Position: Music Director

Start Date: October 1, 2025

Reports to: Standing Committee, with day-to-day supervision provided by the Minister

Job status: Part-time, 18-20 hours per week Sept 1–June 30; 5 hour per week July 1–Sept 1

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Pay Range: Salary $25,600 - $32,500

About First Parish Chelmsford Unitarian Universalist Church

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Chelmsford is a vibrant, inclusive and caring spiritual community. We celebrate the diversity of beliefs within our congregation and come together to share our faith and make a positive impact on the world. Music is a cherished part of congregational life and has always played a vital role, helping us to lift up the diversity of our faith and honor the fullness of our lives. We are looking for a dedicated Music Director to help us carry on and nurture our music program. If you believe that music can celebrate and honor the spirit of life, come join us! You can learn more about our congregation on our website (First Parish UU Chelmsford).

Job Summary

The Music Director is a key member of the Worship Team along with the Minister and Director of Lifespan Faith Formation, responsible for helping to choose and integrate music into church worship services. This position requires 15-20 hours of time per week, including time for planning, practicing, rehearsing with our adult and youth choirs, providing music for Sunday services during the regular church year (September through June), and other related tasks detailed below.

Essential Functions

• Provide music, direct, and accompany the choir(s) at regularly scheduled Sunday morning services, two Christmas Eve services, and a Tenebrae Service.

• Select and perform a wide variety of musical pieces which support the spiritual tone for each service as planned with the Worship Team.

• Plan and conduct weekly rehearsals for senior choir, youth choir, and support hand bell choir.

• Facilitate the care and maintenance of the church's musical instruments.

• Arrange for substitutes to cover planned and sudden absences.Other Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Music Committee.

• Attend quarterly Music Committee meetings to help plan an annual budget.

• Arrange with the Office Assistant the purchase of all necessary music and music supplies.

• Prepare monthly reports on music program.

• Recruit and/or coordinate other instrumental or vocal performers as desired and rehearse as needed.

• Create opportunities for intergenerational music experiences.

• Communicate with the congregation via our monthly digital newsletters, and the Annual Report.

• Stay abreast of copyright and licensing restrictions for music and ensure compliance.

• Uphold policies of the congregation and the AUUMM Code of Professional Practice.

Core Competencies

• Ability to cultivate musical talent and interest across generations and musical skill levels in the congregation.

• Ability to be a key collaborator in creating energetic, inspiring, and thematically integrated worship service.

• Strong musical skills: ability to sight-read, and to accompany and conduct music at the same time.

• Knowledge of a broad range of musical genres.

• Willingness to learn about Unitarian Universalist history, values, musical traditions, and current musical practices is desirable.

• Ability to effectively do your job in a virtual or hybrid setting.

Qualifications

• Preferred Bachelors degree or higher in music, or equivalent experience.

• Experience in choral and instrumental music and conducting.

• Experience in keyboard accompaniment.

• Experience in meeting people where they are musically and encouraging growth in a way that supports the mission of the church.

Benefits

• Separate stipend, with right of first refusal, to provide music at weddings and funerals.

• We are flexible and willing to adapt the job's parameters around our director's schedule and other commitments.

• Professional allowance.

To Apply for this Position

First Parish Chelmsford Unitarian Universalist Church is committed to developing a diverse and talented staff team. People with disabilities, people of color, indigenous people, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure whether you meet all of the requirements, we encourage you to inquire and/or apply. Please send a cover letter and résumé indicating “Music Director” in the subject line—via e-mail to jobs@uuchelmsford.org

Questions

Questions about the Music Director position may be directed to Tom Coffey, HR Subcommittee Chair, at thomascoffey@comcast.net

About Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian Universalists are people of all ages, people of many backgrounds, and people of many beliefs. We are curious and compassionate thinkers and doers. Unitarian Universalism affirms and promotes our seven Principles, grounded in the humanistic teachings of the world’s religions. Our spirituality is unbounded, drawing from scripture and science, nature and philosophy, personal experience and ancient tradition. Unitarian Universalists have no shared creed. Our shared covenant (our Seven Principles) supports the inherent worth and dignity of every person and the free and responsible search for truth and meaning by each individual. You can learn more about our faith on the Unitarian Universalist Association website (www.uua.org).