Assistant Kids & Youth Pastor

We are looking for outstanding people to join our growing staff team at River!

Support the growth of our ministry to 0-18 year olds, helping kids and young people to encounter and follow Jesus here in Ipswich.

Full-time or part-time (up to 35 hours) | £22,750 (pro-rata)

Job title: Assistant Kids & Youth Pastor

Department: Rising Generations

Reports to: Youth Pastor

Principal location: River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ

DBS check required: Yes

Special conditions of employment: There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010. There is also a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is male, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010, in order to meet safeguarding and child protection requirements relating to aspects of the role.

Start date: As soon as possible

Working days/hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)

Rate of pay: £22,750 per annum

Travel: May be required on occasion

Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata)

Probation period: 6 months

Contract length: Initial 18 month contract, which could be extended or made permanent subject to funding and satisfactory performance.

Other expectations: Whilst the role will usually include Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, plus one other day, the role holder will need to be available to work some other key dates, such as special services (Christmas, Easter etc.), annual meetings, and Focus (our annual one-week church holiday in the summer). It is expected that staff members will be active members of River Church—praying at prayer meetings, serving on team, giving financially, and growing as part of a Hangout.

Context: River Church currently has 10 staff, plus 3 vacancies, and some River College interns. The church has grown from an initial team of 15 people, to more than 300 (mainly under 35s) in its first 3 years, and we anticipate significant further growth.

Key Responsibilities

Under the oversight of the Youth Pastor and Kids Pastor:

• Support River Church’s mission and ministry to Kids (0-11s) and Youth (11-18s), contributing to significant growth in number and depth of discipleship
• Support the leadership of the River Youth and River Kids Team
• Oversee, plan and lead aspects of Sunday services, working to grow numbers of young people and kids involved
• Plan and lead midweek groups, activities, courses, and events aimed at kids and young people, including a Friday evening youth group, Baby Love, and after school group
• Lead ministry within local schools and colleges, such as taking assemblies, leading after-school or lunch clubs, RE lessons and similar activities, as opportunities arise, building on existing contacts and developing new partnerships
• Make contact and build relationships with unchurched and de-churched young people in Ipswich, including via detached youth work, and lead them on a pathway of discipleship, equipping the Youth Team to do the same
• Help run Alpha Youth and equip young people to invite their friends
• Collaborate with the Social Transformation department where their work serves kid and young people (such as through Spear and River Store), to build their connection with River Church
• Train, mentor, and prepare members of the Youth Team and Kids team to ensure the provision of excellent kids and youth worship, mission, and ministry, and to release team members into leadership where appropriate
• Work with other ministry staff to plan events, meetings, and services
• Lead and contribute to Alpha, Staff Meeting, Department Meetings, Prayer Meeting, Hangouts, Focus, and Sunday Services (including some preaching and/or teaching)
• Collaborate with the Communications and Media Manager to help curate River Youth and River Kids social media channels
• Work with the Kids Pastor, Youth Pastor, and Student Pastor to ensure a smooth transition from River Kids to River Youth to River Students and River Collective
• Ensure that kids and youth team volunteers are recruited safely, following the safer recruitment policy, and that all regulatory requirements regarding safeguarding and health and safety are met, attending training as required
• Help administrate DBS checks and safeguarding training across River Youth, working closely with the Youth Pastor and Safeguarding Officer
• Ad hoc tasks and other project work which enhances the ministry and mission of River Church