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Staff Associate I - Chain of Lakes

Young Life · Chicago, IL · Full time

Posted Jul 13, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Young Life asks every employee to sign its Statement of Faith. Tell me about your faith and how it shapes the way you would do this work.

What they are checking: Whether their faith is personal and genuine, since the posting makes it central to every role.

Tell me about a time you recruited volunteers and kept them engaged over a long stretch.

What they are checking: Whether they can grow and support a volunteer team, which local ministry depends on.

How do you share the gospel with a teenager who has no church background and isn't interested?

What they are checking: Whether they can share faith with patience and respect rather than pressure.

Tell me about a time you were spread thin across many responsibilities. How did you keep from burning out?

What they are checking: Whether they have healthy rhythms, since youth ministry hours can be long and irregular.

Why Young Life, and why this stage of your life?

What they are checking: Whether their calling to this ministry is thought through and likely to last.

What would you do

How would you go about meeting and building relationships with high school students you don't know yet?

What they are checking: Whether they can earn trust with teenagers in a natural, respectful way on their turf.

A student shares something serious with you, like self-harm or abuse at home. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they know their limits and follow safety and reporting steps instead of handling it alone.

How would you build relationships with parents, schools and churches in the Chain of Lakes area?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that ministry in a community needs trust from adults, not just kids.

Ministry roles often involve raising support or helping with fundraising. How comfortable are you asking people to give?

What they are checking: Whether they are ready for the relationship and fundraising side of local ministry work.

What boundaries would you keep when spending time with students, for their safety and yours?

What they are checking: Whether they take child safety policies seriously as a basic part of working with minors.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Young Life.

If you are currently on Young Life staff, please do not apply through this external jobs board. To apply for internal job opportunities, log in to Workday and use the Jobs Hub . Applying externally may delay your application and require you to resubmit internally. Young Life requires all​ employees to sign a Statement of Faith. We recommend you read this statement before applying​ for any position. Because of Young Life’s exclusive Christian purposes of evangelism and discipleship as set forth in its Articles of Incorporation and in these Bylaws, and to reflect what has always been and will continue to be the position of Young Life, specifically the Christian belief that each and every employee and volunteer of the corporation should minister as a servant of God with the primary responsibility of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and, as such, is an integral part of the Christian mission and ministry of the corporation , Young Life shall only employ individuals or enlist volunteer leaders who: (a) profess a belief in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord; and (b) subscribe to the statements and policies required of all Young Life staff, including the Young Life Statement of Faith. Therefore, employees and volunteers of Young Life, during working and nonworking hours, shall: (i) be ready, willing and able to fulfill such ministry functions as may be required by the organization; (ii) refrain from conduct and statements that detract from the biblical standards taught and supported by Young Life, and (iii) abide by all policies and practices of Young Life including, without limitation, those related to religious belief or ministry activities. YL Staff Associate I Summary: Through both formal training and direct field ministry experience, learn how to effectively carry out and manage Young Life ministry. Ministry Functions: Spiritual Development — “Following Jesus” includes prayer and spiritual disciplines, fellowship, growth and health and church relationships. • Develop a yearly personal growth plan that fosters a vibrant spiritual life including time for solitude, retreat, reflection, prayer and a sincere commitment to understanding God’s Word. • Seek and maintain relationships and disciplines, in the context of active participation in a church community. • Actively participate in the spiritual life of the Young Life community. • Lead teams and individuals in spiritual development. Leadership Development — “Equipping leaders, committee and staff” includes key volunteer care, recruiting, team building and training, supervision and vision casting. • Meet with your volunteer leaders and area leadership on a regular basis. • Learn to recruit and train new leaders to build a leadership team that reflects the community. • Model excellence in contact work, club, Campaigners and camping to other leaders. • Assist in training leaders, team leaders and committee how to work effectively in teams and develop a yearly ministry strategy. Resource Development — “Fueling the ministry” includes events, major donor care, public relations (branding) and TDS team. • Raise financial support as directed and maintain good donor care practices. • Communicate ministry updates and progress to personal donor partners. • Observe and learn to network and develop strategic relationships with key adults in the community, including: principals, pastors, parents, potential committee members as assigned by the area director. • Learn to plan and execute area fundraising events under the direction of an area supervisor and committee. Direct Ministry — “Proclaiming and modeling” includes contact work, club, Campaigners and camp. • Actively engage in all three levels of contact work. • Lead a team to plan and conduct a new or existing Young Life club and Campaigners/discipleship ministry with excellence. • Lead a team to implement a summer and school-season camping strategy for a ministry. • Serve on a summer assignment at a Young Life camp each year. Ministry Support — “Taking care of business” includes accounting, administration, communication (internal), data management and strategic plan. • Adhere to all Young Life policies and procedures and maintain professionalism concerning office hours, dress, conduct and time management. • Manage finances with stewardship, accountability and transparency using the mission-wide applications. • Maintain accurate information on kids, leaders and donors for area records. • Provide clear, prompt, appropriate and professional communication to everyone involved in ministry. • Set yearly strategic ministry plan and initiatives to reach every kid; review them on a regular basis. • Perform other duties as assigned and congruent with gifts, experience and area needs. Training: • Core Training — Phase One (New Staff Training, Leadership I, Leadership II, Apologetics and one Winter Training course are to be completed in the first two years. • Training may be supervised by a regional director, regional trainer or area to develop personal spiritual maturity and enhance personal character. • May include regional training meetings and ministry skills training assigned by the area director. Education: • College degree preferred. Qualifications Required for the Job: Experience in direct ministry. • Proven relational skills with both kids and adults. • Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills. • Ability to maintain confidentiality. Work Conditions: • Includes the extremes of a camp including: heat/cold, dirt, long hours and the physical demands of hiking, horseback riding, boating and more. Staff person must be able to handle these conditions. Job Specific Working Conditions: The starting annual salary for this position is $35,000.00.

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