The Associate Youth Advocate provides leadership and coordination for the parish’s efforts in ministry, primarily with middle school youth in grades 6-8 and, in collaboration with the Parish Youth Advocate, with high school teens in grades 9-12. This full-time position includes middle school EDGE Nights (catechesis & relational ministry), some high school Life Nights (regular involvement on the high school Core Team can be considered), retreats, outreach activities, prayer and worship, social gatherings, and other youth nights/events. The position also provides support to ensure best practices in the transition from middle to high school. The Associate Youth Advocate works under the direct supervision of the Parish Youth Advocate and will closely collaborate and be mentored by that position, while also collaborating with the Associate Youth & Pastoral Advocate (three-person team approach)

An exceptional candidate will possess a solid prayer life and relationship with the Lord. He/she should have some idea of the life, habits, and culture of Gen Z and possess a burning desire to lead young people close to Christ and His Church, as well as toward active involvement in their parish community, while also fostering a larger parish culture that supports and embraces young people. The candidate should have fantastic organizational skills, be a pro-active/self-starter “idea” person who enjoys collaborating with their team while identifying and anticipating upcoming needs, exemplifies strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Canva, Publisher, Outlook, Windows), and the ability to communicate effectively with other staff, parents, teens, and others who contact the Youth Ministry Team.

Reports to: Parish Youth Advocate

Job Description/Responsibilities:
A. For Parish Middle School Ministry (EDGE):

• Plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive middle school ministry under the direction of the Parish Youth Advocate; in collaboration with the rest of the youth ministry team and EDGE Core Team. This includes but is not limited to social, prayer, outreach along with catechetical content and with the support and assistance of the EDGE Core Team.
• Develop an intentional plan for EDGE that utilizes a creative variety of formats, settings, and timeframes in order to accomplish a holistic approach to middle school ministry. (not just formation/catechesis)
• Recruit, engage, support and help train a group of dedicated parish adults regularly to ensure an effective and stable EDGE Core Team of volunteers (to include connecting them with the proper diocesan resources for background checks and VIRTUS training), as well as extra parent volunteers as necessary for various events.
• In addition to engaging EDGE nights, plan two EDGE retreats each year with the Core Team-one day retreat and one single overnight retreat experience locally.
• Service & social middle school opportunities to include collaboration, involvement, and/or outreach to other ministries, groups, and efforts both within and surrounding the parish community in the hopes of more widely engaging youth and others together in the community.
• Additional middle school “going deeper” discipleship opportunities for middle school aged youth that are more matured in their faith (possibilities to include book/scripture study, lectionary-based gatherings, topical small groups, basics in discipleship).
• Assist in the outreach and registration of middle school youth.
• Assist in organizing and conducting parent events to familiarize and connect parents with the ministry.

B. As a collaborator in the overall efforts in parish Youth Ministry:

• Assist the Youth Advocate in discipleship & leadership development of high school teens.
• Serve as mentor resource to our high school aged youth.
• Collaborate and share in administrative duties in the overall Youth Ministry Office.
• Help with and encourage involvement of high school discipleship team teens as leaders in some middle school opportunities.
• Help maintain social media and communications channels with appropriate and timely content.
• Assist the Youth Advocate with maintaining e-mail communications and office calendar.
• Assist with marketing and promoting of youth ministry events with fresh ideas and clean designs.
• Any other opportunities to help with teen and collaborate with the Youth Advocate as time beyond primary priorities allows to keep the two levels of youth ministry appropriately bridged.
• Additional opportunities, beyond those listed above, for leadership in various youth ministry efforts may be discussed based on the candidate’s skills, talents, and dedication.

C. As a parish staff member:

• Attend all youth ministry team meetings and parish staff meetings with the objective of staff collaboration.
• Participate in youth ministry team planning with Youth Advocate and Associate Youth & Pastoral Advocate.
• Help manage the EDGE line items in the budget as part of the larger Youth Ministry budget and in collaboration with the Parish Youth Advocate.

Working Conditions: This is a full-time, salaried position, 35 hours minimum per week. This position demands regular evening and weekend hours. The parish will provide the Associate Youth Advocate with a shared office space, computer equipment, telephone, clerical support, work-related travel reimbursement, and continuing education funding at the Pastor’s discretion.

Academic and Work Experience Guidelines: Bachelor’s degree preferred. Previous parish experience in working with youth preferred. Basic computer skills to include Microsoft Office and fluency in social media (Instagram & Facebook, etc.). Any type of youth ministry certification is certainly a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Qualities: The Associate Youth Advocate should possess the following:

• A Catholic in good standing who is an active member of a Catholic parish community.
• Ability to design and implement a variety of activities for youth of middle school and high school age.
• Thoughtful insight into the psyche of middle school and high school aged youth, as well as desire to remain current in trends, issues, and culture surrounding youth and teens today.
• Successful completion of diocesan safe environment process (VIRTUS certification included – certification from other dioceses may be honored as long as they are within the VIRTUS ecosystem)
• Skills in communicating with and relating to parish youth and adults.
• Commitment to following the ethical codes and policies within the Diocese of Richmond. (Called to Work in Harmony)
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Salary and Benefits: According to Diocesan guidelines. Category MA-2, Coordinator. Eligible for full benefits, to include health, dental, 403b, etc.