Position Summary
Position Summary
The Executive Director of Head of the Lakes Youth For Christ provides spiritual, organizational, and hands-on leadership for a growing ministry serving young people throughout the Duluth, Superior, and surrounding communities. This hands-on role combines ministry with young people, leadership of staff and volunteers, development of Campus Life and Juvenile Justice Ministry, church and community partnerships, donor development, fundraising, financial oversight, and communication. The Executive Director leads with vision while being willing to roll up their sleeves and do whatever is needed to move the ministry forward. Above all, we are looking for someone who genuinely loves Jesus and young people, builds relationships naturally, leads with humility and initiative, and is excited to grow a movement that gives every young person an opportunity to make an informed decision to be a follower of Christ.
Essential Functions
Visionary Strategist (20%)
Create and Communicate Vision
- Shape and execute strategy in line with YFC USA Processes, Standards, and Best Practices.
- Develop and execute a five-year strategic plan for the chartered area.
- Develop and execute a yearly marketing plan and calendar that communicates the vision of the ministry.
Team Developer (20%)
People Selection & Development
- Mentor and coach students, staff, and volunteers.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with local churches and pastors.
- Communicate YFC's mission and vision and invite churches to participate through prayer, volunteers, financial partnership, and ministry collaboration.
- Help churches engage with young people in their communities and schools.
- Work with the local Board of Directors to steward the mission of YFC and with the Board Chair to recruit, develop, and manage board functions.
- Complete the appropriate credentialing process for the role.
- Maintain YFC USA standards and policies for screening and training staff and volunteers.
- Take an active role in developing staff, volunteers, and students toward personal ministry growth.
- Utilize YFC training, regional conferences, and other resources for staff and ministry development.
- Maintain a healthy personal balance by guarding time for rest, prayer, reflection, and dependence on Jesus for guidance.
Ministry Developer (25%)
- Develop teams of students, staff, and volunteers who reach young people through Campus Life and Juvenile Justice Ministry.
- Create 3Story Communities and plan, implement, and evaluate ministry outcomes.
- Maintain a visible presence in local schools and ministry sites.
- Build authentic Christ-sharing relationships with young people.
- Participate regularly in Campus Life clubs, student leader development, camps, events, and other ministry opportunities.
- Model YFC's ministry philosophy by personally engaging students and developing relationships with local churches, schools, and community partners.
- Identify and develop opportunities to launch and grow Campus Life ministries in additional schools and communities throughout the Head of the Lakes region.
- Develop student leaders who take ownership of their Campus Life communities.
- Equip volunteers and ministry staff to create sustainable, student-led ministry environments.
- Develop ministry pathways that move students from initial connection toward deeper discipleship and authentic Christ-sharing relationships.
- Provide leadership and oversight for Juvenile Justice Ministry (JJM).
- Assess the local community and identify needed YFC ministry programs.
- Execute YFC ministry models according to YFC Processes, Standards, and Best Practices.
- Assess ministry outcomes using YFC Knowledge Base and other resources and ensure ministry data is submitted accurately each month.
Resource Steward (35%)
- Personally cultivate relationships with current and prospective ministry partners through regular communication, one-on-one meetings, handwritten notes, calls, ministry updates, and invitations to YFC events.
- Lead the chapter's annual donor development strategy, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors, churches, businesses, and major ministry partners.
- Lead fundraising initiatives and events while developing sustainable recurring giving.
- Develop and distribute quarterly physical newsletters and monthly email updates and appeals that communicate YFC's impact, celebrate ministry stories, engage supporters, and invite ongoing prayer and financial partnership.
- Execute YFC Processes, Standards, and Best Practices for asset management.
- Develop and manage a July–June operating budget in partnership with the local board.
- Meet regularly with the chapter bookkeeper to review financial activity, monitor the budget, ensure accurate financial reporting, and provide appropriate oversight of the chapter's financial resources.
Spiritual Responsibilities
Because the overriding religious purpose and mission of Youth for Christ USA is to communicate and introduce the Gospel of Jesus Christ to young people and their families and to make, educate, and encourage lifelong disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, employees are expected to be recognized as associates ministers of the Gospel.
YFC Expects All Employees To
- Seek God's guidance and wisdom through prayer and meditation for the organization and specific ministry initiatives.
- Participate in and lead regular times of prayer, devotion, and worship.
- Teach and preach from the Holy Bible at YFC staff meetings, conferences, camps, and events.
- Model empathy, humility, and care for all people, including promoting equity and inclusion in word and practice of faith expression.
YFC employees have an opportunity to be commissioned or licensed as a minister of the Gospel through the established Youth for Christ process and/or ordained by an outside body recognized by YFC USA.
Fundraising Responsibilities
As the leader of a YFC Launch Chapter, the Executive Director is responsible for meeting fundraising goals and maintaining a predetermined account balance for the chapter. This includes developing and implementing a development plan consistent with the overall objectives of the annual budget. All fundraising activities, donor development, and events must follow YFC USA policies and procedures.
All YFC employees are expected to actively participate in activities that advance the stewardship functions of YFC USA, including extending invitations to fundraising events, recruiting personal circles of influence and YFC donor contacts, sending letters and handwritten notes, making personal calls, and personally ministering to donor contacts.
Position Requirements
Knowledge & Skills
- Demonstrated leadership experience in youth ministry, nonprofit organizations, church ministry, or other youth-serving environments, with the ability to provide both strategic leadership and hands-on ministry leadership.
- Proven ability to develop and manage budgets, steward financial resources, cultivate donors, and lead fundraising efforts that support the long-term sustainability of a ministry.
- Strong ability to build and maintain relationships with young people, parents, churches, schools, volunteers, donors, community leaders, and other ministry partners.
- Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate the mission, vision, impact, and needs of YFC to a variety of audiences.
- Ability to effectively use technology and digital communication tools to manage ministry, communicate with supporters, organize information, and advance the mission of YFC.
- A visible and relational leader who demonstrates a genuine passion for young people and a commitment to creating opportunities for them to encounter Jesus Christ and grow in authentic Christ-sharing relationships.
- Demonstrated spiritual maturity, personal integrity, humility, enthusiasm, and a strong work ethic consistent with the mission and values of Youth For Christ.
- Ability to recruit, equip, encourage, and develop staff and volunteers while creating a healthy, collaborative, and Christ-centered team culture.
- Ability to work collaboratively with the Board of Directors, local churches, schools, community organizations, and YFC USA while also taking initiative and working independently when needed.
- Creative, entrepreneurial, and solution-oriented, with the ability to identify new opportunities to reach young people, develop ministry, engage volunteers, strengthen community partnerships, and grow financial support.
- Adaptable and willing to serve in a variety of capacities within a growing ministry, including ministry leadership, fundraising, communication, administration, events, volunteer development, and direct engagement with young people.
- Ability to organize and prioritize multiple responsibilities, follow through on commitments, and maintain healthy rhythms of work, ministry, rest, prayer, and personal development.
Willing To Demonstrate And/or Possesses The Following
- Ability to humbly serve and honor others even in difficult situations with prayer, consistency, transparency, and resilience. (Enduring Humility)
- Demonstrates proper reliance on God, others, and self through generous giving of time and skills, by collaboratively incorporating others’ ideas, welcoming candid input, recognizing others’ need for grace and extending forgiveness and empathy. (Relentless Trust)
- Prioritizes others’ needs for a missional outcome, characterized by joy, with active listening and problem-solving skills, while encouraging and empowering fellow believers. (Joyful Camaraderie)
- Trusts God with new approaches and changes, and communicates needs and limits with emotional intelligence*, while seeking confidence and wisdom in Christ. (Courageous Faithfulness)
- Seeks and fosters authentic Christ-Centered relationships with people of various backgrounds and an inviting environment and empowers historically marginalized groups and indigenous populations (within the local context), through active listening, inclusion, advocacy of those who are vulnerable and respect of others’ experiences. (Kingdom Inspired Diversity)
Credentials Required & Preferred Education
- Bachelor's Degree in related field preferred.
- Minimum of five years related experience preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Benefits
Annual salary of $50,000–$70,000, based on experience, plus health insurance reimbursement and an employer retirement contribution.
EEO Statement
Youth For Christ (YFC) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, marital status, or other unlawful discriminatory characteristics in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
YFC is classified as an Association of Churches and as such our hiring practices reflect that designation. As a religious nonprofit organization, YFC incorporates within each leader role, the requirement to model, teach, share and live the faith. The relationship between YFC’s mission and each of its leaders is its lifeblood and as such does at all times and in all instances reserve the right to make employment decisions based upon a person’s religious beliefs, personal character and lifestyle consistent with our understanding of the Bible or with our overall goals and requirements for Christian ministry.
We seek to create a workplace that is intentional about Kingdom Inspired Diversity. Our commitment to our employees extends to their opportunities for growth, development, promotion, training and compensation.
We will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to the organization.
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