Hiring: Executive Director
Application deadline is October 23rd.
Position Description:
The Executive Director will be responsible for the functioning and mission of the Ohio Council of Churches – a non-profit organization made up of (currently) 23 partner judicatories of Christian denominations around Ohio that are a Christ-Centered movement for peace, justice, and unity. The Council accomplishes its work by:
Fostering relationships through study, worship, dialogue, and prayer.
Connecting Judicatory leaders working on common missions.
Proclaiming God’s justice in a broken world.
This is a salaried position averaging 30 hours a week - based in Columbus.
In 2026, the Council went through a process to re-focus our efforts. The new focus will center connectivity and relationships across our 23 judicatories to strengthen our ministry. The Executive Director will be responsible for cultivating a culture of relationships between judicatory leaders. The executive director is directly responsible to the executive committee and the governing board.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial oversight & management. Work with the board and others to fundraise and properly administer funds to support staff, programming, and coalition efforts. Guide the governing board in drafting and following an organizational budget. The Executive Director is the lead on fundraising efforts.
Coalition leadership & participation: Lead taskforces and workgroups of judicatory leaders in building relationships, planning worship, and engaging in study and dialogue with one another. Collaborate with ecumenical and secular coalitions on a variety of issues on behalf of the Council and the partner judicatories.
Relationships: Create and organize meaningful opportunities for judicatory leaders to connect with one another to build relationships through retreat, study, and worship.
Staff Oversight: Responsible for managing any staff, interns and volunteers. Will likely have 1 part time staff, with hope to grow capacity in the coming years.
Convene Governing Board and judicatory partners: Organize and bring together judicatory leaders to identify opportunities for collaboration.
Build relationships with advocates: Build relationships with other statewide advocacy and justice oriented organizations to connect judicatories into social justice efforts.
Leadership, Communication, and Advocacy: Speak at events on behalf of the Council and partner judicatories such as press conferences, legislative testimony, judicatory events, rallies, and interfaith events offering a Christian voice that represents our partner judicatories in an authentic way.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Be ordained in good standing of a partner judicatory.
A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a regional ecumenical context OR 5 years serving in a judicatory level context.
Proficient use of basic digital tools (Canva, Squarespace, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, etc.)
A driver’s license for travel around Ohio or other means for regular travel.
Demonstrated leadership experience with advocacy and social justice work, including strategic planning and nonprofit leadership (including congregation based work with experience in budgeting and fundraising), with an understanding of Ohio’s political and advocacy landscape and the cultural and regional diversity of the state.
Experience with event coordination.
Effective communicator.
COMPENSATION:
$45,000-60,000 salary (based on experience and qualifications).
OCC will also offer contributions - up to 10% - to judicatory sponsored health and retirement plans or offer increased cash salary.
Employees can opt to receive a portion of salary as housing allowance.
OCC does not offer a direct healthcare or retirement option.
Cell phone reimbursement (up to $75 a month)
Continuing Education Allowance (up to $1,500 a year)
Sabbatical Offered after 5 years of service.
Mileage reimbursement.
Paid vacations, sick leave, holidays and PTO and work/flex time policy.
Will provide moving expense reimbursement of up to $500 if needed for re-location.
To Apply:
Email a resume and letter of Interest to Ohio Council of Churches Search Committee Chair, Rev. Dave Long-Higgins, chair of the Council of Churches, through his executive administrator, at becca@heartlanducc.org
The application deadline is October 23rd.
