student ministry director
VAIL, ARIZONA
The opportunity
This is a rare opportunity to step into a healthy, growing church with real momentum and help shape the next chapter of its student ministry. Vail Christian Church is thriving among young families, deeply connected to the top-ranked Vail School District, and trusted in the community. The foundation is strong with committed volunteers, established midweek environments, and a church that values discipleship — but the ministry is ready for fresh vision and forward movement. The next Student Ministry Director won’t be asked to rebuild from scratch; they’ll be empowered to innovate, lead boldly, and build something that reaches students at scale. If you’re an entrepreneurial, relational leader who wants both stability and room to run, this is the kind of environment where your leadership can truly make a lasting impact.
01
compelling communicator
The right candidate is someone who
Teaches Scripture clearly, practically, and engagingly, helping students understand truth and apply it to real life while aligning with VCC’s Restoration Movement theology.
02
VISIONARY AND entrepreneurial
Sees opportunity, takes initiative, and builds forward momentum without waiting to be told what to do. Thrives in environments where autonomy and ownership are expected.
05
deeply relational
Naturally connects with students and builds genuine trust with parents. Understands that long-term discipleship happens through consistent, intentional relationships.
04
develops and multiplies
Loves recruiting, training, and caring for volunteers. Knows how to build and sustain a strong adult leader team and invest in student leaders for the future.
03
organized and operationally strong
Manages details, systems, communication, and budget with excellence. Understands that healthy ministry requires strong structure behind the scenes.
06
theologically aligned
Affirms a conservative Restoration Movement framework, aligns with the church’s stance on Scripture, baptism, and sexuality, and is comfortable serving in a male-led pastoral structure.
about the church
Vail Christian Church (VCC) is a 20-year-old Restoration Movement church intentionally planted out of Pantano Christian Church in Tucson. After ten years as a portable church in a school, VCC opened its permanent campus ten years ago and has continued to grow in health and influence.
Today, VCC averages 700 in Sunday attendance and is experiencing strong momentum among young families. Located in the top-ranked Vail School District, the church has built a warm and trusted relationship with local schools, even earning Volunteer of the Year recognition.
The church operates under elder direction and staff leadership, with a clear commitment to Scripture, evangelism, discipleship, and reaching the next generation VCC Ends.
Community Groups are thriving (46 groups / 450 people involved), Children’s Ministry is strong, and Men’s Ministry is a strategic strength (200 men attend their steak night gatherings). The primary area ready for renewed focus and leadership is Student Ministry.
POSITION PROFILE
Primary Responsibilities
• Teaching & Leadership: Oversee spiritual direction and teaching for Middle and High School. You will be the primary teacher 50% of the time, while coaching a volunteer teaching team for the remaining 50%.
• Baptismal Oversight: Shepherd students through their faith journey, overseeing student baptisms and celebrating these spiritual milestones with families.
• Sundays & Mid-Week Environments: Direct weekly rhythms:
◦ Sundays: Middle School (1st Hour) and High School (3rd Hour), serving 120 students and leaders.
◦ Mid-Week: High School (Tuesday Nights) and Middle School (Wednesday Nights) serving 190 students and leaders.
• Student Band & Worship (Shared Oversight): Partner with the Worship Director to develop the student band. While they provide musical oversight, your focus is on recruiting and shepherding student musicians.
• Relational Discipleship: Lead and refine our small-groups-driven model to ensure every student is known and shepherded.
• Volunteer Development: Recruit, train, and empower adult leaders to build long-term relationships with students.
• Administrative Excellence: Manage the student ministry budget, calendar, and systems (Planning Center, etc.). Maintain proactive communication to keep parents informed and engaged.
• Technical Stewardship: Provide "hands-on" support for the student environment, including basic audio/visual and sound equipment management.
Education & Experience
• Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree in Bible, theology, ministry, or related field.
• Required Experience: Minimum of 5 years of full-time leadership in a student ministry context.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Biblical Communication: Ability to teach the Bible in a way that is practical, relevant, and engaging for teenagers.
• Leader Developer: Ability to recruit and support adult volunteers. Proven capability to identify and invest in student leadership, empowering students to serve and lead.
• Visionary & Self-Directed: Proven ability to manage time effectively and troubleshoot challenges independently while moving a vision forward.
Workplace Culture
Vail Christian Church is a thriving community in southeast Tucson, located near the Santa Catalina Mountains and Saguaro National Park. Situated in the top-ranked Vail School District, we benefit from a unique and warm partnership with local schools. Our Student Ministry utilizes a small-groups model and intentional parent partnerships to prioritize relational discipleship for every student.
We are experiencing a season of significant health and growth. Our leadership follows a functional model where our Elders (including the Lead Pastor) shepherd the church’s vision and mission, while staff manage day-to-day operations.
We are financially strong and planning for the future, with goals to expand our staff team, improve our student and children’s area, and begin planning for our next building. While expanding our campus, we remain focused on engaging the Vail and greater Tucson communities in meaningful ways.
We are a highly relational, collaborative team with a high-feedback culture. Our staff consists of high-capacity leaders with a shared expectation of excellence and a willingness to support one another across all ministries. We empower our leaders, providing the autonomy and authority to develop vision and make significant decisions for their ministry areas.
What’s it like to live in
VAIL/tuscon, AZ
Living in Tucson gives you this rare mix of edge and ease. You’re surrounded by wide-open desert, massive skies, and some of the best sunsets in the country, but you still have great coffee shops, local breweries, and an amazing food scene. If you’re wired for movement, you’ve got year-round hiking and mountain biking in the Santa Catalina Mountains, trail runs through Saguaro National Park, and winter mornings that feel like spring anywhere else. There’s grit here, but also growth — Tucson is expanding, the Vail area is booming with young families, and there’s real opportunity to build something meaningful. You get sunshine almost every day, space to breathe, and a pace of life that lets you work hard without burning out. It’s adventurous without being chaotic — the kind of place where you can build a life, not just chase one.
Ready to ride the wave?
Fill out our candidate form and someone will be in touch within 24 hours.