Haven Youth Director

Employment: part-time hourly, estimated average 8 hours/week

2024 Pay Rate: $25-35/hour, based on experience

Reports to: Lead Pastor, Leah Martens

Vision for the position: Haven Berkeley Faith Community is a small, progressive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, justice-oriented spiritual community, gathering community members from throughout the Bay Area who value creating safety, honoring diversity, and centering on Jesus. Haven is an independent church that seeks to cultivate intergenerational opportunities for growing in faith together. As part of this vision, we are seeking a part-time staff to facilitate a youth program for middle and high school students primarily through activities and projects aimed at nurturing the youth’s spiritual growth during our two Sunday services a month (1st and 3rd Sundays). Many of our tweens and teens identify as LGBTQIA+, and we are seeking to build a faith space that honors their experiences, allows them to feel known and cared for, and gives them the freedom to explore their own spirituality in a progressive Christian church. The Youth Director will also partner with other staff and lay leaders to collaborate on occasional special events and intergenerational services beyond Sunday Services. The details of this position can be shaped to suit the skills and personality of the director; our most important goal for this role is a willingness to invest in middle and high school students and help nurture their exploration of faith in a theologically curious and expansive manner.

Tasks to include:

  • Collaborate with Lead Pastor to select, adapt and/or develop age-appropriate curriculum and activities for Haven youth that align with Haven’s values of creating safety, honoring diversity, and centering on Jesus. This could include using curriculum already identified by the Lead Pastor (such as “Holy Disruptions” or “Echo the Story”), or creating and/or identifying alternative options.

  • Lead Haven Youth sessions at two Sunday services a month for youth, ages 12 - 18 (middle and high-school age).

  • Attend 2 staff meetings a month.

  • Meet one-on-one with the Lead Pastor, as needed.

  • Provide mentoring/personal support for Haven Youth by holding regular office hours, as needed. 

  • Purchase supplies for Haven Kids, as needed (to be reimbursed).

  • Recruit, train, and assist volunteers with Haven Youth, as available.

  • Work with the Haven Kids Director to support occasional kids/youth activities and intergenerational experiences beyond Sunday mornings.

  • Envision and develop the growth of the Haven Youth program.

Education/Experience:

  • Experience working with middle and/or high school students.

  • Creativity and enthusiasm for developing a unique experience of youth ministry.

  • Strong communication skills, both in teaching and interpersonal relationships.

  • Demonstrated organizational skills.

  • Ability to work collaboratively with other church staff and volunteers.

A background check is required before formal hiring.  During the onboarding process, training on maintaining safe church practices will also be provided.

To apply: Please submit a resume, and cover letter to Pastor Leah Martens at leah@havenberkeley.org.