Area Director - Grand Traverse County

Young Life • Traverse City, MI

16h • Onsite

About The Position

Grand Traverse County Young Life is seeking a dynamic leader to be our next area director—someone with an infectious faith who is joyfully committed to sharing the gospel with young people. Grand Traverse Young Life (GTYL) currently has active ministries in Traverse City West High School, Traverse City Central High School and Traverse City West Middle School, as well as the alternative school TC High, and the Catholic middle school St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. We are looking for a passionate and relational team builder with a vision and strategy for developing healthy, sustainable ministry. Previous Young Life experience is strongly preferred. If you are energized by authentic relationships, community engagement, and seeing the lives of young people transformed by Jesus, this role is for you. This position is based in Traverse City, Michigan—a small, interconnected community, and one of the most beautiful places in the world to live, work, and play. 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Profess a belief in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
• Subscribe to the statements and policies required of all Young Life staff, including the Young Life Statement of Faith.
• Be ready, willing and able to fulfill such ministry functions as may be required by the organization.
• Refrain from conduct and statements that detract from the biblical standards taught and supported by Young Life.
• Abide by all policies and practices of Young Life including, without limitation, those related to religious belief or ministry activities.

Nice To Haves

• Previous Young Life experience is strongly preferred.
• College degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Benefits

• 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 This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level