Youth & Family Engagement Lead

We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Youth & Family Engagement Lead to join our team at Rosedale United Church, a congregation of approximately 200 members in midtown, Toronto.

The Youth and Family Engagement Lead has overall responsibility for fostering community among children, youth and families at RUC and helping young people and families engage with spirituality and social justice.

We want to share the sense of connection, community, and compassion this church has given to previous generations with a new generation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strengthen & Grow Community Connections

• Develop strategies, programs, and events to deepen connections with current RUC parents, children, and youth, focusing on warm peer and intergenerational friendships.
• Engage youth and families from surrounding neighbourhoods in creative and innovative ways with Rosedale United Church, through new programs tailored to children/youth/family interests and developmental needs.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.
• Research, develop, and lead programs for young people and families (with the intended audience both from RUC and from the surrounding neighbourhoods) that help them to deepen their spirituality and engage in social justice.
• Seek out other youth and family leads in neighbouring congregations to collaborate on programs and activities for youth and young adults.
• Collaborate with other team members to develop new programs and improve existing initiatives.
• Assist in setting up programs and activities, organizing materials, and managing logistical aspects of programs

Develop & Lead a Sunday Morning Church Program for children

• Create a meaningful Sunday School program for children during the Sunday morning worship service, using a current United Church of Canada-approved curriculum.
• Plan and facilitate engaging activities and programs tailored to children's interests and developmental needs.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of all children during Sunday morning activities.
• Maintain a welcoming environment that promotes inclusivity and respect among participants.
• Communicate effectively with parents, guardians, and community partners as needed
• Assist in setting up programs and activities, organizing materials, and managing logistical aspects of programs

Collaborate on Marketing and Communications

• Collaborate with the staff team on social media, marketing, and communication strategies to reach out to younger adults, families, children, and youth in the surrounding community, actively tracking all family info and engagement in the database.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position will report to the Minister of Worship & Spiritual Care.
• This is a hybrid position. All programs and events are to be conducted in person but planning and coordination of programming may take place remotely.
• Regular work hours are 20/week and will include offering programs on evenings and weekends. Sunday mornings in person at church are mandatory, 9am-12pm.
• Additional occasional evening and weekend work may be required to support special events, rentals, important deadlines or special worship services including Christmas Eve, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

EXPRERIENCE & EDUCATION

• Post-secondary education in ministry, theology, education, social work or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Experience working with children and youth, event planning and coordination, grassroots organizing, volunteer coordination and management, preferably in a nonprofit, church, or community organization setting.
• A strong understanding of digital channels and tactics, including content marketing, and email marketing.
• Familiarity with multimedia tools, such as graphic design programs like Canva, Mailchimp.
• Satisfactory completion of a Vulnerable Sector Check (required prior to employment).
• Must be legally entitled to work in Canada on a permanent basis (i.e., not on a temporary work permit or visa).

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Has an appreciation and experience of church and the Christian faith tradition
• From a strong personal spiritual life, able to encourage spiritual life in others
• Is open-minded and curious about how the United Church can fill a spiritual void with people who don’t have a lot of experience with church
• Experience working with children or youth in educational, recreational, or community settings is preferred
• Comfortable being outside the church, meeting with people to determine their needs, discussing what RUC is all about with neighbourhood partners
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A creative thinker, willing to risk and experiment
• Organized, adaptable, and flexible, with strong skills in project and event management
• Able to build partnerships and work collaboratively
• Warm, engaging person with ability to listen
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to connect with young people from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to leverage various social media platforms to engage with audiences, manage communities, and stay on top of trends
• Optimistic and able to encourage enthusiasm in others
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to lead activities confidently while maintaining a safe environment
• Enthusiastic, responsible, and committed to fostering positive youth development
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings or weekends if required
• Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion. RUC is an Affirming Ministries congregation. We embrace and welcome all persons of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity/expression, sexuality, marital status, physical and mental ability, and economic status. We are explicit in our affirmation of those in the LGBTQ+ community in the church.

This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young individuals and families while developing valuable leadership skills.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS & COMPENSATION

• Job Type: Part time, hybrid. All programs and events are in person, as is Sunday morning.
• Schedule: Flexible hours (20/week). This position will require hours to be worked in the evenings and weekends to actively participate in program delivery.
• Compensation: $40,000–$60,000 per year, commensurate with experience
• Pension & Benefits: Available after a 3-month probationary period

We are part of the United Church of Canada, a denomination with a rich, progressive, and continuing history of welcoming all in the name of Christ. We offer a meaningful weekly Sunday morning worship service with excellent music, spiritual care and support, adult learning groups, and impactful social justice programs and initiatives. The welcoming space of our building also houses The Rosedale Centre, which offers both faith-based and secular programs to support community connection and human flourishing through music, arts, events, and wellness programs for people of all ages and backgrounds. Through spiritual and community engagement, we create the space for individuals to learn, grow, serve, and find belonging in a way that is meaningful to them.