Title: Assistant to the Bishop for Administration

Reports to: Bishop Jen Nagel

Position Details: Full-time; standard office hours, with the need for flexibility to accommodate occasional planned evening meetings; primarily in-office presence, with the ability to work remotely once a week on Monday or Friday; occasional travel may be required for synod events, meetings, and staff outings.

Status: Exempt

 

Minneapolis Area Synod

The Minneapolis Area Synod (MAS) is one of 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). MAS includes 137 communities of faith in the greater Minneapolis metropolitan area. The synod staff supports the member congregations, as well as the lay and rostered leaders of the synod. We are church together: accompanying one another and our neighbors, witnessing to the transforming love and grace of Jesus Christ, organizing for service and justice close to home and around the world, resourcing our congregations for ministry, and celebrating the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity in all of this. “The Minneapolis Area Synod works together so that all experience gracious invitation into life-giving Christian community and live in just and healthy neighborhoods.” You can learn more about the Minneapolis Area synod here: Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA (mpls-synod.org)

 

Position Summary

The Assistant to the Bishop for Administration is a pivotal member of the synod staff with a focus on administration including assisting the bishop, managing the staff and human resources, and shepherding the details of our synod’s mission and governance. Moving between the details of daily functioning and the big picture, the Assistant to the Bishop for Administration role includes leadership, strategic foresight, strong organizational and communication skills, and critical support to the bishop, enabling them to successfully manage day-to-day workflow.

 

Essential Functions

  • Strategic Calendar Management: Extensively manage the bishop’s calendar, strategically plan and prioritize engagements to align with organizational goals.
  • Communication Management: Manage and prioritize communication to and from the bishop, to ensure efficient flow of information and response to critical communications.
  • Documentation Preparation: Assist the bishop in managing workflow by preparing materials needed for meetings and events, drafting letters or other written materials, and preparing agendas.
  • Project and Event Support: Collaborate with the bishop and other key staff to plan Bishop’s Theological Conference, Conference Assemblies, staff retreats, staff planning days, and other events.  Provide logistical oversight for the Synod Assembly by assisting with the preparation of the timed agenda and script.   Assist in the preparation and coordination of project documents, reports, brochures, and budgets to drive key projects forward.
  • Financial Management and Grant Oversight: Manage spending from annual budget and dedicated or restricted funds. Approve invoices for payment. Serve as a point person for some of the synod’s grant applications and provide ongoing grant oversight.
  • Office Procedures and Maintenance: Develop and maintain office procedures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the synod office. Maintain confidential files.
  • Human Resources Coordination and Staff Management: Oversee crucial HR functions such as management, recruitment, performance evaluations, staff onboarding and offboarding, ensuring they align with synod goals.
  • Synod Governance: Work with the Executive Committee and Synod Council to prepare agendas and manage the flow of information to governance groups. Keep electronic files of Executive Committee and Synod Council materials. Provide staff support to the Nominating Committee, Reference and Counsel, Finance Committee, and other synod committees.

 

Skills/Qualifications/Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree is required
  • At least two years of administrative experience is desired
  • Highly organized with meticulous attention to details
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities and tasks at a time
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and manage within an administrative capacity
  • Strong ability to think strategically and critically, with a proven track record in problem-solving and decision-making
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of handling high-level communication and sensitive information with discretion
  • Robust project management skills, with a keen understanding of how to manage, prioritize, and execute complex projects
  • Understanding of financial management and budgeting, with the ability to oversee and reconcile expense reports and budgets
  • High level proficiency in office technologies, including Microsoft Office Suite and other digital tools
  • Strong “soft people skills”, including effective communication, empathy, and the skills to support group cohesion and a healthy work environment

 

Email application documents including a cover letter, resume, and three references to:

Jessie Goeke, Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Exec.asst@mpls-synod.org