Oak Life Church Sprouts Director Job Description

Please send a statement of interest to pastors@oaklifechurch.com

About Oak Life:

We are an Oakland-based, Christ-centered, justice-minded, LGBTQ+ affirming church community seeking to extend God’s welcome to all. We meet weekly on Sundays and serve the community through different ministries including charitable financial giving, community gatherings, spiritual guidance, and faith-based ministry.


About Sprouts Ministry:

Oak Life Church is a small community church with approximately 100 regular congregants and 5-10 families with 10-20 total children under the age of 12. Inspired by the metaphor of an Oak tree representing our relationship to each other and to the church, we think of the children at Oak Life as Sprouts, growing in their roots and branches in their connection to their community and faith. We are looking for a Sprouts Director to help create children’s programming at Church and develop a nurturing environment, including managing volunteer and program needs to best serve Oak Life children. 


The key responsibilities of the Sprouts Director include:

  • Provide a welcoming and safe space for all children (ages 0-12 roughly) in a way that reflects the values of Oak Life Church and our core beliefs. 

  • Coordinate and oversee volunteers for childcare, ensuring that all children can access Sprouts programming every Sunday.

  • Foster an environment where families and children can grow in their faith.

  • Cultivate community amongst Oak Life families, and children, and coordinate family events outside of Sundays.

Duties

  1. Provides a welcoming and safe space for all children (ages 0-12 roughly)

  • Develop a child care procedures manual and directives for volunteers to be able to maintain a clean, safe space for children.

  • Develop an inventory of existing and needed supplies for a childcare program.

  • Maintain parental release waivers. 

  • Develop and maintain a check-in system


  1. Outline procedures to coordinate and oversee volunteers for childcare.

  1. Assist in the initial recruitment and training of childcare volunteers.

  2. Develop volunteer guidelines, roles, and responsibilities, and identify volunteer requirements, e.g., CPR training, background checks, etc.

  3. Develop emergency response procedures, including an “on-call” list of CPR and/or first-aid trained volunteers in the church community who can assist with emergencies

3.    Identify childcare resources and or activities that foster an environment where families and children can grow in their faith and deepen their connection to the community

  1. Curate activities, lessons, games, and crafts, for Sunday Sprouts spaces

  2. Develop spaces for families to cultivate connection and community (i.e. family park playdates, holiday activities, etc.)

  3. Seek ways to connect children to the broader community (engaging at cleanups/service projects, moments for kids during Sunday service, etc.)

  4. Support and work with new families to connect to the broader Oak Life community

  5. Communicates regularly with volunteers and families



Ideal Skills/Characteristics

  • Experience with children of various ages

  • In alignment with Oak Life’s values

  • Practices intentionality with their faith through actions like prayer, community, spiritual formation, etc

  • Organized, and responsible for schedules

  • Able to nurture a safe environment for a diverse community

  • Ability to adapt and exercise sound judgment

  • Comfortable working on a team and being part of a small, start-up, volunteer-led organization and responding flexibly and reliably to emergent needs

  • Comfortable casting a vision by inviting the community to develop and implement Sprouts programming including, recruiting volunteers, and cultivating new community connections

  • Familiar with software and other tools that facilitate both in-person and digital gatherings and logistics

  • Excellent communication skills and high emotional intelligence

  • Self-starter who is comfortable taking initiative and implementing Sprouts program independently 

  • Cultural humility

Qualifications

  • Ability to pass a background check

  • Comfortable lifting approximately 25 lbs

  • Complete CPR training organized by Oak Life

  • Proof of vaccinations relevant to childcare work

Schedule/Hours

Because the Sprouts Director is expected to oversee the Sunday Childcare space each week, they should be present at least 3 Sundays per month and have responsible volunteers scheduled for Sundays absent.  The Sprouts Director is expected to meet with co-pastors/supervisors weekly.  The anticipated start date is in Q1 of 2025..

Oversight

  1. The Oak Life Church pastoral staff will supervise the Childcare coordinator

  2. The Childcare coordinator will be accountable to the Leadership Team.

Compensation

  1. The Childcare Director is a part-time employee of Oak Life church.

  2. The Childcare coordinator will be paid up to 10 hours per week at a rate of $28-$32 an hour.