Author: Rebeca Ervin

We’re Hiring: Director of Children’s Ministries

ST. STEPHEN’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reports to:  Pastoral Staff

Status:  Part-Time (20 hours/week)

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Pay Rate: $20-$25 per hour, variable based on experience

Job Summary:

The Director of Children’s Ministries will be guided by the mission: To build a solid Christian foundation by loving, teaching, and nurturing children in our community so that we ignite a lifelong passion for living a Christian life. In a spirited program for infants to 6th graders and their families, the Director will work with a great team of volunteers to plan and implement a comprehensive children’s program, providing experiences and environments designed to strengthen children in their faith development. To apply, please submit your resume, along with a cover letter to office@ststephensfairfax.org.

Essential Functions:
● Possess a love for children and a desire to connect with them and their families personally.
● Provide a safe, supportive, and nurturing Christian environment on Sunday mornings and at all activities and events.
● Work with the Sunday School Coordinator to select and order curriculum materials as well as recruiting and supporting Sunday School teachers.
● Collaborate with pastors, staff, and volunteers while creating and managing teams to plan and implement children’s ministry experiences.
● Ensure that the St. Stephen’s Safe Sanctuaries Policy is carried out.
● Demonstrate good organizational skills for planning and coordinating all children’s activities, programs, missions, and events, including seasonal ones—Advent, Lent, and Easter—as well as Vacation Bible School and Summer Camps.
● Engage and communicate with children and their families directly to help build relationships with them and with the larger church community.
● Develop a plan for recruitment of volunteers.
● Prepare and manage the Children’s Ministries Budget.
● Attend Children and Family Ministry Council meetings and work closely with Council volunteers.

Qualifications:

● A love for children and families and a commitment to nurturing and strengthening their faith development.
● A personal Christian faith and an openness to serve in the Methodist tradition.
● A degree in a related field or an extensive work history demonstrating leadership and supervisory experience with children.
● Demonstrated leadership in program administration and event planning.
● Strong organizational and project management skills.
● Ability to recruit, train, and manage volunteers and build effective teams.
● Strong oral and written communication skills.
● Highly approachable, flexible, collaborative style and relationship builder.
● Ability to develop and manage budgets and financial resources.

We’re Hiring: Youth Coordinator

ST. STEPHEN’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reports to:  Pastoral Staff

Status:  Part-Time (20 hours/week)

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Pay Rate: $20-$25 per hour, variable based on experience

Job Summary: The Youth Coordinator works to fulfill St. Stephen’s UMC’s Youth Ministries’ mission of “Connecting youth to a loving environment that fosters a relationship with God and our neighbor.”  As the overall Coordinator for a comprehensive youth program for 7^th-12^th graders and their families, the Youth Coordinator works with the pastoral staff and a team of church volunteers to develop a vibrant ministry based on its core values: welcoming, service-oriented, God-led, and fun. To apply, please submit your resume, along with a cover letter to ​office@​ststephensfairfax.org.

Essential Functions:

• Program Planning and Volunteer Management
  • Plan and implement weekly Sunday night youth group, which includes recruiting and equipping a robust team of volunteers.
  • Plan, and in some cases implement, special events, which may include mid-week fellowship opportunities, retreats, mission trips, and activities with partner youth groups. Implementation may be accomplished by partnering with other organizations such as the Jeremiah Project, Appalachian Service Project, a local youth group cohort, and/or volunteer coordinators.

• Communication and Relationship Building
  • Engage with youth and their families directly to help build relationships with both the Youth Ministry Council and the larger church community.
  • Communicate regularly with youth ministry volunteers and parents/guardians of youth.

• Leading and Coordinating
  • Coordinate closely with the Youth Ministry Council, the council of lay volunteers responsible for youth ministry. Youth Ministry Council members assume primary responsibility for organizing and implementing key special events, including the Youth Ministry Kick-Off, Christmas Party, and Graduating Senior Celebration.
  • Coordinate with volunteer Sunday School teachers, who plan and implement the curriculum, to ensure they are incorporated into the overall youth ministry.
  • Coordinate with the pastoral staff to organize confirmation class for 6^th-8^th graders. Pastoral staff assume responsibility for program planning and implementation.
  • Serve as a key member of the staff leadership team.

• Administration
  • Prepare and manage the Youth Ministries budget.
  • Ensure that the St. Stephens’ Safe Sanctuaries policy is carried out in all aspects of youth ministry.

Qualifications:

• An active Christian faith, with a passion for working with teenagers.  
• Strong communication skills, including an ability to connect with both teenagers and adult family members and volunteers. 
• An ability to provide a welcoming space for youth within the church.
• Program administration, event planning, and volunteer management skills.
• A basic knowledge of United Methodist theology and willingness to work within the United Methodist tradition.
• An ability to maintain confidentiality, along with an openness to seeking outside help when needed.
• An associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and experiences.