Description:

West Chester University (WCU) is one of the largest public universities in Pennsylvania with a current enrollment of 17,500 students (15K-Undergraduate, 2500-Graduate). Situated in beautiful Chester County, PA, Young Life has been discipling students on WCU’s campus to reach high school and middle students for decades. In September 2022, realizing the need for broader campus outreach, the Young Life College ministry began.

Currently, there is a team in place with one part-time staff (10 hrs./week) and five volunteers who are leading small groups, fall weekend outreach trips, regular campus events and a spring work weekend. Based on statistics that have shown consistently high percentages of WCU graduates who remain in the Philadelphia region following graduation, WCU has become a strategic focus in the Liberty Region for future volunteer and staff recruitment.

We are looking for a College Director who will lead both the existing team and the vision for new leaders and students who will shape the future of this valuable ministry.

Responsibilities:

Spiritual Formation: "Following Jesus" includes prayer and spiritual disciplines, fellowship, and church relationships.

• Commit to understanding God’s Word and practicing spiritual disciplines including retreat and reflection times.
• Actively participate in a church community and the spiritual life of the Young Life community.
• Lead the ministry and individuals in spiritual development and prayer.
• Help ensure that all Young Life ministry in the area is designed and carried out with a dependence on prayer that takes place out of the overflow of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Leadership Development: “Equipping leaders, committee, and staff” includes key volunteer care, recruiting, team building and training, supervision, and vision casting.

• Cast the vision for campus ministry and maintain healthy ministry teams by recruiting, mobilizing, and retaining teams of staff and volunteers.
• Recruiting: Assist in recruiting, developing, and empowering college-aged students to carry on the work of the ministry in a way that is unique to their campus yet consistent with the mission and values of Young Life.
• Mobilizing: Assist in developing a student leadership team that creates opportunities for college-aged individuals to discover Jesus, build community, and live out their faith in service.
• Retaining: Help model excellent contact work, club, small group ministry, camping, and service opportunities. When appropriate, help lead regular gatherings to cast vision, train, and empower staff, leaders, and committee to uniquely lead on their campus utilizing Young Life College’s Reach, Build, Launch strategy aligned with the mission and values of Young Life.

Resource Development: “Fueling the ministry” includes hosting fundraising events, major donor care, public relations (branding), and building a committee to support fundraising efforts.

• The college director will be responsible to raise at least $30,000 in personal financial support. (Young Life provides ministry fundraising coaching and training.)
• Create a team of people for personal support through prayer and financial contribution.
• Develop relationships with key adults in the ministry community (e.g., members of local churches, professors).
• Help conduct quality events that display Young Life College’s impact and warrant investment of resources.
• Maintain major donor relationships that provide a personal touch to update, thank, and “ask” on behalf of Young Life.

Direct Ministry: “Proclaiming and modeling” includes contact work, club, Campaigners, and camp.

• Participate in creatively planning and implementing a regular outreach meeting — Young Life College club/events.
• Serve as a mentor for two-three students yearly.
• On a regular basis, pursue and meet with non-leadership students in their environments for the purpose of relational outreach ministry.
• Prepare to lead a summer Young Life College mission trip or serve on a Young Life summer camp assignment.
• Utilize proven Young Life College methods to carry out a plan for relational evangelism on the campus.
• Recruit college students to serve as leaders and on summer staff.

Ministry Support: “Taking care of business” includes accounting, administration, communication (internal), data management, and strategic plan.

• Help set a yearly strategic ministry plan and initiatives to reach every kid and review on a regular basis.
• Maintain professional integrity in conduct and appearance, time management, and administrative operations as agreed upon with the supervisor.
• Accept special assignments and serve as a learning resource within the region, division, and missionwide.
• Additional duties as determined by the supervisor based on gifts, talents, and passions of the individual.
• Note: This description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the principal job elements essential for making compensation decisions.

Qualifications:

• A vital, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Ability and desire to minister to college-age individuals one-on-one and in small/large groups.
• Proven relational and communication skills with both students and adults.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Desire and proven ability to work with a team.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to multitask, adapt, and be flexible.
• A four-year college degree prior to start date.
• Completion of Young Life Staff Associate Program preferred.
• Prior work or volunteer experience in college ministry preferred.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision coverage (at no cost to you).
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 401(k) matching plan (up to four percent).
• Health club benefit.
• And more!

Notes:

West Chester:

Qualities of Life and Ministry in West Chester, PA:

• Ministry community and partnership with Area Directors from surrounding YL areas: Northern Chester County (Wil Hall) and Southern Chester County (Madalyn Kugler).
• College leader pipeline from surrounding Young Life areas sending Young Life alumni to WCU.
• The ability to invest in and develop leaders on the campus.
• Adults in the community willing to partner with the new college director to ensure ministry health and growth.
• Rich history of Young Life on and near the campus.

How To Apply:

Submit an online application, including resume and cover letter