Director for New UU Communities

Job Description

Job Description

Updated: October 31, 2025

Title: Director for New UU Communities

Staff Group: Emerging Communities

Reports To: Executive Vice President

Location: Open*

Job Category: Program Director I

Hours/Week: 20-35 hours/week depending on availability

* Location is open in the continental United States. You should have easy access to a major airport due to the travel requirements of this position.

Purpose

To lead the New UU Communities Team and oversee the programs of the New UU Communities Fund; to align NUUCF programs with overall UUA initiatives to support innovation, creativity and investment in historically underserved communities within Unitarian Universalism; and to expand the collaboration and partnerships between NUUCF programs and participants with other UU, interfaith, and related secular groups and communities.

Principal Responsibilities

• Convene and lead the New UU Communities Team, ensuring broad UUA and stakeholder engagement to support creating and expanding innovative forms of UU ministry and faithful community.
  • Oversee operation and implementation of the NUUCF programs, including the Cultivators’ Collaborative and New Communities Partnership Program:
    1. Oversee program marketing, registration and application processes
  • Manage budget and expenses, including contracts with third party providers and consultants, as well as needed financial or grant reporting
    1. Draft and publish communications, web, and social media content
  • Conduct research in program development and gather and analyze impact data for program participants
  • Maintain an active network of UU religious innovators and related leaders
  • Supervise administrative support for NUUCF programs
  • Take a collaborative, leading role in coordinating grantmaking strategy with other offices within the UUA who manage those processes, including the UU Funding Program and Schulman Fund, to ensure a common approach to shared goals for investing in underserved communities and promoting faithful innovation within UUism;
  • Collaborate with other UUA staff, volunteers, and organizational partners to develop and disseminate resources, tools, and publications on values-based innovation in UU religious communities, and to tell the story of innovative UU faith communities. This includes collaboration with Meet the Moment initiatives, Mosaic (anti-racism platform), LeaderLab, UU Institute, the Global Communities team, and the UUA Communications staff.
  • Represent the UUA and/or the NUUCF in coalition meetings and external events such as grantmaking roundtables or movement organizing coalitions to build relationships with related interfaith and secular spaces and tables to advance the goals of the NUUCF
  • Other duties as assigned by supervisor or the Executive Vice President

Qualifications

This is an exempt position with a salary midpoint of $91,400. Compensation may vary based on factors such as experience, qualifications, and geographical location, with offers potentially ranging from 10-15% higher or lower than the midpoint. Note that qualifications may be met as a result of lived experience, volunteer work, professional experience, and/or formal or informal training. Requirements include:

• 5-7 years working in religious, nonprofit, or philanthropic roles, with a preference for experience in UU religious settings
• Credential as a religious UU religious professional (minister or religious educator) is valued, but not required
• An astute analysis of the landscape of religious innovation is required; experience previously starting or leading innovative and creative faith communities is highly valued
• Experience in grants management, program analysis and community engagement preferred
• Demonstrated capability in leading diverse teams, 2-3 years of management experience, and extensive experience working with volunteers
• Deep knowledge of current and historic Unitarian Universalist values, culture, and practices
• Exceptional facilitation skills for both in-person and virtual gatherings, including large group conversations  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills that effectively reach and engage multiple audiences through a variety of channels and formats 
• Proven experience designing and coordinating complex, multivalent programs and events, particularly those involving volunteers, with strong logistics and project management abilities
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Teams, SharePoint, Asana Project Management, and/or Zoom; ability to manage communication and collaboration using these tools
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally for UUA or partnership events or gatherings (e.g., General Assembly, UUMA Institute)
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adept at managing and prioritizing competing needs and commitments in a collaborative environment 
• Comfortable working independently in a remote setting while remaining integrated with collaborators 
• Ability to act with judgment and professionalism within a values-driven, mission-centered organizational culture
• Deep understanding of issues around anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism 
• Work or lived experience with BIPOC communities is of particular value 
• Eagerness to work in an organization in which the dismantling of white supremacy is a high priority

How to Apply

People with disabilities, people of color, indigenous people, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQ candidates are encouraged to apply. The UUA is committed to developing a diverse and talented staff team. If you are excited about this role, but are unsure whether you meet 100% of the requirements, we encourage you to inquire and/or apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter via our applicant portal (ADP WorkforceNow) on uua.org/jobs. If you have any questions, please reach out to careers@uua.org.

About the UUA

The Unitarian Universalist Association is a progressive religious denomination headquartered in Boston’s waterfront Fort Point Innovation District. Our faith community of more than 1,000 self-governing congregations brings to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance, and social justice. Our normal workweek is 35 hours, we pay 80% contribution towards health insurance premiums, 10% towards retirement (after one year), and have generous paid time-off policies. We are a great place to work, and we value diversity. The UUA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all. As part of this commitment, the UUA will ensure that applicants and staff with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Department of Human Resources at careers@uua.org. For more information on the UUA, visit us online at UUA.org and uuworld.org.

Support for the Mission and Values of the Association

The Unitarian Universalist Association is a progressive and historic religious denomination. All UUA staff members are expected to perform their job duties in accordance with the UUA’s values, principles, and mission. Unitarian Universalism puts love at the center of our commitments, which embrace the Shared Values of justice, equity, transformation, interdependence, pluralism and generosity. The following points drawn from these Shared Values are of particular importance for the UUA’s work environment and staff culture:

• Pluralism and generosity: We affirm the need for a human-centered workplace that allows our diverse staff to flourish. We also understand that our wider culture and society oppresses and denies human dignity, and we seek to counter the effects of that oppression in our hiring and workplace culture so that each person feels whole and valued.
• Justice and equity: We speak openly and publicly of our support for social and political issues, including LGBTQ equity, racial justice, climate justice, gender equity, and reproductive justice.
• Interdependence and transformation: We recognize that the liberation of all people is interwoven, and we work to counter patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, environmental exploitation, and other interrelated systems of marginalization.