High School Ministry Director/Pastor - Anaheim

US Campuses • Anaheim, CA

5d

About The Position

Saddleback Church’s Anaheim campus is hiring a full-time High School Ministry Director/Pastor to lead and shepherd high school students and partner with the Junior High Pastor. Saddleback Student Ministries’ goal is to lead students to say yes to Jesus and His purposes for their lives. The Anaheim campus serves about 100 students on Sundays, with room for growth. The role calls for an energetic, extroverted leader who cares about students and reaching those who are lost.

The director/pastor leads high school ministry operations in alignment with the Saddleback Student Ministries Playbook, including its purpose, vision, values, and safety protocols. The position oversees weekend services, midweek small groups, volunteer recruitment and development, student events, communications, records, budgets, and ministry systems. It also works closely with Junior High Ministry staff and the wider campus team to build a unified student ministry and support campus initiatives.

The position has a full range of decision-making authority for the ministry, provided decisions follow Saddleback’s student ministry guidelines. Weekend and evening hours are required, and work may sometimes take place outdoors in seasonal weather.

Requirements

• Current or past Student Ministry experience.
• Supervisor experience.
• Passionate follower of Jesus.
• Values collaboration and works as a team player.
• Proficient in Google Suite.
• Passionate about working with students and families.
• Able to multitask and manage shifting priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to lead, direct, coordinate, organize, and follow through.
• Able to develop teams.
• Available to work weekends and evenings; some work may be outdoors in seasonal weather.

Nice To Haves

• Junior High Ministry experience preferred.
• College degree or equivalent ministry experience preferred.
• Pastoral Licensing Process preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure ministry operations align with the SSM Playbook, including its purpose, vision, values, and safety and security protocols.
• Promote collaboration and strategic alignment between Junior High and High School Ministry teams.
• Direct HSM weekend programming, including message planning and delivery, worship, and connection time.
• Create spiritual growth pathways, guest-friendly entry points, and timely follow-up with students, families, and visitors.
• Recruit, equip, and empower student and adult leaders to help plan and run weekend services.
• Oversee the strategy and execution of midweek small groups during the school year, including curriculum, meeting spaces, and host-home logistics.
• Recruit and equip small group leaders to build community and disciple high school students.
• Provide spiritual guidance and ongoing pastoral care to students and their families.
• Recruit, screen, and onboard adult volunteers for High School Ministry.
• Work with JHM staff on leadership training, strategic alignment, and team-building opportunities.
• Encourage, shepherd, and pastorally care for volunteer leaders, fostering a healthy, sustainable team culture.
• Design and execute a year-round HSM event calendar, including centrally run summer camps and retreats.
• Coordinate student baptisms and guide students and families through the baptism process and next steps.
• Send monthly communications to parents and weekly communications to ministry leaders.
• Oversee creation and distribution of promotional materials for HSM programs and events.
• Communicate with the SSM Campus Development team and share the HSM vision with the adult congregation as needed.
• Maintain weekly attendance, salvation, and baptism records in the church database.
• Manage and reconcile the HSM operating budget.
• Oversee HSM group structures, volunteer rosters, and administrative workflows in the church database.
• Participate in weekly campus staff and SSM team meetings and monthly SSM campus team gatherings.
• Support campus-wide initiatives, events, and operational needs as assigned.

Benefits

• Health plans with employee low-deductible medical coverage (EPO and PPO), dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution.
• Generous holiday and paid time off plans, including a paid week off between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Estimated pay rate of $29–$30 per hour, depending on experience.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed