Summary

Young Life’s Area Director role requires a dynamic, vibrant personality that will help helm Young Life for a specific area of schools.  This person is a self-starter with a high sense of drive and a missional mindset.  They love the Lord and have a growing spiritual life outside of the ministry.  This person possesses the  perseverance to ask, inspire, and motivate adults and students in the ministry.  They must be able to multitask and prioritize what is necessary for the Area at any given time.  We are looking for someone that is mature in their faith and looking to help others do the same. 

Bergen County is situated in the northeastern part of New Jersey and is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, sitting directly across the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan. It is the largest populated county in New Jersey with 932,202 people. Bergen County is a suburb of Manhattan and therefore has a fast-paced culture and wonderful cultural and socio-economic diversity.

The area has four established high school Young Life clubs with volunteer leaders at each of them, two established Capernaum clubs for students with disabilities, led by a Capernaum coordinator, one established YoungLives? club for teen moms in partnership with a pregnancy center, and two college ministries at Ramapo College and William Patterson University, currently led by students. Bergen County Young Life is also forging great relationships with Catholic parishes and schools, led by the Catholc Initiatives director. There are more than a dozen schools in the county that have never had a Young Life presence, providing great opportunity for growth. 

The ideal candidate would be someone with Young Life staff experience, but it is not limited to candidates with Young Life experience. Able to excel at the bearing points of the ministry: Spiritual Growth, Committee, Ministry, Leadership,and Fundraising.

Key Words: Self-Starter, Driven, Faithful, Growing, Organized, Determined, Teachable, Spiritually Holistic, Vision-Caster, Pioneer, Innovator, Disciple.

Principal Characteristics:

Christian Faith:

-Has a relationship with Jesus Christ and is actively growing in ways outside of the Young Life ministry.

-Grasps the idea of “relational ministry” and earning the right to be heard in the community.

-Spiritually develops volunteer leaders, committee, and students in the local area.  Develops a thought out vision and plan for spiritual growth. 

-Adheres to Young Life’s policies for staff people.

Volunteer Development/Direct Ministry

-Able to inspire and cast vision, inviting new volunteer committee and leaders into the ministry while giving them ownership and helping them to develop as leaders..

-Models consistency and excellence in building relationships with students, programmatic events including bible studies, outreach related activities, leader meetings and committee meetings. These are often night time meetings.

-Implements a training program to help volunteers become excellent in their roles and with students.

-Executes a camp strategy that maximizes students opportunities to respond and react to the Christian faith. Includes week long summer camping, week long discipleship camping, and weekend camping trips throughout the year as scheduled.

Resource Development

-Provides leadership to the volunteer adult committee partnering to raise the local area budget as well as maintaining it with stewardship capability.

-Helps to develop and execute a financial strategy to achieve budgetary goals.  This includes personal fundraising, fundraising events, and gathering area donations.  

-Is the “Chief Asker, Communicator, and Storyteller”.  Has a communication plan for the area to reach new and current parents, students, leaders, school administration, and committee. 

National, Divisional, and Regional Responsibilities

-Pursues National, Divisional, and Regional Trainings as assigned.  Travels when necessary throughout the year.

-Attends month-long assignments at Young Life properties in the summer when assigned. 

-Is an active part of a Regional Dream Team throughout the year. This is a group of staff who either put on an event or enhance strategy in the Region.

-Some of these responsibilities require travel, overnight stays, etc. throughout the year.  

Compensation and Benefits

-Full benefits with Young Life

-Compensation will be competitive. Related experience and education will be considered.