Job Listing

Director of Harbor Families

Location: Birmingham, AL

Status: Full-time

Position Summary:

Under the direction of the Sr Director, develops and evaluates a Gospel- centered host family/family preservation ministry that reaches vulnerable children and families for the Gospel by equipping churches and Christian families to care for them. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Master’s Degree in Social Work
  • 2 years paid employment in a child placement agency
  • Graduate or certified social work license from the applicable state board of licensing

Responsibilities: 

  • To be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ to co-workers, clients and ministry partners. 
  • In collaboration with the Sr Director and Casework Manager, develops, implements, and evaluates the Lifeline model for Harbor Families that is consistent with Lifeline’s mission and core values.  
  • Develops a system and process to replicate the program across all Lifeline states.  
  • In collaboration with state directors and government relations teams, identifies and advocates for legislative changes in states in order to develop and support the program.  
  • Ensures each state maintains fidelity to the model by providing consultation and direction to state directors.   
  • In coordination with state directors and supervisors, develops and maintains relationships with local and state child welfare departments in a way that Lifeline is viewed as trusted resource and partner.  
  • In coordination with church partnership and state directors, develops and implements recruitment strategies and tools for churches and prospective volunteers across the states.  
  • Develops and implements a networking strategy for the program and in each state to make the services accessible to vulnerable families.  
  • Assists state directors in locating and obtaining funding opportunities to support and sustain Harbor Families in their states.  
  • Works collaboratively with other programs across the ministry to develop a continuum of care for vulnerable children and families.  
  • Develops, maintains, and evaluates the effectiveness of the program as a whole and in each state and location.  
  • In coordination with state directors, creates and implements a volunteer retention system.  
  • In coordination with the education department and other Harbor Families leadership, develops and maintains initial and ongoing training content and process for churches and volunteers.   
  • Develops and supports central office Harbor Families staff.  
  • Strengthens and evaluates the effectiveness of programs continuously. 
  • Able to instruct and train in both continuing education and training settings.    
  • Maintains good working relationships with team and coworkers, including resolving all disputes in a Biblically prescribed fashion. 
  • Represents the ministry in a professional manner in and away from the office.

Secondary Responsibilities: 

  • Able to instruct and train in both continuing education and training
  • Maintains good working relationships with the state directors, leadership and staff, including resolving all disputes in a Biblically prescribed
  • Represents the ministry in a professional manner in and away from the
  • Assisting in agency-related events, including the annual staff retreat, the annual dinner, anniversary celebrations, across all Lifeline programs
  • Maintains Social Work License and state-required annual training: hours

Key Competencies: 

  • Upholds the mission/vision/core values of the Ministry 
  • Signs and upholds the Employee Statement and the Statement of Faith 
  • Provides consistent Gospel-centered leadership 
  • Facilitates Christ-centered relationships 
  • Excellent communication skills(verbal & written) 
  • Good judgement and decision making 
  • Critical thinking 
  • Problem solving 
  • Basic technical capabilities 
  • Team Oriented 
  • Flexible 
  • Thorough 

Work Environment: 

  • This position operates in a professional office environment. 
  • Occasional travel may be required.     

State Specific Requirements: 

  • A Master’s Degree in Social Work 
  • Two (2) years paid employment in a child placement agency 
  • Graduate or certified social work license from the applicable state board of licensing 
  • Complete annual training/CEU’s as determined by State regulations and Hague requirements, whichever is greater.  

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