Sr. Director of Education & Church Engagement

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Location: Lansdowne, VA

Team Overview

In this role, you will report to the SVP of CMA and be responsible for designing and implementing ADF’s Pastoral Training Program. This includes cultivating and maintaining relationships with partner seminaries and educational institutions, building, overseeing, and expanding the CMA Seminary Partnership Program through networking and advocacy with mission-aligned organizations, and overseeing day-to-day tasks necessary to support program development and growth.  The Sr. Director of Education & Church Engagement will also give leadership to CMA’s overall engagement with non-CMA member churches and ministries. 

Key Responsibilities

Program Design & Development 

• Develop and implement ADF’s curriculum in accordance with ADF’s CMA legal team and other stakeholders to train pastors and ministry leaders on the legal implications of ministry work and cultural engagement. 
• Advocate for and collaborate with seminaries and educational institutions to build strong, effective alliances; equip upcoming pastors with foundational knowledge of key legal issues facing churches; and build an alumni program to support pastors throughout their ministry.
• Promote and support strategies that foster effective collaboration with seminaries, ministries, and leaders.
• Serve as the lead instructor for the curriculum, or when needed, assist with identifying, recruiting, and liaising with faculty; and serve as faculty as appropriate.  
• Travel to engage with key leaders and stakeholders to cultivate strong, mission-aligned relationships. 
• Track, research, and analyze emerging issues facing the church today, and develop actionable insights and recommendations.  
• Evaluate program outcomes and update content to remain relevant, current, and effective. 
• Assist in the development of educational programs for upcoming pastors, including a Blackstone-style program for graduates of CMA’s seminary training or pastors currently serving in the church.
• Write and create content for the engagement of the church community and ministry leaders, whether CMA member or not

Seminary & Academic Partnerships 

• Encourage and facilitate strong working relationships with key partners.
• Collaborate effectively within the ADF team and with external allies to advance shared goals. 
• Contribute to CMA’s content development through writing, resource creation, and thought leadership.
• Provide leadership and direction related to CMA’s broader engagement with churches and ministries.

Pastoral Network Development 

• Create a robust network of programs, graduates, pastors, and ministry leaders. 
• Implement engagement strategies such as cohorts and ongoing learning modules, and mentorship pathways. 
• Build an alumni support structure for continued growth and support. 
• Foster community through communication channels, events, and relationship-driven initiatives. 
• Build and manage a network of partner seminaries, ministries, and key leaders that align with CMA’s missions and values.
• Establish and manage an alumni network to support program graduates through coaching, continuing education, resource sharing, and fellowship.

Leadership & Administration

• Provide strategic direction, program planning, budgeting, and reporting to leadership. 
• Recruit and oversee instructors, program facilitators, and Subject Matter Experts as needed. 
• Manage program logistics, scheduling, communication, and participants' experience.  
• Establish program goals, success metrics, and assessment tools. 
• Represent the organization at conferences, summits, and partner institutions. 
• Ensure program alignment with biblical values and the organization’s mission. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in law, Theology, Ministry, Religious Studies, education, philosophy, or related field.  
• 7+ years of experience in Ministry, seminary education, program development, or legal ministry support. 
• Ability to travel 25% of the time.
• Ability to work with leaders and seminaries of various denominations who are aligned with ADF’s statement of faith, regardless of personal preferences and beliefs. 
• Ability to designi or teach and deliver a seminary-level curriculum

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience involving working with higher education, pastors, and ministry. 
• Prior background in church administration, legal ministry services, or pastoral leadership.
• PhD in Education or similar disciplines.

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

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