Associate Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry - Jefferson City, MO

The Chancery Office of the Diocese of Jefferson City is hiring an Associate Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This role provides leadership for diocesan outreach, evangelization, and faith formation efforts serving youth and young adults. This role equips and accompanies parish and campus ministry leaders, coordinates diocesan programs and initiatives, and promotes opportunities for youth and young adults to encounter Jesus Christ, grow in their Catholic faith, and become missionary disciples.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Foster a positive, collaborative, and healthy work environment consistent with the mission and vision of the Bishop.
• Develop and implement a vision for youth and young adult ministry that advances evangelization, faith formation, and missionary discipleship in alignment with diocesan pastoral priorities.
• Encourage, equip, and connect parish youth ministers, campus ministers, and young adult ministry leaders through individual accompaniment, mentoring, parish and campus visits, and regular communication.
• Provide consultation, resources, and support to pastors and parish leaders as they assess and respond to the pastoral needs of youth and young adults.
• Design, supervise, and implement faith-based programs and initiatives that foster an integral formation and address the needs of youth and young adults, such as retreats, conferences, leadership development opportunities, workshops, service/mission opportunities, and discipleship formation in support of parish efforts. Programs may be offered at the deanery, diocesan, regional, national, and international levels, and currently include NCYC, SEEK, and summer camps.
• Collaborate with the Director of Safe Environment to ensure diocesan youth ministry programs comply with safe environment policies and to support their consistent implementation in parishes.
• Collaborate within the department to provide regular leadership training programs, ministry workshops, and retreats for all those in ministry, serving as liaison for those working in youth and young adult faith formation.
• Support and collaborate with the Office of Hispanic Ministry to engage Hispanic/Latino youth and young adults in a spirit of integration and pastoral de conjunto, as envisioned by the U.S. bishops.
• Collaborate with the diocesan Vocation Director to have vocational witnesses present at youth and young adult ministry gatherings and serve as liaison when young men and women express an interest in the priesthood or religious life.
• Serve as a liaison and resource to other groups and individuals in the diocese who are coordinating programs and events for youth on a diocesan level.
• Pursue ongoing professional development through the study of relevant Church documents, research, cultural trends, pastoral practices, and resources for youth and young adult ministry.
• Build relationships with other dioceses and with local, regional, and national organizations to share resources, exchange effective practices, and strengthen ministry.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Chancery, Newman Center campus ministers, and parish youth and young adult ministries.
• Prepare and manage the annual budget for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, monitoring expenditures and ensuring responsible stewardship of diocesan resources.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Active Catholic in good standing with passion for sharing the Catholic Faith with young people and forming others in this endeavor.
• Bachelor or Masters Degree in Theology, Pastoral Ministry, Youth Ministry, Religious Education or similar field
• 3 to 5 years of administrative and supervisory experience in Church pastoral ministry.
• Understanding of principles and practices of ministry with youth and young adults, and the current issues affecting their lives
• Ability to shape vision and mission for Catholic evangelization and formation of young people.
•  Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Strong relationship-building and pastoral care skills with ability to relate well with teenagers, young adults, pastoral leaders, clergy, and others.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, experience with digital and print media, understands how to effectively use social media, and experience with digital and online ministry tools and resources.
• A leader who can seek input, include others, build teams, set objectives, priorities, deadlines, and solicit support for new initiatives.

Employee Classification

• Exempt
• Full-time