Youth Program Director

The Bridge of Storm Lake; Storm Lake (IA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health Reimbursement stipend

IRA option

Job summary

The Bridge of Storm Lake is seeking a full‑time Youth Outreach Director who will lead Storm Lake youth programs, build relationships with youth and families, recruit and train volunteers, and ensure alignment with the organization’s safeguarding policies. The role emphasizes relational leadership and community engagement.

Ideal candidates will have a relevant bachelor’s degree and prior youth experience, with strong organizational, confidential handling, and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• Must love and care deeply for youth and their families.
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Youth Ministry or a related field.
• Have some experience working with youth, whether in a volunteer or career capacity.
• Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information; organized; good discernment and referral skills; conscientious, life-long learner.
• Highly relational with strong ability to connect with youth; good personal boundaries and self-awareness; strong interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the Storm Lake youth outreach and sets program goals; recruits and trains volunteers; handles public relations as a Bridge Youth representative.
• Oversees Bible Study Groups, Going Deeper Nights, Growth Groups, trips and activities.
• Assigns, trains and supports volunteer and staff mentors; carries own care-load of students.
• Ensures compliance with Child Protection Policy and proper referrals; completes required documentation.
• Maintains youth and family database, permissions, attendance, and program measurements; maintains volunteer records.
• Leads and plans all summer youth programs, neighborhood ministries and trips.
• Assists with hiring summer team leaders and trains/supervises them.
• Spends time building relationships with youth and families; may involve home visits or school activities.
• Connects staff and volunteers to youth and maintains awareness of Storm Lake youth culture.
• Becomes an expert on culture integration and ACE’s/trauma; participates in education and trainings.
• Plans long-term program development with staff; focuses on financial and youth involvement.

Skills

Relational skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Boundary setting

Education

Bachelor's degree (Social Work, Psychology, Education, Youth Ministry)

Job description

OVERVIEW:

Full-time salaried position of 32-36 hours each week working at The Bridge of Storm Lake. The position is to be filled by an individual that is energetic, organized, highly relational and has good interpersonal skills, especially with youth. This director must have a passion for making a difference in the Storm Lake community and being part of a team. Includes PTO, Health Reimbursement stipend and IRA option.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees the Storm Lake youth outreach. Works with The Bridge of Storm Lake Leadership to set program goals; the recruiting and training of new volunteers; and public relations duties by serving as a Bridge Youth representative to community (liaison with probation officers, pastors, schools, parents, neighborhood center residents etc.) and do recruiting and follow up of referrals from these sources.
• Oversees the organization and implementation of Bible Study Groups, Going Deeper Nights, Growth Groups, trips and activities.
• Assigns, Trains and Supports volunteer and staff mentors; carries their own care-load of students.
• Ascertains that The Bridge of Storm Lake policies (ex. Child Protection Policy) and procedures are being properly administered; appropriate and timely referrals are carried out and any necessary documentation completed.
• Accurately maintains youth and family database, permissions, attendance, and program measurements; assists with maintaining volunteer database along with training and screening records.
• Leads and plans all summer youth programs, neighborhood ministries and trips.
• Assists with hiring summer team leaders. (Vistas)
• Trains, directs & supervises summer team leaders.
• Spends time building relationships with youth and families in Storm Lake; home visits or attending student school activities.
• Assists with connecting staff and volunteers to youth and maintains a pulse on Storm Lake youth culture.
• Seeks to be an expert on culture and cultural integration (education, trainings, relationship building).
• Seeks to be an expert on ACE’S and trauma; healing processes (education, trainings, teaching others).
• Strategizes and communicates with staff long-term program development (financial, youth involvement, new ideas).
• Takes time for personal and spiritual renewal (prayer, Bible Study, reflection) weekly and quarterly.
• Ensures safety is properly administered in area youth activities and report deficiencies for improvement to Executive Director (ex. environment, vehicles, equipment, first aid kits) The Bridge Staff Team Member
• Active participant on The Bridge of Storm Lake’s Staff Team- attends weekly staff devotions and prayer; staff/planning meetings; trainings and annual retreat.
• Assists with other Bridge programs (ex. The Run, Banquet) as time and giftings allow.

REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must love and care deeply for youth and their families.
• Must have a personal faith that is compatible with The Bridge’s Statement of Faith and philosophy of ministry.
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Youth Ministry or a related field. (NOTE: Some exceptions allowed).
• Have some experience working with youth, whether in a volunteer or career capacity.
• Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information; organized; good discernment and referral skills; conscientious, life-long learner.
• Highly relational with strong ability to connect with youth; good personal boundaries and self-awareness; strong interpersonal skills.

ROLES/RELATIONSHIPS:

Supervises: Summer Program Vistas and other Youth Volunteers