About this role
The UpStreet Service Programming Director creates engaging, excellent, and welcoming experiences for elementary-aged children and their families. This role oversees Large Group programming across all campuses, the Host Team, New Family Process, baptisms, hallway environments, and designated events.
Key Responsibilities
Programming and Large Group
• Lead UpStreet Sunday programming for fully staffed Large Group environments throughout the full year for the 9:15 and 11:00 services.
• Recruit, train, schedule, develop, and care for Large Group volunteers.
• Recruit, lead, and pastor four Large Group Producers.
• Ensure Sunday teams are fully staffed and develop apprentices to build a strong volunteer pipeline.
• Oversee and continually improve the physical, technical, and creative elements of each Large Group and Host Team environment.
• Attend monthly content and creative meetings with the UpStreet Groups team.
• Edit and deliver scripts, props, and stage décor to all campuses for Large Group for team synergy and alignment across campuses.
• Ensure programming is engaging, biblically accurate, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with the small-group experience.
• Ensure that the Gospel is clearly integrated into each weekly Large Group script including Upstreet Games and Mega Awesome Costume Party.
Family Experience and Environments
• Create consistent, vision filled, informative parent communication strategies and implementation including social media and email.
• Lead the Host Team in creating a warm, organized, and helpful experience for children and families.
• Recruit, train, schedule, develop, and care for Host Team volunteers and four Host Team Captains.
• Own and continually improve the New Family Process from arrival through follow-up, including registration, check-in, group placement, and follow up.
• Partner with Waumba Land, Guest Services, and other ministry teams to create consistent, scalable family experiences across campuses.
• Oversee all UpStreet hallway experiences, including atmosphere, signage, communication, traffic flow, seasonal elements, and family engagement.
• Coordinate with Facilities, Communications, Production, and other ministry partners as needed.
• Lead the parent communication process in Upstreet through creating regular, helpful, vision-filled parent communication.
Baptisms
• Partner with Upstreet Director to establish, develop, promote and evaluate JumpStart
• Continue to improve and develop the JumpStart website
• Lead and continually improve Sunday morning baptisms and Baptism Bash events.
• Guide families through clear preparation, communication, and next steps.
• Coordinate scheduling, environments, volunteers, supplies, programming needs, and follow-up to create a meaningful and well-organized Baptism experience.
Events and Special Programming
• Project manage SuperStart, Baptism Bash, Kindergarten Kickstart, JumpStart, Inside Look, UpStreet Games, and Mega Awesome Costume Party.
• Create and manage project plans, timelines, budgets, communication, volunteers, supplies, programming elements, and day-of execution.
• Lead or support additional ministry and church-wide events, including Christmas Eve, Good Friday, and Nights of Worship etc
Team Leadership and Collaboration
• Attend UpStreet, Children’s Ministry, and Athens Church staff meetings.
• Hire, train and develop the Production LDP, Host Team LDP
• Maintain strong partnership with and meet regularly with the UpStreet Director.
• Collaborate with the UpStreet Groups team to create one cohesive Sunday experience.
• Develop repeatable systems, clear documentation, and strong volunteer leadership that can scale across campuses.
• Manage assigned budgets, resources, supplies, and purchasing responsibly.
Staff Expectations
• Demonstrate a growing relationship with Jesus and actively participate in the life and mission of Athens Church.
• Model the “Four Things”: Giving 10% or more, Serving, Connecting in a group, and Inviting others.
• Maintain character and conduct that are above reproach.
• Build healthy relationships with staff, volunteers, children, and families with the Culture Shaping Behaviors as a guide..
• Remain flexible and support additional ministry responsibilities as needed.