Upper Elementary Director in Highlands Ranch, Colorado at Cherry Hills Community Church

POSITION SUMMARY

The Upper Elementary Director at Cherry Hills Community Church provides spiritual, strategic, and relational leadership for CHCC’s 4th through 5th grade ministry. This role helps kids deepen biblical understanding, wrestle thoughtfully with questions of faith, develop healthy peer relationships, and grow in spiritual ownership and leadership as they prepare for Middle School Ministry. Reporting to the Kids Ministry Pastor, the Director equips volunteers to disciple preteens with consistency, empathy, and biblical depth while partnering with families during this important developmental transition.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create programming that develops biblical understanding, spiritual ownership, meaningful faith questions, healthy peer relationships, and increased engagement in the life of the church.
• Provide spiritual and strategic leadership for weekend ministry experiences, ensuring environments are safe, welcoming, relational, and developmentally appropriate for 4th and 5th grade students.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and care for volunteer teams, building a culture of unity, encouragement, excellence, spiritual growth, and intentional discipleship.
• Train volunteers to facilitate meaningful biblical discussions, build trusted relationships, support emerging independence, and navigate the emotional and relational dynamics common to upper elementary students.
• Design and deliver age-specific programming that is gospel-centered, engaging, relationally formative, and responsive to the developmental needs of preteens.
• Develop opportunities for kids to serve, lead, practice spiritual disciplines, and grow in confidence as they prepare for greater ownership of their faith.
• Partner with parents and caregivers through clear communication, practical resources, and relational support that equips them to disciple their kids through the transition toward adolescence.
• Coordinate with the Lower Elementary Director and Middle School Ministry leadership to support smooth relational, spiritual, and logistical transitions into and out of Upper Elementary Ministry.
• Collaborate with Kids Ministry staff to align curriculum, ministry vision, family engagement, and events across age levels while tailoring experiences to upper elementary developmental needs.
• Lead the planning and execution of special events, outreach opportunities, service experiences, and ministry milestones appropriate to 4th and 5th grade students.
• Ensure ministry environments are prepared, well-stocked, and operating within CHCC safety protocols, including check-in and check-out systems, child release practices, supervision standards, and emergency procedures.
• Regularly assess ministry health, volunteer engagement, student participation, and family feedback, making strategic improvements as needed.
• Serve as a pastoral presence before, during, and after services by offering prayer, encouragement, spiritual guidance, and relational care to kids, families, and volunteers.
• Exercise independent judgment and discretion in ministry decision-making, problem-solving, volunteer leadership, and implementation of initiatives in alignment with CHCC values and strategic goals.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• No direct supervisory responsibility.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support and uphold CHCC’s mission with a Christ-centered, servant-hearted attitude.
• Communicate promptly and professionally, responding to emails, voicemails, and requests in a timely manner.
• Maintain confidentiality and communicate with sensitivity, care, and discretion.
• Complete assignments with excellence, efficiency and attention to detail.
• Actively participate in staff and department meetings, Chapel, Teachings, and church-wide events as needed.
• Steward church resources responsibly, including technology and office tools.
• Receive feedback with humility and pursue ongoing growth and development.
• Provide a warm, welcoming presence to guests and ministry partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support team and church needs.

SPIRITUAL EXPECTATIONS

• Represent CHCC’s theological convictions and ministry philosophy consistently in age-appropriate teaching, volunteer development, decision-making, and spiritual influence.
• Champion a ministry culture in which young children are treated with dignity, patience, compassion, and Christ-centered care.
• Affirm and support CHCC’s Statement of Faith and mission.
• Pursue personal spiritual growth through regular time in Scripture, prayer, and engagement in the life of the church.
• Reflect the Fruit of the Spirit in character, conduct, and relationships.
• Love and serve others within the church and broader community with humility and care.
• Foster Christ-centered relationships with staff, volunteers, and congregants.
• Lead by example in prayer, mentorship, and servant-hearted leadership.
• Uphold a servant-leader mindset consistent with a Christ-honoring workplace culture.
• Obtain and maintain active membership at Cherry Hills Community Church (CHCC) in accordance with church membership expectations.
• Live out CHCC’s six staff values—exalt, praise, unity, empathy, effort, and accountability—through a spirit of humility, a commitment to excellence, and a heart to serve both God and others.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in education, ministry, child development, childhood education, or a related field, or equivalent relevant ministry and leadership experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in children’s ministry, childhood ministry, education, childcare, or a related setting, including demonstrated experience leading volunteers and developing age-appropriate programming.

Preferred

• Experience leading and developing large volunteer teams in a church or nonprofit environment.
• Church-based children’s ministry experience, particularly with children.
• Experience implementing child safety, classroom management, or early childhood care practices in a group setting.

QUALIFICATIONS and COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated ability to create and lead developmentally appropriate discipleship experiences for 4th and 5th grade students.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust with kids, parents, volunteers, ministry staff, and church leadership.
• Working knowledge of upper elementary development, including increasing independence, peer dynamics, emotional development, and emerging questions of faith.
• Ability to recruit, equip, encourage, and retain volunteer leaders while maintaining clear expectations and appropriate accountability.
• Ability to facilitate environments where students can ask meaningful questions, engage Scripture, participate in discussion, and take appropriate steps toward spiritual ownership..
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams); able to utilize standard tools for documentation, communication, and task coordination.
• Demonstrate proficiency with common office technologies, including email, printers/copiers, shared drives, and organizational software platforms; able to troubleshoot basic issues and learn new tools quickly.
• Capable of managing multiple tasks and working under pressure.
• Available for evenings, weekends, or holidays as required.
• Must be located in commutable distance to Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States
• Must pass a CHCC background check.