NextGen Associate

Position Summary

The NextGen Associate is a staff member that is dedicated to supporting our NextGen ministry by leading volunteers, equipping parents, and creating environments where students encounter Jesus, build meaningful friendships, and take steps to live out their faith. This role is vital for enabling rapid growth and for fully investing in serving current families, supporting volunteers, and reaching our neighbors. This position focuses heavily on the recruitment, onboarding, training, and long-term development of volunteers, while your direct report, the NextGen Coordinator maintains primary responsibility for central curriculum preparation and distribution.

Working in a multisite environment, you will partner closely with the NextGen Director, NextGen Associates, Associate Family Pastors, Coordinators, and volunteer leaders to ensure kids ministries are aligned, well-resourced, and increasingly led by healthy volunteer teams. This role focuses on strengthening the weekly curriculum experience and building practical tools, training, and systems that help campuses recruit, onboard, coach, and develop volunteers.

Essential Functions

• Plan, prepare, and execute Sunday experiences, campus events. Lead & participate in non-Sunday programs, such as camps, mission trips & help coordinate other Menlo NextGen events. 
• Schedule volunteers for NextGen events and weekly gatherings, making sure there is appropriate coverage.
• Proactively recruit, train, encourage, and support volunteers using continuous development strategies.
• Ensure volunteers complete screening, required training, and follow Menlo Church safety standards.
• Provide leadership during Sunday programming by welcoming families, supporting volunteers, answering questions, and helping implement processes.
• Help create irresistible environments where families feel welcomed and kids and students can grow in their faith.
• Manage projects, prioritize tasks, and delegate responsibilities as needed.
• Build strong working relationships with campus staff, volunteers, and families while living out Menlo’s staff values.
• Complete additional duties and special projects as assigned

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience 

• College degree or 2-years’ experience in a youth ministry

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience overseeing and developing both staff and lay leaders in ministry 
• Experience working in a multi-site church.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to recruit, develop, identify, and multiply high-capacity volunteers
• Experience working with people from different cultures
• Strong theological foundation
• Knowledgeable about student/youth ministry best practices
• Strong written and spoken communication skills
• Enthusiastic and high-energy leadership style
• Positive attitude, high EQ and interpersonal skills
• Team player and team builder with a focus on the vision of the whole church
• Proficiency with common office applications and collaboration tools including Google Workspace, Planning Center, Asana, and others; comfortable learning new technology, software, and applications 
• Ability to speak effectively before small and large groups

Physical Demands

• Stand or sit for extended periods.
• Hand/eye coordination and dexterity for small objects, office & computer equipment and those conditions that would be experienced while working with children.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

Work Conditions

• This position occasionally operates in a professional office, classroom & church environment with standard equipment such as computers, printers, filing cabinets, and classrooms.
• This role is full time onsite at a Menlo Church Campus, Sunday-Thursday with an occasional Friday, Saturday, or evening as needed.

Menlo Church Spiritual Requirements

• Live out their personal relationship with Jesus Christ by growing more in His likeness, eager to share and see others come to know true hope.
• Demonstrate active engagement as a member of Menlo Church by: Regularly attending and inviting others to services, connecting in community through groups, volunteering in a ministry, and committing to giving to the mission and vision of Menlo Church.
• Holds themself and others accountable to live and love others with integrity and diligence in light of their identity in Christ.
• Hold compatible theological beliefs in alignment with the essential tenets of ECO, as outlined on their website (https://eco-pres.org/).  

The position described represents that a teammate must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform their essential functions. All offers for employment with Menlo Church are contingent upon the candidate having successfully completed the required background checks.

About Menlo Church

Founded in 1873, Menlo Church has a rich history of serving the spiritual needs of our community and is a vibrant spiritual and social center in Menlo Park. Our journey has led us to expand across the Bay Area, with campuses in San Mateo, Mountain View, Menlo Park, and Saratoga.

Menlo’s mission is to bring hope to everyone by living out our identity in Christ every day. As we navigate the unique challenges of today’s culture, we are committed to being an endearing gospel presence in a region where many are skeptical. With a talented & dedicated staff, we envision a Bay Area that awakens to the freedom found in Christ, through meaningful and practical support.

Join us as we strive to equip our community to bring the gospel into every aspect of life. Together, we can make a lasting impact in the Bay Area and beyond.