Male Youth Ministry Leader

Cornerstone Church; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstone Church in Ames, IA seeks a mature Youth Ministry Leader to serve as the second chair to the Youth Director, teaching, shepherding students, and overseeing major ministry areas with clarity and ownership.

The role requires operational competency, spiritual depth, and the ability to work from behind the scenes while leading from the front. You will manage calendars, events, and leadership development within Cornerstone Youth.

Qualifications

• Strong ministry leadership experience over youth and volunteers.
• Proven ability to teach and shepherd students and leaders.
• Ability to implement vision through systems and processes.
• Comfort with weekly planning and collaboration with staff.

Responsibilities

• Oversee weekly ministry rhythms, leader development, youth culture, and student discipleship.
• Serve as right hand to the Youth Director, clarifying vision and translating it into systems.
• Lead and shepherd small group leaders and multiply groups for middle and high school students.
• Teach on Wednesday nights with clarity, depth, and pastoral sensitivity.
• Develop student leadership systems, training, and school-based outreach.
• Own ministry calendars, event workflows, and playbook; ensure smooth execution.
• Plan and execute youth retreats, trips, and major events.
• Collaborate with staff to align vision across youth ministry and church teams.

Skills

Mature believer

Strong communicator

Gifted preacher

Leadership capacity

Systems thinker

Organized

Problem-solver

Shepherd-hearted leader

Team-first attitude

Flexible and teachable

Tools

Asana

Job description

Male Youth Ministry Leader

Position Type:Full-Time Ministry Leader (40 hrs/week)
Reports to:Youth Director (Josh)
Mentored by:Current Associate Director (first 6–12 months)

CORNERSTONE STAFF VALUES & QUALITIES

We want all of our employees at Cornerstone to reflect the cultural values of Holy Ambition, Rooted Conviction and Strategic Generosity and Joy. This is the way we behave and live.

CORNERSTONE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

By joining the Cornerstone Staff team, you and your spouse (if applicable) are automatically approved as members of Cornerstone Church. As members you are under the leadership of our elders and we will expect and inspect your faithfulness in attending, serving, giving, and living.

ROLE SUMMARY

This role is designed for a mature, experienced, and highly competent ministry leader who can serve as a true second chair to the Youth Director. The Associate Director must be able to teach with excellence, shepherd students and leaders, and oversee major areas of the ministry with clarity and ownership. This person will help implement the Director's vision, lead key teams, manage systems and operations, and serve as a stabilizing, energizing presence in the ministry. The ideal candidate is someone who can sit in the room with the Director, understand the vision, and run with it. This role requires spiritual depth, leadership gravity, operational competency, and the ability to both lead from the front and support from behind the scenes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Ministry Oversight & Leadership

• Carry significant ownership over weekly ministry rhythms, leader development, youth culture, and student discipleship.
• Serve as a high-capacity right hand to the Youth Director, helping clarify vision and translate it into systems and execution.
• Lead and shepherd small group leaders, ensuring healthy, multiplying groups for both middle and high school students.

Teaching & Preaching

• Regularly teach on Wednesday nights with clarity, theological depth, and pastoral sensitivity.
• Contribute to teaching calendars, sermon preparation, and leader equipping environments.
• Model faithful handling of Scripture and Christ-centered communication.

Student Leadership & Discipleship

• Oversee Student Leadership systems, training, discipleship environments, and school-based outreach initiatives.
• Build relationships with students across grades and help cultivate a culture of ownership, mission, and growth.

Logistics, Systems & Operations

• Own major systems: calendars, event workflows, communication flow, Asana/project management, and the ministry playbook.
• Ensure ministry execution is smooth, clear, and aligned with the big-picture vision.
• Improve systems as the ministry grows - proactively identify gaps and solve problems.

Events & Retreats

• Lead the planning, organization, and execution of youth retreats, trips, trainings, and major events.
• Oversee logistics, timelines, budgets, communication, and leader structures to ensure excellence and clarity.

Strategic Planning & Collaboration

• Sit with Josh weekly to think, plan, dream, problem-solve, and execute the ministry’s strategic direction.
• Collaborate with communications, worship, creative, and staff teams to align vision and environment.
• Help create a culture of unity, joy, mission, and gospel-centered discipleship within Cornerstone Youth.

Adaptability & Leadership Maturity

• Step into new responsibilities as the ministry grows and needs change.
• Carry weight with humility, reliability, and spiritual steadiness.
• Support and strengthen the staff team with emotional intelligence and pastoral maturity.

IDEAL TRAITS

• Mature believer with proven ministry experience
• Strong communicator and gifted preacher
• High leadership capacity and able to carry oversight
• Systems thinker who can operationalize vision
• Organized, dependable, and detail-driven
• Problem-solver with initiative and follow-through
• Shepherd-hearted leader who loves students and leaders
• Joyful, humble, team-first presence who lifts the room
• Flexible and teachable while still confident and competent

JOB EVALUATION

This job description will be the basis for regular evaluation and coaching. Your direct supervisor will inspect what they expect, offering encouragement, accountability, and development as you grow in your role.