YRUU Program Specialist Application

The YRUU Program Specialist position is a one-year staff program position for youth at the UUA headquarters in Boston. The 2 YRUU Program Specialists will work with the Youth Programs Director to manage day-to-day business of Young Religious Unitarian Universalists. General responsibilities for every YPS include: managing the continental YRUU office, planning and administering conferences and other youth gatherings, participating in meetings, implementing decisions of the YRUU Youth Council and Steering Committee, traveling to plan continental youth events and editing and laying out the YRUU Magazine Synapse .

There are 2 YPS terms beginning June 1 and September 1. The salary is $27,450 (before taxes). The YPS will be reimbursed up to a total of $1,500, $1,000 of which may be used to purchase necessities and up to $500 for shipping/moving expenses. In addition, the YPSs are also eligible for a personal loan up to $1,500 for first and last months' rent and security deposit. Moving from Boston, the YPS will be reimbursed up to $1,000 for shipping/moving expenses.

Each YPS has a specific skill set need for their term.

Term	Skill Set	Continental Event
Both YPSs	Website skills, resource development and layout of Synapse	GA and ConCon responsibilities
June	Network with district SACs and be the Social Justice guru	Continental Trainings and the YRUU Social Justice Conference
September	Network with UUA staff groups and be the anti-racism guru	Youth Council

The successful applicant will have an amiable personality with leadership qualities, good written and verbal communication skills, the maturity and creativity to handle an often hectic but rewarding full-time job, have the freedom to live in the Boston area as well as travel, and will be between the ages of 16 and 22 at the time of application.

How to Apply

To apply, send a cover letter, an application form, (see application questions on page 8) and at least three letters of recommendation addressed to the YRUU Steering Committee c/o the Youth Office, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108. Please feel free to complete the application form on your own paper. The completed cover letter, application and recommendations must be postmarked by:

Start Date For Position	Application Deadline Postmarked by
June 1	November 15
September 1	February 15

The cover letter should briefly but thoroughly address:

1) What is in it for us? Include your visions for YRUU, your special areas of interest, your experience with leadership development, problem solving and experiences working with different age groups.

2) What is in it for you? Include how the job will fit into your life plan, and your personal goals.

3) What is your relationship to YRUU? What does the “religious” in YRUU mean to you? What influence has YRUU had on your life, and what would you like it to have?

4) What are your strengths, and where do you feel you need improvement?

Letters of recommendation should be from people who you know well. It is good to get letters from a variety of people, such as ministers, directors of religious education, youth active in YRUU, and adults with whom you've worked. Please make sure each recommendation includes the person's phone number at which they may be reached during the day.

Application Questions (all applicants must answer these questions)

Please answer the application questions, typewritten, on your own paper. We look forward to receiving your application!

Name, Address, Phone, Email, Date of Birth, UU Society, UUA District:

1. Educational History

2. Youth and Other UU Experience (participation and positions held)

A) Local UU Society/Youth Group

B) YRUU district experience (conferences, district youth committees, etc.)

C) Continental YRUU Experience (Youth Council, ConCon, or other annual or one-time continental

events or committees)

3. What does anti-racism mean to you, and what experiences have you had with anti-racism? How do you think YRUU should deal with racism?

4. Other Related Experience (neighborhood, local, school-related, state/provincial, national)

5. What skills do you have? (experience and positions held)

6. Leadership (motivating others, delegation, public speaking)

7. Working with Other People (as part of a team, in an office or business environment, with other youth and with adults)

8. Communication (assertiveness, cooperation, representing adult needs to youth and youth needs to adults)

9. Office (being organized, meeting deadlines, typing, computer, writing) How are you at juggling multiple tasks in a busy work environment?

10. Working with Publications/Newspapers (editing, layout, writing and production)

11. Other Skills (second languages or any other cool skill you haven't mentioned)

12. Employment Experience and History

13. Please describe your computer skills and please send any examples of your work with web pages.

14. Describe your knowledge and experience with ConCon.

15. Describe your experience coordinating any youth events or conferences and how those skills might apply to coordinating General Assembly Youth Caucus.

16. What role should youth play in GA and in the Association.

Questions for the specific YPS Terms

Answer only the questions that are for the term for which you are applying.

June term:

1. Send a sample of your writing/any resources you've developed.

2. What social justice issues are important to you, and how have you put your faith into action?

3. Describe your experience coordinating any youth events or conferences. Specify any training or workshop leading experience you've had.

4. What resources do you think YRUU needs? What resources would you like to develop as YPS?

September term:

1. Describe your knowledge of Youth Council. How do you best think Youth Council Representatives can serve their districts?

2. What impact do you think Youth Council can have on the rest of YRUU?

3. Describe your ability to network and work with adults. What UU organizations are you currently involved with? Give examples of your ability to schmooze.

4. What experience do you have working in relationship with district UU organizations like the district YAC, District RE Committee, District Trustees, etc.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call one of the current YRUU Program Specialists in the Youth Office at (617) 742-2100 ext. 351/352/353.

Position Title: YRUU Program Specialist

Lifespan Faith Development Staff Group

Reports to: Youth Program Director

(YPS are program staff)

Basic Responsibilities : To design and implement YRUU program and publications of religious growth for Unitarian Universalist youth, and act as a field consultant to districts and local congregations regarding YRUU program.

Principal Responsibilities :

1. UUA/Lifespan Faith Development Staff Group

Works in dual association with the Lifespan Faith Development Staff Group and Young Religious Unitarian Universalists with major responsibilities to both. Acts as liaison from Continental YRUU to the UUA Staff and serves as an active “youth presence” at Unitarian Universalist Association headquarters and at UUA meetings and events.

2. Program/Events

Plans, designs and implements YRUU programs of religious growth for Unitarian Universalist youth. Serves as a logistical resource and coordinator for Continental YRUU conferences, meetings and trainings. Edits Synapse , YRUU's Continental Youth Magazine. Writes grants and coordinates fundraising for areas where funding is not sufficient.

3. Consultations and Liaisons

Acts as a YRUU consultant to the UUA at large, to districts, to congregations; acts as a field consultant regarding YRUU programs; assists congregations in the formation and promotion of new YRUU youth groups; plans, designs and conducts workshops, trainings and leadership development seminars for and with youth and adults. Develops and maintains relationships with key committees, affiliates and staff groups as needed.

4. YRUU Governing Organizations

Administers YRUU Programs; in consultation with the YRUU Steering Committee and YRUU Youth Council and Youth Programs Director to ascertain needs identifies trends and issues, and evaluates the effectiveness of current youth programs and services. Coordinates the ongoing business of Steering Committee. Supports the decisions of the Youth Council and Steering Committee. Reports to Youth Council and Steering Committee.

5. Additional Responsibilities

Assumes additional responsibilities as requested by the Youth Programs Director, Lifespan Faith Development Staff Group Director, the UUA President, Executive Vice President, or Financial Vice President.

Qualifications : Knowledge of youth ages 14-20 and their religious development; experience and expertise with youth; experience and expertise with YRUU programming at the local, district and continental levels; leadership ability and experience with both youth and adults; broad acquaintance with Unitarian Universalism and the Association; good office, computer and organizational skills; willingness to travel; good written and verbal communication skills; the maturity and creativity to handle a busy full-time job; have the freedom to live in the Boston area and will be between the ages of 16 and 22 at the time of application.

The June YPS will specialize in social justice, Continental Trainings, Youth Social Justice Conference and resource and curriculum development. These special responsibilities include:

-Coordinating Training of Trainers and coordinating the Continental Leadership Development Conference, Continental Spirituality Development Conference, Advisor Training, Advanced Advisor Trainings and any new trainings.

-Coordinating the Youth Social Justice Conference.

-Communicating with the Continental Social Action Coordinator of YRUU and keeping track of all the Social Justice initiatives of YRUU (POA, Youth Council, SWAT, YSJC).

The September YPS will specialize in Anti-Racism Work, General Assembly and UU Networking. These special responsibilities include:

-Coordinating with all Anti-Racism initiatives at the UUA and developing relationships with other groups doing Anti-Racism work.

-Developing and maintaining relationships with key UUA organizations, affiliates and departments.

-Planning logistics of Youth Council with the Steering Committee.

Shared responsibilities of the YPSs:

- General Assembly responsibilities including logistics for Youth Caucus.

-Website management. All YPSs will receive technical training on how to maintain the website and will get support from the UUA's Office of Electronic Communications.

- Synapse - an intern will be responsible for much of the editing and layout of Synapse . YPSs will work on creation and solicitation of content.

-Resource Development/Revision-interns will support YPSs with editing and more.