Director of NextGen

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.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of NextGen Ministry provides strategic and operational leadership for an integrated, multi-campus ministry dedicated to partnering with parents and the larger church family to teach and prepare kids and students for a lifetime of discipleship to Jesus. This involves establishing and implementing the NextGen Discipleship Strategy at Menlo Church, leading and coaching Associate Family Pastors to run effective ministries that help kids and students find and follow Jesus. The Director is responsible for ensuring high standards of safety, facilities, recruiting, and ministry engagement across all campuses, overseeing resource use and budgets, and championing the next generation through strategic partnerships with Campuses. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Establish and implement the NextGen Discipleship Strategy at Menlo Church.
• Lead and supervise the NextGen Central Team.
• Ensure that each campus maintains the highest standards around safety, facilities, recruiting, and ministry engagement. 
• Oversee and develop strategies for Menlo Church to partner with parents of kids and students in the faith development of their children.
• Coach and develop kids and student directors at each campus to lead effective ministries that help kids and students find and follow Jesus.
• Monitor resource use and develop appropriate budgets for kids and student ministries.
• Build relationships with Campus Pastors to ensure alignment and teamwork across Menlo Church and champion the next generation in all aspects of the church.
• Partner with Weekend Planning/Communications team to raise congregational awareness of and involvement NextGen through stories, testimonies, volunteer teams, etc.  
• Keep all Next Gen Ministry Playbooks updated, including clear and measurable ‘wins’ for Next Gen ministries. 
• Ensure input of data related to Next Gen ministries that will help guide future decisions. 
• Be an expert in Next Gen Ministry trends to keep Menlo Church Next Gen ministries fresh and effective. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience 

• A committed Christian who is aligned with the mission and values of Menlo Church.
• 5+ years of experience in a NextGen role, preferably in a multisite church setting.
• Seminary education preferred.
• Proficiency with common office applications and collaboration tools, including Google Workspace, Asana, and cloud platforms
• Proven experience in managing staff & volunteer teams and resources.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills to cast vision and implement strategic next steps at all levels of leadership.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Physical 

• Hand/eye coordination and dexterity for small objects, office & computer equipment and those movements that would be experienced while working with children. Light to moderate lifting may be required.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required to meet with the public and team as business demands dictate.
• Days and hours of work are Sunday-Thursday/Mon-Fri with an occasional Friday, Saturday, or evening as needed.
• Lift and carry up to 20 pounds with or without assistance 

Spiritual 

• 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/).   

Work Conditions 

• Days and hours of work are generally business hours Sunday-Thursday with occasional evenings, Fridays, and Saturdays as needed 
• Regular work hours includes office hours at one's designated campus according to established staff rhythms. 
• This job typically operates in a professional office & church environment with standard office equipment such as computers, printers, and telephones. There are also instances when the role will include off site visits to meet volunteers and congregation members. 
  
  

The position described in this posting represents that a staff member 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.