Youth Coordinator Position

Islamic Association of North America (IANA) was founded in 2001 to meet the religious, spiritual, and social needs of Muslim societies in North America. In response to the changing realities of Muslim communities, IANA re-positions itself to effectively reach diverse Muslim communities across the country. IANA is a nationwide umbrella organization with over forty centers and organizations. The main office of IANA is located in Minnesota.

Youth Director Job Description

During the last General Assembly meeting of the Islamic Association of North America in Phoenix, Arizona in November 2022 assembly acknowledged the challenges of Muslim youth facing in the United States. Such challenges are growing and the programs are not running at maximum efficiency. Other challenges that Muslim youth facing drug abuse, gun violence, and avoidance of places of worship, and disconnect from the broader Muslim community. IANA General Assembly and Board members have agreed to create the IANA Youth coordinator position. This is a full-time paid position responsible for the oversight, management, and improvement of existing programs and the development of new programs. The youth coordinator will also facilitate connecting IANA regional centers together and facilitate joint youth programs at local, regional, and national levels. The youth director will work directly with the IANA executive team, volunteers from IANA centers, and imams and directors of all IANA centers.

This is a full-time position commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and implement a wide array of activities, events and programs including youth seminars, summer programs (i.e., overnight camp), Ramadan programs, tutoring programs, job training programs, life skills classes, halaqas (study circles), leadership training, etc.
• Plan, organize, and implement regional IANA youth conventions (West, South-East, and Midwest) by working with the regional member centers
• Help create a youth-friendly culture at all IANA Centers and empower youth to feel ownership of their Center.
• Recruit, cultivate, and retain local youth for program participation and leadership.
• Recruit, develop and maintain in coordination with IANA centers imams and directors a network of volunteers who help, plan, and execute IANA youth programs.
• Help the community to resolve youth conflicts, overcome life hurdles, and replace undesirable habits with acceptable behaviors.
• Provide coaching to youth and references to professional counselors as needed
• Outreach to regular and non-regular youth attendees of all IANA Centers.
• Prepare and deliver youth speeches, and khutbahs as needed
• Be accessible to youth outside of normal office hours for urgent issues
• Support, improve and help maintain existing educational programs at IANA Centers
• Create and maintain a youth database that tracks all program participant attendance.
• Represent IANA at meetings, coalitions, and events with the internal and external community.
• Meet with the AINA Executive Director and the executive team on a regular basis to discuss progress and receive feedback and suggestions.
• Participate in training and conferences for further professional development
• Perform other duties as assigned by the executive director.
• Be prepared to travel nationwide as needed.
• Be ready to conduct fundraisings for youth programs at different places.
• Prepare a quarterly report to the executive director and present at the executive team meeting.

Expectations:

• Pray regularly in the Masjid (lead by example)
• Dress according to Islamic principles
• Needs to be punctual and on time
• Needs to report directly to the Executive Director.
• Needs to be self-reliant, able to carry out tasks and create projects independently
• Needs to be able to research, plan, build, and initiate programs for the youth
• Needs to have adequate skills in record keeping
• Needs to be able to manage and oversee budget
• Needs to be able to supervise and manage others
• Needs to prioritize and manage workload during high-stress situations
• Needs to complete administrative responsibilities and properly document progress through detailed reports.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• Must have strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Must be a highly motivated individual who is passionate about Islam as a way of life and guiding young Muslims as a career.
• Must have a strong understanding of Islamic creed, fiqh, etiquettes, manners, and appropriate behavior.
• Must have an adequate understanding of the fundamentals of Islamic teachings.
• Must have a thorough understanding of Muslim youth's challenges and hardships in the United States.
• Must be able to relate well to school-age youth, teenagers, and adults.
• Must speak fluent English and Somali langauges
• Must be proficient in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and google drive.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States.

Benefits and compensation:

Salary:

$4000-$4500 monthly of biweekly payments

Bonuses:

Eid Al-Fitri & Eid Al-Adha bonuses

Other bonuses depending on performance and the availability of funds

If you are interested in this position, please apply as soon as possible

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $25.00 - $28.12 per hour

Benefits:

• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Minneapolis, MN 55406: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Language:

• Somali (Required)
• English (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: In person