Area Director - Diablo Valley

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Company: Young Life

Location: Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Description:

Young Life requires all employees to sign a Statement of Faith. We recommend you read this statement before applying for any position.

Job Specific Working Conditions:

Looking for a dream job? This could be it!

We invite kids to follow Christ, care for them regardless of their response and change lives in the process. We are looking for someone to lead the charge of this mission to kids in Walnut Creek, CA.

Why Young Life?

For over 80 years, Young Life has established a beautiful and fruitful approach to reaching kids with the good news of Jesus. Our approach works globally as Young Life ministry is happening in over 100 nations. We practice incarnational ministry wherever we go - being the hands and feet of Jesus to a community of teenagers. Are you passionate about Jesus and making him known to the next generation of kids? Then this job could be for you!

Why Walnut Creek?

Young Life has a rich tradition in the greater Walnut Creek area going back to the 1950s when the legendary Bob Mitchell, who later became president of Young Life, introduced a generation of kids to Christ. Walnut Creek is one of the most beautiful (and convenient) locations to live in in the SF Bay Area and even in all of California. It is a sophisticated, upscale suburban area 30 miles east of San Francisco. The area features opportunities for every interest, incredible hiking and scenery, and top-ranked public schools in the State of California.

Young Life in Walnut Creek is part of the Bay Area Region where we have an ethnically and generationally diverse staff team, many of whom have been involved in Young Life in the Bay Area for 20+ years. Our staff team in the GG Region is second to none. Doing ministry in the most unchurched area in the U.S. is challenging. But our team is all-in - for Christ, for each other, and for the world of kids that live right here in the Bay Area. We are 100% committed to growing staff and volunteer teams that reflect the communities we serve. We have a lot of fun together and genuinely care for each other. It's a staff team unlike any other in Young Life.

What's the Job and What We're Looking For...

We seek a visionary, entrepreneurial, innovative and self-starting leader with a passion for Christ and Young Life who will take advantage of existing ministry opportunities, develop staff/volunteers, and harness the historical strength and passion for Young Life in this area to lead us into a new era of dynamic ministry.

We are looking to execute a strategic "re-launch" of ministry in Walnut Creek. With a fruitful ministry in Pleasant Hill/Martinez, and kids that come from across the neighboring schools, we know that high school ministry is needed to keep kids connected to adults who care and a God who wants to know them.

Salary range for this job is between 70,000-95,000, which includes a cost of living adjustment. This salary is negotiable at the time of hire and dependent on a candidate's background, experience and fundraising capacity.

Area Director I
Summary:
Through spiritual leadership and proper management, lead in developing a team in the area to carry out Young Life's mission of introducing kids to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith.

Ministry Functions:
Spiritual Development - "Following Jesus" includes prayer and spiritual disciplines, fellowship, growth and health and church relationships.
  • 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.


  • Leadership Development - "Equipping leaders, committee and staff" includes key volunteer care, recruiting, team building and training, supervision and vision casting.
  • 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.


  • Resource Development - "Fueling the ministry" includes events, major donor care, public relations (branding) and TDS team.
  • 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.


  • Direct Ministry - "Proclaiming and modeling" includes contact work, club, Campaigners and camp.
  • 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.


  • Ministry Support - "Taking care of business" includes accounting, administration, communication (internal), data management and strategic plan.
  • 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.


  • Training:
  • 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.


  • Education:
  • College degree preferred


  • Qualifications:
  • 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.

  • Working Conditions:
  • Will include the extremes of a camp assignment, e.g., heat/cold, dirt, long hours and the physical demands of hiking, horseback riding, boating, etc. Staff person must be able to handle these conditions.
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