Special Needs Ministry Leader

Hours per week: 40 hours

This position reports to: Director of Kidscoast Ministry

The mission: Seacoast Church goes all out in our mission to help others Find God, Grow your Faith, Discover your Purpose, and Make a Difference. Our Special Needs Ministry Leader is passionate about caring for our children with special needs by creating a safe and nurturing environment specifically designed to connect children with Jesus on their level.

Key Responsibilities

A Calling to Serve

• Oversee the Special Needs ministry for all weekend services, midweek services, and additional church events.
• Foster an inclusive atmosphere where every child feels valued and accepted. Recognize that children with special needs are an essential part of the church community and deserve the same opportunities to connect with Jesus.
• Understand that disabilities impact entire families, not just the individual child. Provide resources, support, and encouragement to families, helping them feel connected and supported within Seacoast Church.
• Ensure Dream Team members understand Seacoast policies, procedures, and complete necessary paperwork (Background Check and references).
  
  

Volunteer Recruitment and Retention

• Develop and implement strategies for recruiting new volunteers to support the special needs ministry.
• Create and maintain a positive and engaging environment for volunteers to ensure high retention rates.
• Provide ongoing training and development opportunities for volunteers to enhance their skills and commitment.
• Recognize and celebrate the contributions of volunteers through appreciation events and regular acknowledgments.
• Foster a sense of community among volunteers through team-building activities and social events.
  
  

Classroom Leader

• Implement and oversee a buddy program that pairs trained adults with children in their classrooms to provide additional support as needed. Ensure buddies are well-trained and equipped to assist children in engaging with activities and connecting with their peers.
• Ensure each classroom has the necessary resources for all services and events and assist as needed to maintain appropriate child-adult ratios.
• Oversee the check-in/check-out procedure for the attendees of the Special Needs ministry and ensure security protocols are being met.
• Greet parents, pay special attention to specific needs, and develop relationships of trust.
  
  

Administrative Duties

• Manage a budget and submit expenses in a timely manner.
• Schedule volunteers via Planning Center, maintain all current information in Ministry Platform database, and provide weekly encouragement through emails, texts, and GroupMe.
• Follow up with incident reports when injuries occur or when personal conflict arises.
• Create and distribute regular updates to keep families informed about upcoming events and activities.
  
  

Team Player

• Be an active leader/planner in Kidscoast special events such as Kids Camp, Easter, Christmas, and Upgrade Weekend.
• Actively participate in weekly Kidscoast meetings, attend all 1-on-1 meetings with the MTP Kidscoast Ministry Leader, Kidscoast Central Calls, and attend monthly All-Staff meetings.
• Support the goals of Kidscoast by demonstrating teamwork and performing other duties as requested with excellence.
  
  

Community Outreach

• Plan and execute Seacoast Church's annual Night to Shine Prom for people with special needs and their families (approximately 800-900 guests and 400 volunteers attend the event each year).
• Establish partnerships with local organizations and schools to support children and young adults with special needs.
• Attend community events to represent Seacoast Church and promote the special needs ministry.
  
  

Program Development

• Work with the Director of Children’s Ministry to continuously evaluate and improve the special needs ministry across all campuses to meet the evolving needs of children and families.
• Develop new initiatives and activities that enhance the spiritual growth and social development of children with special needs that may benefit all campuses.
• Implement feedback mechanisms to gather input from parents, volunteers, and children.
  
  

Crisis Management

• Working with our Emergency Response Team and the Director of Children’s Ministry, develop and implement crisis management plans for handling emergencies or unexpected situations.
• Train volunteers on how to respond to various types of crises, ensuring the safety and well-being of children.
• Maintain open communication with parents during crises to provide reassurance and support.
  
  

Job Essentials

• Christ Follower (Seacoast Church makes hiring decisions aligned to our religious faith and beliefs).
• Experience in Children's Ministry preferred.
• Experience working with children and young adults with special needs preferred.
• Ability to recruit, train, and motivate team members.
• Demonstrated spiritual gifts to serve others in a team environment.
• Live and drive Seacoast cultural values to Love God, Love People, Make it Better, and Have a Good Attitude.
  
  

Acknowledgement

By submitting my application I acknowledge and consent to terms of the privacy policy which applies to the applicant tracking service being offered by Trakstar on behalf of Seacoast Church. The privacy policy offers an explanation of how and why your data will be collected, how it will be used and disclosed, how it will be retained and secured, and what legal rights are associated with that data (including the rights of access, correction, and deletion). The policy also describes legal and contractual limitations on these rights. The specific rights and obligations of individuals living and working in different areas may vary by jurisdiction.

I certify that my answers to all questions will be true and correct. I understand that if I am employed, any false, misleading or otherwise incorrect statements made on this application or during the pre-employment process may be grounds for my immediate termination. I understand and authorize and agree that Seacoast Church may conduct national and local criminal biographical searches, state sexual offender searches, credit file and motor vehicle checks when appropriate and applicable. I agree to sign any and all authorizations by appropriate companies or entities who are engaged in, including but not limited to, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, and any other necessary agencies.

I also understand, if employed, that I am required to abide by all the rules and regulations of Seacoast Church. Seacoast Church is an Equal Opportunity Employer. While we make employment decisions that are aligned to our faith and beliefs, we do not discriminate based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. This application will only be valid for the position in which I am applying and will remain active for 45 days. If I wish to apply to another position or the 45 active period has passed, I may need resubmit a new application.