Opportunities

Avance Site Director

Avance Site Director (Senegal or Colombia) 

 

Summary: The Avance Director is primarily responsible for providing oversight, support, vision and direction to the Avance program and staff. Also develops and maintains quality relationships with local churches and ministries. The Director maintains regular contact with UWM leadership concerning current ministry, plans and direction.

 

Primary Responsibilities: 

  • Provide vision, direction and strategy to the Avance program in designated context.  
  • Recruit, lead, supervise, mentor, and evaluate Avance staff as needed. 
  • Promote and cultivate relationships within Avance International and with UWM leadership/mobilization. 
  • Oversee, develop, and evaluate local ministry relationships. 
  • Establish and maintain positive communication and interaction with UWM, Avance participants, ministry leaders, and host families. 
  • Serve as cross-cultural mediator between Avance participants, pastors and families. 
  • Attend Regional Leadership, Avance International meetings, and other conferences as applicable.  
  • Facilitate staff meetings and keeping other staff members accountable to their responsibilities. 
  • Develop, deliver, and evaluate an experiential learning curriculum according to the four pillars of Spiritual Formation, Cross-Cultural Ministry Skills, Leadership Development, and Personal Development, including an effective language learning program. 
  • Maintain a sustainable financial partnership for the ministry and encourage staff and participants to do the same. 
  • Assist in pre-field operations including touch points, mobilization, interviews, and the facilitation of exit interviews. 
  • Develop and cultivate partnerships with like-minded partner organizations (Go Corps, Greenville University, etc.). 
  • Establish and direct program finances and accounting.
  • Oversee all government documentation and compliance operations.
  • Participate in Avance related ministries and churches upon invitation and as necessary. 

 

Qualifications: 

  • Minimum of 2 years experience working with and administering in a non-profit agency, educational institution, or Christian ministry.
  • Contagious faith, deep love for the Lord Jesus, His church, for young adults and for the people of the national context and Church. 
  • A strong commitment to and experience with Avance’s strategic approach and values.  
  • A desire to work alongside the church in local context and region, recognizing the work God is doing in and through them and cooperating with and supporting its efforts. 
  • A commitment to working interdenominationally with the Evangelical church within UWM and the national context. 
  • A passion for mentoring, training and shaping future generations of cross-cultural missionaries and missionally-minded individuals who participate in Avance. 
  • Ability to support-raise for the role
  • Ability to build good rapport with the people of the local context and leaders within UWM. 
  • Has completed four years or more in cross-cultural ministry service. 
  • Demonstrates spiritual maturity (eg. 1 Tim. 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9). 
  • Able to develop healthy working relationships and fosters an environment for collaboration. 
  • Highly motivated, self-starter with strong communication/networking skills who navigates autonomy well. 
  • Team builder, innovator, forward-thinker and problem solver. 
  • Willingness to grow, learn and adapt. 
  • Demonstrates commitment and history of language learning 
  • Basic understanding of fundraising principles and how role fits within the development goals of the ministry. 
  • Willing to travel. 

Preferred Candidate: 

  1. Seminary background 
  2. Alumnus of Avance 
  3. Working knowledge of official language in assigned context