Executive Pastor

Role Overview

The Executive Pastor is responsible for the operational leadership of Citylight Church, serving as the primary steward of staff leadership systems, financial oversight, facilities, and ministry infrastructure in partnership with the Lead Pastors and Elders.

This role exists to strengthen the church’s capacity for gospel ministry by translating vision into executable strategy, cultivating healthy leadership systems, and ensuring organizational clarity and sustainability across a growing, multi-site church. The Executive Pastor helps create the conditions in which pastors and ministry leaders can focus on preaching, disciple-making, and church planting by building strong structures that support the mission.

Primary Areas of Responsibility

Shepherding & Staff Leadership

• Establish and maintain staff leadership systems, including regular 1:1s, performance feedback, conflict resolution, and staff care practices for all staff and key ministry leaders.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and pastoral care for staff and ministry leaders
• Step into complex leadership or relational challenges with wisdom, humility, and biblical clarity
• Oversee human resource functions including hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, staff development, benefits, and policy adherence
• Partner with Campus Pastors in the broader shepherding life of the church

Stewardship (Finances & Facilities)

• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process; monitor monthly financial performance; and make recommendations to Elders regarding cash flow, reserves, and debt management.
• Partner with finance team to ensure transparency, accuracy, and faithful stewardship of resources
• Develop financial strategies that align resources with ministry priorities and long-term vision
• Provide executive oversight for facilities improvement, maintenance, and expansion, including vendor management, capital planning, and long-term facilities strategy.

Strategy & Planning

• Lead the annual planning process in collaboration with Lead Pastors and Elders, translating ministry vision into clear goals, timelines, and resourcing plans.
• Support ministry leaders in building executable plans by defining milestones, resourcing needs, and success metrics for key initiatives.
• Provide feasibility and cost analysis for strategic initiatives
• Establish planning rhythms that allow leadership to assess progress and adapt as needed

Management & Organizational Leadership

• Provide direct leadership and accountability to Campus Pastors and ministry support teams
• Oversee church-wide systems, structures, and communication channels to support clarity and unity of mission
• Ensure alignment and consistency across campuses while allowing contextual flexibility
• Manage church-wide calendars and communication to support clarity and mission focus

What Success Looks Like

• All staff have clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Performance and conduct issues are addressed consistently, promptly and biblically
• Staff engagement, development and retention improve year over year
• Financial stewardship is wise, transparent, and sustainable
• Facilities effectively serve current ministry needs and are positioned for future growth
• Strategic goals are clear, actionable, and regularly evaluated
• Lead Pastors are freed to focus on vision, preaching, and disciple-making

Qualifications

Spiritual & Theological

• A clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a calling to vocational ministry
• Full alignment with Citylight Church’s Statement of Beliefs
• Meets the biblical qualifications for an elder (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)
• Demonstrates spiritual maturity, humility, and a shepherd’s heart

Leadership & Experience

• 7+ years of senior leadership experience with demonstrated responsibility for organizational, operational, or team leadership (experience in a local church, nonprofit, or comparable organizational setting).
• Experience serving in or alongside a large (1,000+ weekly attenders) and/or multi-site organization preferred, with the ability to lead in complex, growing systems.
• At least 3 years of experience directly leading and developing other leaders who oversee teams, including responsibility for performance management, coaching, and staff development.
• Proven experience overseeing budgets, staff systems, and organizational operations with excellence and integrity.

Skills & Education

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex organizations, communicate clearly with senior leaders and staff, and manage multiple operational priorities simultaneously.
• Strategic thinker with operational excellence
• Ability to lead through complexity and change
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree (MDiv, MBA, MA) preferred

Citylight Omaha is a gospel-centered, disciple-multiplying church with a clear vision to see lives transformed by Jesus and churches multiplied across Omaha and beyond. Rooted in the biblical conviction that the local church is God’s primary means for making disciples, we gather weekly to worship, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, delight in Scripture, and observe baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Our rhythms of ministry are built around three missional priorities — gathering, equipping, and scattering — so that every follower of Jesus is not only formed in Christlikeness but also sent into neighborhoods, workplaces, and networks to make disciples who make disciples. We’re part of the Citylight Family of Churches, a network of autonomous churches united in mission and values, and we affirm historic gospel theology and local church leadership.