GLIDE is hiring: Assistant Director of Music Ministries in San Francisco

About Glide

GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. Through its integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, GLIDE empowers individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and to thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing and homelessness, and racial and social justice. GLIDE’s mission is to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization.

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Music Ministries plays a critical role in coordinating between the choir, music, and AV teams at Glide Memorial Church. This role supports Glide’s mission of radical inclusivity and social justice by ensuring that the musical and technical elements of Sunday Celebrations are aligned, creating a seamless worship experience. As the leader of the choir, this position nurtures the musical expression of the church, elevating voices to embody the church’s message of love, healing, and justice.

In collaboration with the Director of Music Ministries and the Director of AV Ministries, the Assistant Director of Music Ministries is responsible for the smooth integration of choir performances, music, and AV operations. By overseeing rehearsals, coordinating live performances, and ensuring that technical aspects such as sound and lighting enhance the worship experience, this role is essential in fostering a spiritually enriching environment. The position is a cornerstone in advancing GLIDE’s vision of creative, inclusive worship that brings together diverse voices and technology to inspire transformation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage, lead the choir and the musical team (i.e. assistant choir director, choir guides, band lead, band) via various in-person and software methods.
• Support the development of the choir members.
• Responsible for arranging and organizing the music and determining the role of each choir member as they relate to the choir.
• Help recruit, facilitate and conduct singing auditions for new and past (rejoining) choir members along with the music department.
• Responsible for recruitment and choosing of any potential and essential band members, that can work and perform well together as well as an active hand in collaboration, organizing and arranging music that compliments and supports the choir.
• Assist the Glide music program by accompanying and conducting the choir, and singing as a music leader.
• Keeps the music proportioned and synchronized to avoid vivid distractions during worship.
• Willing to personally lead or assign persons to lead the congregation in community singing.
• Chooses songs that are in line and within the genres of gospel, jazz, blues, folk, and R&B (rhythm & blues) roots of Glide Memorial Church and The Glide Ensemble.
• Coordinates with other churches and arts institutions to perform songs during outside events and activities.
• Facilitates and/or organizes along with assistant choir director and choir guides, an annual choir building outing (to be determined) for the continuing education, expansion and growth of the choir.
• Helps in researching new and old songs for the Sunday Celebration and events and organizes and leads weekly rehearsals.
• Responsible for making sure choir members have access to materials for rehearsing (i.e. music, recordings or whatever that can make learning a song as clear as possible).
• Participates as a creative partner on the Celebration Planning Team for the archival video of Ensemble for inclusion in Virtual Sunday Celebrations.
• Attends weekly Planning Team meetings, weekly dress-rehearsals, and weekly Sunday Celebrations.
• Administrative Support: Provide administrative assistance to the Director of Music Ministries and Director of AV Ministries, including managing schedules, coordinating rehearsals, and facilitating communication between teams.
• Logistics Management: Assist in organizing equipment, scheduling rehearsals, and coordinating with vendors or external performers for both music and AV-related needs.

Qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal, leadership and communication skills are required.
• Mastery in playing a musical instrument, reading music and ability to sing.
• Direct experience conducting and leading a medium to large choir.
• Knowledgeable of different musical genres and rooted in black gospel music traditions.
• Experience managing, conducting, and working with band, choirs or other musical groups.
• Maintain a high standard of integrity and passion for the rehearsal and performance process, representing the ideals of Glide.
• Has the ability to work effectively across cultures and possesses strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills for conveying knowledge or information to the group.
• Excellent conducting and vocal skills.
• A music degree is extremely helpful, but not required.