The Area Director in San Jose leads spiritual and operational development for Young Life's mission of introducing youth to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. This role involves leadership, fundraising, direct ministry, and administrative oversight within a Christian mission context.
What You'll Do
- Develop a yearly personal growth plan that fosters a vibrant spiritual life including time for solitude, retreat, reflection, prayer and a sincere commitment to understanding God’s Word.
- Seek and maintain relationships and disciplines, in the context of active participation in a church community.
- Actively participate in the spiritual life of the Young Life community.
- Lead teams and individuals in spiritual development.
- Ensure that all Young Life ministry in the area is designed and carried out with a dependence on prayer that takes place out of the overflow of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Partner with Regional director and Committee to cast vision for reaching 'every kid' within the defined area.
- Develop consistent gatherings with committee, leaders and staff to build unity and provide vision and direction.
- Create a spiritual leadership plan for volunteer leaders, staff and committee members in the area.
- Recruit and train new staff and leaders to build leadership teams that reflect the community.
- Supervise, develop and evaluate area staff, providing resources and experiences needed to implement the vision.
- Provide quality summer staff, work crew and adult guests for summer camps.
- Model excellence in contact work, club, Campaigners and camping to other leaders.
- Train leaders, team leaders and committee how to work effectively in teams and develop a yearly ministry strategy.
- Provide leadership to the TDS team and committee in finding partners to own the area vision and budget.
- Develop and lead the area’s fundraising strategy and ensure excellence in communication to donors.
- Raise the necessary funds to carry out the ministry vision for the local area, keeping the area consistently in surplus (goal is a one-month cash reserve minimum).
- Build the Young Life brand via public relations as an excellent tool for working with youth in the area.
- Coordinate and conduct quality events which reflect Young Life’s capacity to impact kids and warrant the investment of a participant’s personal and corporate resources.
- Actively engage in all three levels of contact work.
- Lead or co-lead a model Young Life club; lead/supervise an effective Campaigner ministry with excellence.
- Observe and evaluate each of the schools/ministries in the local area on a yearly basis.
- Develop and implement ongoing plans to maximize Gospel proclamation through camping opportunities.
- Serve on a summer assignment at a Young Life property, other Young Life camp or in another position each summer.
- Adhere to all Young Life policies and procedures and maintain professionalism concerning office hours, dress, conduct and time management.
- Manage finances with stewardship, accountability and transparency using the mission-wide applications.
- Maintain accurate information on kids, leaders and donors for area records.
- Provide clear, prompt, appropriate and professional communication to everyone involved in ministry.
- Set yearly strategic ministry plan and initiatives to reach every kid; review them on a regular basis.
- Perform other duties as assigned and congruent with gifts, experience and area needs.
- Accept both short and long-term assignments of projects.
- Participation in missionwide staff conference every four years.
- Participation in additional training or experiences if deemed necessary (e.g., more urban exposure; Taking Donors Seriously (TDS) training).
- Attend regional training as directed by the regional director.
- Pursue continuing educational opportunities including graduate degrees.
- Participate in programs designed for personal spiritual maturity or personal enrichment.
- Pursue seminars designed to enhance professional skills.
What We're Looking For
- Must have completed Core Training — Phase One.
- Proven leadership skills.
- Proven relational skills with both kids and adults.
- A call to reach kids with the Gospel.
- Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Must sign the Young Life Statement of Faith.
- Must profess a belief in Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord.
- Must subscribe to the statements and policies required of all Young Life staff.
- Must be ready, willing and able to fulfill ministry functions as required by the organization.
- Must refrain from conduct and statements that detract from biblical standards taught and supported by Young Life.
- Must abide by all policies and practices of Young Life, including those related to religious belief or ministry activities.
- Must be able to handle physical conditions including heat, cold, dirt, long hours, hiking, horseback riding, boating, etc.
Nice to Have
- College degree preferred
Team & Environment
Reports to the Regional Director. Team structure and size are not specified, but the role functions within a team-based ministry culture focused on unity, vision, and spiritual direction.
Benefits & Compensation
- Pay will be commensurate with experience, background and fundraising capacity.
- Opportunity to serve on a summer assignment at a Young Life property, other Young Life camp or in another position each summer.
- Access to missionwide staff conference every four years.
- Opportunity for additional training or experiences (e.g., urban exposure, TDS training).
- Attendance at regional training as directed.
- Opportunities to pursue continuing education including graduate degrees.
- Participation in programs for personal spiritual maturity or enrichment.
- Access to seminars designed to enhance professional skills.
Work Mode
This role is based locally in San Jose.
Because of Young Life’s exclusive Christian purposes of evangelism and discipleship as set forth in its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, Young Life shall only employ individuals who profess a belief in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord and who subscribe to the Young Life Statement of Faith. This religious exemption applies to all employment decisions.
