Youth Pastor Trinity Church Cos Cob, CT

Reformed Theological Seminary; Greenwich (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Trinity Church in Greenwich, Connecticut seeks a Youth Pastor to lead and develop a Christ-centered ministry for middle and high school students (grades 6–12). The role involves mentoring volunteers, partnering with families, and cultivating a healthy youth culture aligned with the church’s mission.

The Senior Pastor will mentor the new Youth Pastor, and compensation is set above market rate for qualified candidates.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in youth ministry or a related pastoral role.
• Strong teaching, communication, and relational skills.
• Ability to engage students from diverse backgrounds in an affluent, academically driven community.
• Experience building and leading volunteer teams.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and attend off-site events.

Responsibilities

• Lead students into a growing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ through Scripture, prayer, worship, and community.
• Teach biblically sound, age-appropriate messages that are engaging, culturally aware, and gospel-centered.
• Develop and implement a clear discipleship pathway for students from entry through graduation.
• Provide pastoral care, guidance, and prayer for students during key developmental stages.
• Plan and oversee weekly youth gatherings, small groups, retreats, camps, and special events.
• Create environments that are welcoming, safe, and spiritually formative.
• Collaborate with worship, production, and communications teams as needed.
• Evaluate and refine programming to ensure alignment with church vision and student needs.
• Lead, support, and develop youth ministry staff and key leaders, fostering a healthy and collaborative team culture.
• Recruit, train, and support volunteer leaders while fostering an engaging, healthy youth ministry culture marked by maturity and consistency.
• Equip leaders with resources, coaching, and spiritual support.
• Foster a culture of accountability, encouragement, and excellence within the youth ministry.
• Partner with parents and guardians as the primary spiritual influencers in students’ lives.
• Communicate regularly with families regarding programming, spiritual formation, and student well-being.
• Collaborate with church staff to ensure youth ministry is integrated into the broader life of the church.
• Support student involvement in intergenerational worship and service opportunities.
• Manage the youth ministry budget responsibly and transparently.
• Maintain compliance with church policies related to safety, child protection, and risk management.
• Track attendance, engagement, and ministry outcomes to inform strategic planning.

Skills

Teaching

Leadership

Communication

Volunteer management

Job description

The Youth Pastor is a vital member of the leadership team at Trinity Church, reflecting the central place students hold in our community. This role leads, develops, and sustains a vibrant, Christ-centered ministry for middle and high school students (grades 6 through 12). The Youth Pastor exists to disciple students, equip and engage volunteer leaders, partner with parents, and cultivate a thriving, healthy youth culture aligned with the mission and values of the church.

Ben Valentine, our Senior Pastor, began his own ministry at Trinity as a youth leader and will personally mentor and guide whoever steps into this role in the work of equipping the next generation and serving families. This is a rare opportunity to lead a flourishing ministry while being intentionally developed as a church leader.

Given our location and the strategic importance of this role, compensation is set above market rate for qualified candidates

Qualifications:

The Youth Pastor’s responsibilities include:

Spiritual Leadership & Discipleship

• Lead students into a growing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ through Scripture, prayer, worship, and community.
• Teach biblically sound, age-appropriate messages that are engaging, culturally aware, and gospel-centered.
• Develop and implement a clear discipleship pathway for students from entry through graduation.
• Provide pastoral care, guidance, and prayer for students during key developmental stages.

Program Development & Execution

• Plan and oversee weekly youth gatherings, small groups, retreats, camps, and special events.
• Create environments that are welcoming, safe, and spiritually formative.
• Collaborate with worship, production, and communications teams as needed.
• Evaluate and refine programming to ensure alignment with church vision and student needs.
• Lead, support, and develop youth ministry staff and key leaders, fostering a healthy and collaborative team culture.
• Recruit, train, and support volunteer leaders while fostering an engaging, healthy youth ministry culture marked by maturity and consistency.
• Equip leaders with resources, coaching, and spiritual support.
• Foster a culture of accountability, encouragement, and excellence within the youth ministry.

Family & Church Partnership

• Partner with parents and guardians as the primary spiritual influencers in students’ lives.
• Communicate regularly with families regarding programming, spiritual formation, and student well-being.
• Collaborate with church staff to ensure youth ministry is integrated into the broader life of the church.
• Support student involvement in intergenerational worship and service opportunities.

Administrative & Stewardship

• Manage the youth ministry budget responsibly and transparently.
• Maintain compliance with church policies related to safety, child protection, and risk management.
• Track attendance, engagement, and ministry outcomes to inform strategic planning.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Youth Pastor:

Education and Experience

• A committed, growing follower of Jesus Christ whose life reflects Christian character and leadership.
• Agreement with the church’s statement of faith and mission.
• 3–5 years of experience in youth ministry or a related pastoral role.
• Strong teaching, communication, and relational skills.
• Ability to engage students from diverse backgrounds in an affluent, academically driven community.
• Experience building and leading volunteer teams.
• Strong organizational skills and emotional intelligence.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and attend off-site events.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Relational, humble, and emotionally mature.
• Culturally aware and theologically grounded.
• Vision-driven yet detail-oriented.
• Collaborative team player.
• Adaptable and resilient.
• Passionate about developing future Christian leaders.

About the Organization:

Trinity Church is a vibrant Christian community in Greenwich, Connecticut, committed to helping people encounter God, find meaningful community, and make a positive impact in their lives and the world. Sunday gatherings are relaxed and welcoming, featuring worship, relevant teaching, and opportunities for individuals and families to connect and grow together. The church offers programs for children and youth, encouraging faith development at every stage of life. Trinity emphasizes living out the love of Jesus through care, prayer, small groups, and service both locally and globally. With values rooted in biblical teaching and a desire to support one another, the community strives to be a place where everyone can belong and be encouraged on their spiritual journey. The church also partners with various ministries and organizations to serve people in need and extend its mission beyond the congregation.