Youth Development Director

About the role

The Salvation Army North & Central Illinois Division Norridge Citadel Corps seeks a Youth Development Director to lead the youth ministry for infants through high school seniors.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, train, and manage leadership team for youth ministry (infants through high school).
• Provide leadership to all Corps youth programs, events, fundraising, and discipleship.
• Work with and resource character building, youth musical group leaders, and Christian Education leaders to plan and lead their programs and events.
• Closely work with all volunteer youth leaders to plan the calendar for each year, ensuring opportunities in each ministry area.
• Develop, schedule, and chair Youth Nurture Team to meet four times a year.
• Maintain close contact with all youth leaders and offer assistance as needed.
• Recruit and develop new leaders as needed.
• Provide encouragement and training/mentoring resources for youth leaders and meet with leaders individually as needed.
• Be involved in conferences and other youth-related training opportunities for education and growth.
• Encourage corps youth leaders to participate in opportunities as they are available.
• Record and process information related to statistics, finances, communications, and evaluation for all Corps youth programs.
• Evaluate programs and systems for administrative/ministry tasks regularly.
• Evaluate all youth programming and visioning as it relates to Corps review.
• Coordinate with staff and appropriate councils to connect youth to the gospel efforts of the vision and mission of the corps.
• Write letters/emails, make phone calls, and handle all correspondence relating to Norridge Citadel youth work.
• Develop, produce, and distribute a parent handbook, participation guidelines, and emergency form and update as needed for congregational and community programs.
• Hold parents' meetings at least twice a year to review policies.
• Provide leadership and/or secure leadership, transportation, etc., for divisional and territorial youth events.
• Work with corps officer to prepare and submit all youth reports to divisional headquarters.
• Hire and supervise nursery workers, summer day camp staff, and any future youth ministries paid positions.
• Oversee Day Camp program planning, staff training, administrative tasks, and overall program supervision.
• Responsible for budget management for youth activities and summer day camp.
• Secure Childcare and gym supervision staff for weekly activity nights and special events as requested.
• Participate in Christmas effort, when it directly relates to children and families.
• Organize youth volunteering for Christmas and other fundraising opportunities throughout the year.
• Provide direct leadership to the discipleship of leaders and youth for overall mission and vision effectiveness.
• Ensure material used in any programming aligns with Salvation Army doctrinal distinctives and beliefs that regularly reinforce the gospel message.
• Continue to develop and direct creative evangelism & discipleship programming for 6th through 12th grade.
• Help connect middle and high schoolers to local officership opportunities and the development of their spiritual gifts and offer regular pastoral care and accountability.
• Coordinate Sunday morning Youth Christian Education Ministries including but not limited to: Sunday School opening, Children’s Messages, Children’s Church, Junior Soldiers, and Nursery/Toddler Ministries.
• Coordinate with corps officer to meet with and provide support to parents as needed, with an effort to encourage and build up family ministry opportunities.
• Work with Senior local officers to help teens transition to young adult/adult ministries opportunities as they age out of youth ministries.
• Work with the Community Ministries Director and Corps Officers on evangelistic outreach community events and follow up to reach unchurched families in the community.
• Cultivate relationships with parents and invite families to overall corps programming and worship.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in youth ministries, Christian education, or related field preferred.
• 5 years of experience in Christian youth work considered in lieu of related degree.
• A valid driver's license.

Qualifications

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to use initiative and be a self-starter.
• Strong attention to detail.
• A positive attitude and the ability to be flexible in light of changing job situations/priorities.
• A commitment to uphold and promote the mission of The Salvation Army and an appreciation of faith-based service organizations.

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Attention to detail.
• Flexibility and adaptability.
• Ability to foster positive relationships.
• Knowledge of Salvation Army doctrine and beliefs.

Benefits

N/A

Pay

$58,656 – $70,387

Schedule

N/A