Director of Operations & Grant Development

ACTIVE SEARCH | HOUSTON, TX (95% REMOTE) | FULL-TIME, EXEMPT

Build the operational backbone of a growing discipleship ministry — and fund the next chapter of its impact.

COMPENSATION	LOCATION	REPORTS TO	TRAVEL
$72,000 + $5,400 Medical	Houston, TX (95% Remote)	President & Founder	Minimal (Houston only)

ABOUT ASCENDING LEADERS

Ascending Leaders is a Houston-based, faith-driven 501(c)(3) founded in 2005 by Dr. Mike Johnson. For more than 20 years, the organization has equipped church leaders and communities through discipleship curriculum, coaching, and international ministry. With growing reach in a country closed to Christianity and a clear goal to double its impact by 2030, Ascending Leaders is at a pivotal inflection point, and this hire is central to achieving that goal.Learn more at ascendingleaders.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is not a back-office role. The Director of Operations & Grant Development will serve as the operational backbone of a small, high-trust ministry team, owning the systems, processes, and funding relationships that allow Ascending Leaders to scale with integrity. You’ll work directly with the President, partner with an engaged board, and have real ownership over outcomes that matter. If you want a seat at the table where vision meets execution, this is it.

WHY THIS ROLE

• Direct Kingdom impact; your work directly enables discipleship growth in the U.S. and internationally
• Autonomy and ownership; a broad mandate to build, not just maintain
• Warm, relational culture rooted in prayer, trust, and shared mission
• Annual professional development investment; long-term runway with growth potential
• Competitive compensation for a remote-first role with meaningful scope

WHAT YOU’LL OWN

• Lead operations, HR, finance, and governance; building the infrastructure that supports domestic and international ministry growth
• Own Salesforce administration and data integrity; ensure systems support clean decision-making and donor stewardship
• Drive grant strategy from prospect research and proposal writing through submission and reporting, targeting foundation, corporate, and faith-based funders
• Manage communications platforms (Mailchimp, Canva, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Asana) and support organizational storytelling
• Supervise contractors including coaches and administrative assistant; manage 1099 compliance and related paperwork
• Advance AI tool implementation and lead continuous process improvement across the organization

FIRST 90 DAYS — WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Identify five new potential grant sources and build an initial funding pipeline strategy
• Complete an operations and systems audit; implement priority process improvements
• Hire and onboard a part-time assistant to expand administrative capacity

WHAT YOU BRING

WHAT YOU BRING (REQUIRED)

NICE TO HAVE (PREFERRED)

• Personal alignment with Ascending Leaders’ Christian discipleship mission • 3+ years of manager- or director-level experience in a nonprofit, ministry, or mission-driven organization • BA/BS degree required • Demonstrated success in operations, financial oversight, and HR management • Proven grant writing and grant management track record (foundations, corporate, or faith-based) • Advanced experience with CRM management; Salesforce preferred • Comfort with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Asana • Hands-on experience with AI tools and a forward-leaning approach to workflow improvement • Highly self-directed; able to work autonomously in a remote-first environment

• Experience in parachurch, church-planting, or cross-denominational ministry contexts • MBA, MPA, or equivalent advanced degree • Background in international ministry operations or cross-cultural donor relations • Bilingual English/Spanish • Experience supporting a founder/president in a small, high-trust organization

Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This role requires alignment with the organization’s Christian faith mission as a bona fide occupational qualification.

INTERESTED — OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE?

Katherine Gahl | Mountaintop Search | [email protected]

All conversations are confidential. Happy to share more before you decide if it’s worth a deeper look.