Young Adult and Leadership Development Specialist

POSITION TITLE: Young Adult and Leadership Development Specialist

LOCATION/DEPT: DHQ Youth Department

REPORTS TO (TITLE): Divisional Youth Director

FLSA CATEGORY: Exempt

STATUS TYPE: RFT

PAY GRADE: 205

PAY RANGE: $45,368 - $63,516

WHO WE ARE

At The Salvation Army, we are dedicated to "Doing the Most Good". We are made up of thousands of officers, soldiers, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners working together to holistically meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. We do this through programs designed to combat homelessness and hunger, provide safe spaces for kids after school and on the weekends, achieve and maintain sobriety, and give hope to the hopeless. The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division provides these services to people in need.

JOB SUMMARY

The Young Adult and Leadership Development Specialist position oversees the divisional support for the young adult ministries and programs across the NCI division by equipping, training, and resourcing corps leaders to strengthen the local mission impact and development of emerging leaders across the division. This role operates with a high level of ownership and exercises independent judgment in planning, prioritizing, and executing initiatives, ensuring alignment with divisional youth related goals and established guidelines by the Divisional Youth Department leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Young Adult Specialist

• Consult corps to assess the current young adult ministries to evaluate and measure their effectiveness, offering solutions and resources for advancement in recommended areas.

• Establish and manage the divisional young adult databases that include contact information, college enrollments organizing touchpoints throughout the year on behalf of the youth department.

• Develop and execute a plan for young adult ministries where they do not exist in the division.

• Establish and utilize effective young adult resources for corps leaders and offer trainings throughout the division to maintain a growing effectiveness, including ministering through specific transition years and major life events.

• Coordinate and conduct on-site visits to all NCI corps to participate in ministry programming, offering feedback, encouragement, and strategic next steps.

• Promote and attend Salvation Army approved young adult conferences.

• Develop resources, training, and divisional touchpoints that equip local leaders to guide young adults through major life transitions.

• Transition from late high school into young adult life.

• Discernment of education, career, and life direction.

• Development of independence and adult responsibility.

• Transition beyond young adult programming into the next stage of adult life.

• Participate in the monitoring and maintenance of social media and websites.

Special Events

• Develop conceptual plans for divisional young adult events in partnership with the Divisional Youth Department Leadership and submit proposals for approval in alignment with divisional event guidelines.
• Oversee approved young adult events, coordinating logistics including speakers, contracts, schedules, and program elements.
• Support and participate in the planning and implementation of all divisional Youth Department events as part of the broader divisional Youth Department team.

Summer Camp

• Create a 6-8-week conceptual plan for Summer Staff community engagement and oversee the implementation of the approved plan.

• Prepare and share all communications with camp leadership and summer staff, and organize logistics as needed.

• Participate in the planning and implementation of all summer camps.

Leadership Development and Training Opportunities for Emerging Leaders

• Identify and provide leadership development resources for divisional and corps use.
• Collaborate with divisional departments to create and provide training opportunities that cu