Lutheran Disaster Response Implementation Grant Project Manager in CHICAGO, Illinois at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Posting will close August 2, 2026, at 11:00 pm central time.

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.7 million members in more than 8.300 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA churchwide staff of approximately 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

About the position

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), accompanies communities impacted by disaster through response, recovery, preparedness and resilience-building efforts in the United States and globally. Grounded in Lutheran theology, LDR works alongside congregations, synods, community organizations and global partners to share God’s hope, healing and renewal with people whose lives have been disrupted by disaster.

This position serves as the grant program manager for a three-year Lilly Endowment-funded capacity-building initiative focused on strengthening storytelling, engagement and communication infrastructure related to long-term disaster recovery. This role will coordinate work across Lutheran Disaster Response, Development (Development Communications), Strategic Communications and external partners to support sustainable donor engagement and ethical storytelling practices connected to disaster recovery ministries.

The role will oversee grant implementation; coordinate consultant-led marketing and engagement work; manage timelines, reporting and budgets; and support the development and integration of trauma-informed storytelling systems, workflows and consent practices across Lutheran Disaster Response. This position also plays a key role in connecting ministry impact, storytelling infrastructure and donor engagement strategies to support sustainable, long-term accompaniment of disaster-affected communities.

Working across programmatic, communications and engagement functions, this position will help align storytelling, donor engagement and ministry impact communication strategies in support of long-term disaster recovery efforts. The role focuses on coordination, assessment, implementation and systems integration rather than primary content creation.

This is a full-time, term-contract, exempt, Chicago-based, position.

The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

1. Serve as a project manager who will oversee the implementation and coordination of a three-year Lilly Endowment-funded grant initiative related to storytelling, engagement and communications infrastructure for Lutheran Disaster Response.

2. Manage grant timelines, deliverables, reporting requirements, and budget and track project outcomes, implementation progress and evaluation measures to ensure successful completion of grant objectives.

3. Coordinate consultant-led marketing, fundraising, and engagement strategy work, including implementation planning and cross-team collaboration, and ensure templates, documentation, and operational workflows are completed to sustain work beyond the grant period.

4. Serve as a primary coordinator across Development, Lutheran Disaster Response, Strategic Communications, consultants, synods and external partners to support alignment of storytelling, engagement and fundraising strategies.

5. Develop and coordinate ethical, trauma-informed storytelling systems and workflows throughout the disaster response and recovery cycle, including consent management and the collection, organization, and sharing of stories, photos, videos, and recovery updates.

6. Support implementation and evaluation of donor engagement, storytelling and communications strategies designed to strengthen long-term support for disaster recovery ministries.

7. Support training and partner engagement related to storytelling practices, content submission systems and communications workflows.

8. Develop and maintain documentation, templates, guidance materials and operational workflows to ensure long-term sustainability beyond the grant period.

9. Support coordination of travel, meetings, trainings and partner convenings related to grant activities.

10. Other duties as assigned.

1. Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in project management, grant management, communications coordination, nonprofit operations or related work. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience required.

2. Demonstrated experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables, including budgets, reporting requirements, and competing priorities.

3. Experience coordinating communications, storytelling, marketing or engagement initiatives preferred.

4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams and organizational functions.

5. Experience developing or implementing systems, workflows or operational processes preferred.

6. Experience coordinating communications, fundraising, and/or donor engagement work, ideally in a ministry or non-profit setting, preferred.

7. Ability to work independently while managing collaborative relationships with internal and external partners.

8. Familiarity with ethical storytelling, trauma-informed communications or consent-based content practices preferred.

9. Experience working in faith-based, nonprofit or community-based organizations preferred.

10. Appreciation for the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA.

11. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.

12. Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred.

Physical

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. May be required to lift boxes of materials/resources. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel

Position requires minimal travel. Valid driver’s license preferred. Minimal travel; up to 5% - approximately 3 weeks.

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 17 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact Human Resources.