Youth & Family Ministry Director Job

Unity Des Plaines

Youth & Family Ministry Director Job Description

Unity Des Plaines (UDP) seeks an energetic and inspirational Youth & Family Ministry Director who can relate well to and communicate respectfully with children, the Spiritual Leader, staff, and the congregation. This person should model a strong personal spiritual life and exercise leadership in a cooperative manner. They should be kind, reliable, understanding, and grounded in integrity.

Unity Des Plaines in Des Plaines, Illinois, is a vibrant and welcoming community with a dedicated congregation grounded in prayer that supports our spiritual growth. We have an active and supportive Board, a thriving youth program, a chaplain program, prayer team, professional musicians, and audio/visual and platform teams.

Unity Des Plaines also offers a meditation group, yoga, A Course in Miracles weekly meeting, and hosts a Families Anonymous group. Visit the Calendar page for more information.

As a spiritual center, we believe in a partnership among the congregation, the Board, and the Spiritual Leader—because we are all in this together.

To learn more about Unity Des Plaines, visit:

For consideration, please submit your resume to: [email protected] with YFM Director Job in the Subject Line.

Overview

The UDP Youth & Family Ministry Director (YFM Director) will have a passion for working with youth, families, and young adults (YOU) and will demonstrate experience and qualifications in this area. They will fully embrace Unity teachings and have an ever-unfolding, growing vision of youth ministry and its possibilities in the 21st century.

The UDP YFM Director will operate from the understanding of the infinite potential each child possesses and will endeavor to create volunteer positions that bring forth that spiritual potential to its fullest expression. It is desirable that the UDP YFM Director have a minimum of college-level training in education or child and family development.

The Director is responsible for attending to the administrative details involved in managing the Sunday morning experience and must remain available to respond to unexpected needs of a child, parent, or teacher.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

1. To Children & Teens

a. Provide consistency, predictability, and structure for children.
b. Provide safety in a welcoming, colorful environment.
c. Provide loving, trained volunteers to support them, answer their questions, guide their inquiry process, and have fun with them.
d. Provide materials and resources that guide and support their experience.
e. See the Christ in each child.
f. Pray with them.
g. Support YOU through fundraising opportunities.
h. Attend at least one Youth of Unity Rally/Conference.

2. To Parents

a. Welcome new families and visitors to encourage their return.
b. Review the registration forms with new parents, including the media release portion of the form.
c. Develop resources to help parents and families engage with their children’s spiritual education by encouraging participation and offering handouts about the lesson.
d. Offer programs that build family and community relationships among families.
e. Be available to parents to answer questions, listen to concerns, and pray for and with them.
f. Manage the sign-in/sign-out process for children and explain that children will be supervised at all times before and after class.

3. To Volunteers

a. Ensure ample volunteers are available each week.
b. Clearly define volunteer expectations and provide an organized structure for them.
c. In conjunction with the Board of Trustees, oversee applications, references, and background checks for volunteers to ensure suitability.
d. Provide training so volunteers can gain confidence and skills in working with youth and presenting all aspects of the lesson.
e. Express appreciation for all volunteers’ efforts and service, both formally and informally.
f. Support volunteers in their individual spiritual growth.

4. To the Congregation

a. Create opportunities for children to share and be present with the congregation.
b. Be an advocate for children within the congregation and community.
c. Plan intergenerational gatherings and service projects involving all ages.
d. Contribute articles and information to the UDP newsletter as requested.
e. Provide information to the Office Manager to keep the UDP website up to date.

5. To the Spiritual Leader, Church Staff, and Board

a. Advocate with church leadership for the needs and activities of the youth program.
b. Serve on other appropriate teams to advocate for the youth program.
c. Prepare and submit a budget based on the guidelines provided.
d. Develop ideas and strategies for the growth of the youth ministry in relation to the church’s mission and vision.
e. Keep all records current and work with the Office Manager to maintain information.
f. Collaborate with the Spiritual Leader to create or revise policies as needed.
g. Follow policies, procedures, guidelines, and instructions from the Spiritual Leader or, in the absence of a Spiritual Leader, the Board of Trustees.

6. To the Community

a. Be an advocate for children in the community.
b. Promote the UDP Youth & Family Ministry program appropriately in the community.
c. Communicate with regional and national youth and family programs within the Unity movement. Build working relationships with the Great Lakes Regional Consultant(s).
d. Organize family workshops or events.
e. Collaborate with local organizations on community service projects.

7. Curriculum

a. Identify and provide Unity curriculum, or curriculum aligned with Unity teachings.
b. Help provide materials and resources for lessons addressing all ages and abilities of youth in the program.
c. Create safe classroom environments with appropriate enrichment resources.

Skills

• Knowledge of Unity principles
• Teaching children and teens
• Educational planning
• Clear communication
• Ability to manage a team
• Ability to develop and implement programs that engage families and build community relationships

Personal Attributes

• Ability to relate well to and communicate respectfully with the Spiritual Leader, staff, and the congregation
• Energetic and inspirational leadership
• Ability to exercise leadership in a cooperative manner
• A personal spiritual life that sets a good example
• Kindness, reliability, integrity, and understanding

All employees and volunteers who work with children are required to pass a pre-employment background check.

Accountability

• The YFM Director will work under the supervision of the Spiritual Leader and the Board of Trustees.
• The YFM Director is expected to be at church on Sunday mornings. Flexibility will be given, in communication with the Spiritual Leader, regarding time off and absence on Sundays.

Position Details

Position Type: Part-time, 5 to 10 hours per week, with occasional additional hours for holidays and special events
Hourly Rate: Negotiable, depending on experience

For consideration, please submit your resume to: [email protected] with YFM Director Job in the Subject Line.

Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour

Work Location: In person