Students Pastor

Willow-Creek-Community-Church-Inc; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 49,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement match

Paid time off

Parental leave

Mental health support

Job summary

Willow Creek Community Church is seeking a Students Pastor for Willow North Shore Campus to lead the 6th–12th grade ministry with vision and compassion.

You will design experiences, recruit volunteers, and partner with parents and schools to bring transformative faith into the community. The role emphasizes collaboration with the Next Gen team and campus pastors.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of leadership experience with 6th–12th grade students.
• Proven track record of leading and caring for teams.
• Ability to recruit, train, and empower volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Lead Willow North Shore Students (6th–12th grade) and cast vision for ministry.
• Design engaging, safe, age-appropriate programming aligned with Willow mission.
• Recruit, train, and encourage a high-capacity volunteer team.
• Serve as primary support for parents and partner with local schools.
• Collaborate with Central Next Gen team to align curriculum and events.

Skills

Connector

Team Builder

Discipleship Minded

Collaborative

Resilient

Strong Communicator

Emotionally Intelligent

Leadership Experience

Job description

Description

Are you passionate about helping students discover God’s love and realize their potential to change the world right now? Do you believe that the next generation isn't just the church of the future, but the church of today?

Willow Creek Community Church, an egalitarian, multi-site non-denominational church across Chicagoland, is looking for an inspiring, high-capacity leader to become our Students Pastor at our Willow North Shore Campus.

This isn't just about weekends; it's about pioneering a space where 6th to 12th-grade students experience transformational faith, use their gifts, and feel safe, seen, and empowered.

What You Will Lead and Champion:

As the primary leader for Willow North Shore Students, you will be the visionary and shepherd for our entire 6th-12th grade ministry.

• Creative Programming: Design and deliver engaging, safe, and age-appropriate experiences and messages aligned with the overall Willow mission and strategy.
• Team Development: Recruit, train, equip, and consistently encourage a high-capacity volunteer team—you are a Talent Scout and Cheerleader.
• Parent Partnership: Serve as the primary support and connection point for parents, helping them guide their students on their faith journey.
• Community Presence: Nurture relationships outside the church walls with local student leaders and school districts to bring the tangible love of Jesus into the community.
• Collaborative Vision: Work closely with the Central Next Gen team and other campus Student Pastors to align curriculum, events, and ministry best practices.

Requirements

Who You Are:

You are a Connector who is engaging and relational, and a proven Team Builder who knows how to develop leaders beneath you.You are:

• Discipleship Minded: Focused on leading people into a deeper relationship with Jesus and being discipled yourself.
• Collaborative: You love working with others and assume the best in your teammates.
• Resilient: You have grit, strong problem-solving skills, and are a self-starter who runs with a project.
• Strong Communicator: You can talk to anyone with your skills in communication and interpersonal relations.
• Emotionally Intelligent: You are intuitive about others emotions and able to respond appropriately.
• Experienced: You have 2+ years of leadership experience working regularly with 6th-12th grade students and a proven track record of leading and caring for teams.

The Rewards of Serving at Willow Creek

You pour your heart into ministry, and we pour into you. Our goal is for our students ministry to be thriving and growing, where creativity and innovation are encouraged, and students know they are loved by God.
Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary Range: $49,000 – $68,000, dependent upon experience and education.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Includes health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, retirement savings with company match, mental health counseling reimbursement, generous paid time off, and parental leave.