[Hiring] Wyldlife Student Staff @Young Life

Role Description

The Wyldlife Student Staff role is designed to equip and develop a student leader to take significant ownership in leading middle school ministry within Young Life. Student Staff will serve alongside full-time staff to create spaces where middle school students can experience fun, belonging, and hear about Jesus in an age-appropriate and engaging way. This role carries primary responsibility for the health and growth of Wyldlife through leader development, parent communication, and program execution.

Time Commitment

• Approximately 8-12 hours per week
• Includes:
  • Weekly staff meeting (with supervisor or full staff)
  • Weekly Wyldlife club and/or campaigners involvement
  • Monthly family dinner attendance
  • Leader development and care meetings (1:1 or small groups)
  • Consistent presence in relational ministry (schools, games, activities)
• We ask that applicants identify Young Life as the primary ministry and job they will dedicate time to outside of personal and academic commitments. We do not recommend applicants hold other paid positions.

Core Responsibilities (All Student Staff)

• Be a team player and assist in area-wide events/initiatives (family dinners, fundraisers, etc.)
• Take point to plan and execute weekly Wyldlife club and campaigners alongside volunteer team
• Invest in relationships with middle school students through consistent contact work (be the “model leader”) and bring other leaders with you
• Develop and shepherd your volunteer team to ensure emotional/spiritual health
• Model a growing personal faith and commitment to the mission of Young Life

Detailed focuses for Wyldlife Student Staff

• Leader Development & Shepherding
  • Take primary responsibility for shepherding the Wyldlife leader team
  • Meet regularly with leaders for discipleship, encouragement, and accountability
  • Help leaders grow in relational ministry (contact work), club leadership, and campaigners
  • Build a strong, unified, and fun team culture
• Recruiting & Training Leaders
  • Actively identify, recruit, and onboard new Wyldlife leaders
  • Help train new leaders in Young Life methods and middle school ministry context
  • Create clear pathways for leader growth and involvement (Can you identify the next Wyldlife Student Staffer after you?)
• Parent & Host Coordination
  • Work alongside area admin to communicate with parents and families
  • Coordinate and schedule club hosts and locations
  • Help ensure parents feel informed, connected, and confident in the ministry
• Camp & Logistics Leadership
  • Take a leading role in camp promotion and preparation
  • Assist in organizing sign-ups, communication, and trip logistics
  • Help remove barriers so middle school students can attend camp
  • Innovate fundraising opportunities where needed
  • Follow up with students post-camp to help them stay connected
• Program Execution
  • Help create and lead safe, high-energy and excellent Wyldlife clubs
  • Ensure programming is engaging, age-appropriate, and welcoming
  • Collaborate with leaders to continually improve the student experience

Qualifications

• A commitment to Jesus, to living daily life with him and to growing in your faith
• A commitment to living in and walking out faith in community—being invested in a local church and a local small group or mentorship experience
• A current PLNU student involved or interested in Young Life’s mission
• Strong communication skills
• Experience with Instagram
• Organized, reliable, and able to take initiative
• Comfortable leading peers and working both independently and on a team
• Willingness to fundraise your stipend through Young Life’s support model

Purpose of the Role

This position exists to develop a student leader who can take meaningful ownership of Wyldlife ministry—building a thriving leader team, creating excellent environments for middle school students, and helping more kids experience caring relationships with leaders and Jesus.

Ministry Functions

• Spiritual Development
  • Develop a yearly personal growth plan that fosters a vibrant spiritual life including time for solitude, retreat, reflection, prayer and a sincere commitment to understanding God’s Word.
  • Seek and maintain relationships and disciplines, in the context of active participation in a church community.
  • Actively participate in the spiritual life of the Young Life community.
  • Lead teams and individuals in spiritual development.
• Leadership Development
  • Meet with your volunteer leaders and area leadership on a regular basis.
  • Learn to recruit and train new leaders to build a leadership team that reflects the community.
  • Model excellence in contact work, club, Campaigners and camping to other leaders.
  • Attend and be involved with area leadership as assigned.
• Resource Development
  • Raise financial support as directed and maintain good donor care practices.
  • Communicate ministry updates and progress to personal donor partners.
  • Assist with camp fundraisers and attend occasional committee and adult functions as assigned.
• Direct Ministry
  • Actively engage in all three levels of contact work.
  • Participate in leadership with a team to conduct a Young Life club and Campaigners/discipleship ministry with excellence.
  • Participate on a team to implement a summer and school-season camping strategy for a ministry.
  • Potentially serve on summer staff or assigned staff at a Young Life property with input and direction from the area director.
• Ministry Support
  • Adhere to all Young Life policies and procedures and maintain professionalism concerning office hours, dress, conduct and time management.
  • Learn to set yearly ministry and personal goals and objectives; review them on a regular basis.
  • Assist in the office administration when necessary and assigned.
  • Complete expense reports as necessary in a clear and timely fashion.
  • Perform other duties as assigned and congruent with gifts, experience and area needs.

Regional Training

• At the regional director’s prerogative, certain regional training events may be required.

Area Training

• Work through job assignments under the supervision of the area director or assigned mentor (assignments may be adapted to fit individual needs and the area situation).
• Receive individualized training supervised by the area director designed to develop personal spiritual maturity and enhance personal character.
• Give particular focus to an individualized program to learn and gain competency in ministry skills (i.e. The 5 C’s).
• Become familiar with area strategy and ministry health as assigned by the area director.
• Receive introduction to personal fund-raising principles, including familiarity with Basic Elements for Part-Time Staff.
• Take advantage of Young Life discipleship experiences (e.g. summer staff, discipleship focus, adventure camping).

Education

• Pursuing a college degree.

Qualifications Required For The Job

• Proven relational skills with both kids and adults.
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.