Christian values and committed to ecological justice, CJM engages congregations in advocacy, grassroots organizing, and theological education to encourage faithful responses to the ecological crisis.

Position Summary

Creation Justice Ministries seeks a strategic, entrepreneurial, and collaborative Faithful Resilience Program Director to lead and expand our growing portfolio of climate resilience programs. This senior-level role will oversee CJM’s “Faithful Resilience” initiative and serve as the organizational lead on major resilience projects—including participatory tree equity and climate adaptation initiatives in Wicomico County (MD), Austin (TX), Baltimore (MD), Nashville (TN), Orlando (FL).

This leader will direct current programs and chart a bold path forward by identifying emerging opportunities, building new partnerships, and developing proposals that grow the scale and impact of CJM’s resilience work. They will recruit and support congregational partners, lead participatory workshops, travel to implementation sites, and represent CJM in national coalitions and local collaborations.

The ideal candidate brings demonstrated leadership in community-based environmental management, particularly participatory planning and co-production of knowledge, as well as a passion for engaging faith communities in resilience-building. Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Program Strategy & Leadership

• Provide strategic vision and oversight for CJM’s Faithful Resilience program, ensuring strong execution of current initiatives and development of new opportunities.
• Serve as CJM’s primary lead and representative for resilience projects, including Tree Equity Hubs and congregational climate adaptation efforts.
• Recruit and support congregational partners; build long-term relationships that position churches as trusted hubs of climate resilience.

Resource & Curriculum Development

• Oversee the development of educational resources, training modules, and workshop curricula tailored to faith-based audiences.
• Maintain and expand CJM’s Faithful Resilience Guide, climate mapping tools, and participatory planning resources.
• Lead regular Faithful Resilience virtual workshops, supporting faith communities nationwide in developing their resilience education.

Community Engagement & Capacity Building

• Build and sustain deep relationships with congregations, denominational leaders, organizational partners, and frontline community organizations.
• Facilitate participatory planning workshops and trainings both online and in person, using inclusive and culturally competent approaches.
• Travel regularly to partner sites to support project implementation, offer training, and document community impact.

Partnership Development & External Collaboration

• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with technical experts, public agencies, funders, and grassroots networks.
• Represent CJM in national convenings, coalitions, and ecumenical forums related to climate resilience and justice.
• Ensure that CJM’s work is grounded in shared leadership, frontline community priorities, and a commitment to equity and justice.

Grant Oversight & Program Sustainability

• Oversee grant deliverables, reporting, and budget compliance for CJM’s climate resilience portfolio.
• Work closely with the Executive Director to identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including foundations, federal grants, and partnerships with peer organizations.
• Lead the development of proposals and concept notes to expand CJM’s resilience programming and institutional partnerships.
• Track and report program outcomes, impact stories, and lessons learned to strengthen future initiatives and fundraising efforts.

Travel & Flexibility

• Travel regularly to project sites, partner meetings, and conferences.
• Flexibility for occasional evening and weekend work to meet the needs of congregational partners and national events.

Required Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred in environmental management, sustainability, public policy, theology, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of experience in climate resilience, environmental management, or community development, with 2+ years in a leadership or program management role.
• Deep experience with community-based environmental management, especially participatory planning, co-production of knowledge, or resilience education.
• Strong facilitation skills and comfort leading multi-stakeholder processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with GIS mapping tools or interest in learning.

Desired Qualities and Values of Creation Justice Ministries Staff

• High integrity
• Moral commitment to ecological justice
• Experience with anti-racism work
• Commitment to upholding the self-determination of Indigenous people, and tribal sovereignty
• Willingness to uphold the Jemez Principles
• Emotional intelligence
• Empathy and compassion for colleagues and partners
• Knowledge of Christian theology
• Respect for theological diversity
• Respect for political diversity
• Commitment to nonpartisan advocacy
• Well-organized
• Self-starter
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to use technology to work remotely

Benefits

• 20 vacation days per year and up to 5 days of personal leave
• Up to 8 weeks of paid parental leave (40% of salary prior to 3 years of service and 100% of salary after 3 years of service)
• Accrued sick leave, starting at 12 days
• Health insurance provision for employee and dependents up to a $1,200/mo value
• Fitness benefit of $900/year
• 403(b) retirement contribution up to 5% of salary, upon employee contribution of 3% or more
• Up to 16 paid holidays annually
• Fully remote work with flexible scheduling in alignment with program needs and supervisor approval