PROJECT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

About the Role

This role provides operational support for the Strategic Alignment division and the Projects Department by maintaining the systems, documentation, and communication structures that keep leadership processes, projects, and initiatives running smoothly. Working closely with leaders across the organization, you will help keep initiatives organized, priorities clear, and operational processes consistent so that leaders and project teams can focus on strategic work and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Participate actively in team discussions, planning sessions, and problem-solving activities.
• Work closely with internal teams and cross-functional partners to ensure clear communication and coordination across projects.
• Assist with the development of tools, documentation, training materials, and internal processes that support the work of the Projects Department.
• Enhance the planning and execution of projects throughout the organization.
• Apply a Design Thinking mindset in daily work, integrating innovation and Christ-centered, human-centered problem-solving into planning, collaboration, and execution.
• Provide general administrative and operational support for the Projects Department and, when needed, the Strategic Alignment division.
• Coordinate calendars, meetings, travel, materials, and other logistics to keep the department’s work moving.
• Support leadership and department operating rhythms by maintaining work management systems, documenting decisions and action items, building dashboards and reports, tracking follow-up needs, and helping maintain visibility into organizational priorities, commitments, and next steps.
• Prepare agendas, presentations, meeting materials, reports, dashboards, and document notes, decisions, and summaries.
• Organize and maintain departmental files, templates, shared resources, workflows, and project information.
• Gather updates and keep project, portfolio, and roadmap information accurate and up to date.
• Draft communications and other materials that clarify timelines, decisions, responsibilities, and next steps.
• Anticipate needs, notice gaps, and step in wherever support is needed to help the department stay organized and follow through.
• Support project managers by helping coordinate tasks, meetings, documentation, and follow-up.
• Help develop and maintain project systems that outline the scope, timeline, milestones, deliverables, stakeholders, decisions, and expected outcomes.
• Track progress, action items, risks, and roadblocks and raise concerns when additional support or decisions are needed.
• Share project updates, challenges, and next steps with the people involved in the work.
• Help coordinate stakeholder engagement, project communications, training, and the completion of project deliverables.
• Take responsibility for assigned pieces of larger projects with guidance from a project manager.
• Coordinate simple, small-scale projects from planning through completion with coaching and oversight.

Spiritual Responsibilities

As an employee of Youth for Christ and an associate minister of the Gospel, you are expected to:

• Seek God’s guidance and wisdom, through prayer and meditation, for the organization as a whole, as well as for specific ministry initiatives.
• Participate and lead regular times of prayer, devotion, and worship as a regular aspect of your role within YFC.
• Teach and preach from the Holy Bible at YFC staff meetings, conferences, camps, and events.
• Model empathy, humility, and care for all people, including promoting equity and inclusion in words and in the practice of faith expression.

You will have an opportunity to be commissioned or licensed as a minister of the Gospel through the established Youth for Christ process and/or ordained by an outside body recognized by Youth for Christ USA.

Cultural Attributes

YFC’s cultural attributes reflect an obedience to the call of Christ and a commitment to developing and equipping a Christ-centered life marked by:

• Enduring Humility: Ability to humbly serve and honor others even in difficult situations with prayer, consistency, transparency, and resilience.
• Relentless Trust: Demonstrate reliance on God, others, and self through generous giving of time and skills, collaboratively incorporating others’ ideas, welcoming candid input, recognizing others’ need for grace, and extending forgiveness and empathy.
• Joyful Camaraderie: Prioritize others’ needs for a missional outcome, characterized by joy, with active listening and problem-solving skills, while encouraging and empowering fellow believers.
• Courageous Faithfulness: Trust God with new approaches and changes, communicate needs and limits with emotional intelligence, while seeking confidence and wisdom in Christ.
• Kingdom Inspired Diversity: Seek and foster authentic Christ-centered relationships with people of various backgrounds and create an inviting environment that empowers historically marginalized groups and indigenous populations through active listening, inclusion, advocacy, and respect of others’ experiences.

Fundraising Responsibilities

All YFC employees are expected to regularly and actively participate in faithful activities that advance the stewardship functions of YFC/USA, including but not limited to:

• Extending invitations to fundraising events.
• Recruiting personal circle of influence/YFC donor contacts.
• Sending letters, handwritten notes, and personal calls.
• Personally ministering to donor contacts.

Budget Responsibilities

A Budget Manager is responsible for aligning all financial resources to the YFC/USA strategic plan in accordance with the delegation and direction of the Division Head. Responsibilities include:

• Coding, approval, and financial decision-making for assigned Division, Department, and/or Action Plan budget.
• Course correcting through the MCCR process when a budget is overfunded or underfunded.

Requirements

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to maintain clear documentation and structured processes.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to help teams navigate operational challenges.
• Technology proficiency in Office 365.
• Experience with project and/or change management tools.
• Collaborative approach to working with leaders and building relationships across the organization.
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines.
• A servant heart and alignment with the mission of Youth for Christ.

Qualifications

• College graduate preferred or equivalent work/training experience.
• 3-5 years of administrative experience required.
• Experience supporting projects and/or change management initiatives is preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to communicate orally with customers, vendors, management, and other co-workers; regular use of telephone and email is essential.
• Sitting for extended periods is common; hearing and vision within normal ranges is essential for conversations and document preparation.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time, occasionally move about inside the office to access files or office equipment, and operate office productivity machinery (e.g., computer, calculator, copy machine, printer).
• Occasional exertion of up to 10 lbs. of force may be required; good manual dexterity for use of computers and mobile devices.
• Job is performed indoors in a traditional office setting; extended periods of sitting and extensive work at a computer and phone are normal.

Travel Requirements

1-3 times a year for required events and meetings to manage onsite logistics/support.

Benefits

• Vacation time.
• Sick time.
• 12 paid holidays.
• Paid week off between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Health & Welfare Benefits (Voluntary Enrollment):
  • Medical.
  • Dental.
  • Vision.
  • Supplemental Accident.
• Health And Welfare Benefits (Company Sponsored):
  • YFC contribution to Health Savings Account (HSA): $800 Single / $1,000 Family (prorated based on hire date; must be enrolled in an eligible plan).
  • Up to 3% 403(b) match upon hire, up to 5% with tenure.
  • Access to EAP services.
  • Short-term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life/AD&D.