Become a STEM Team Leader
STEM
always needs more Qualified Team Leaders — men and women who love the Lord, who
love people from other cultures, and who have proven skills in working
with others. Although many of our full-time staff are STEM Team
Leaders, 
most of our Team Leaders are volunteers who have
other full-time jobs in various places throughout North America. Once
or twice a year they lead STEM mission teams to one or more of the
nations where STEM works. For all active status STEM Team Leaders, STEM
covers your entire Team Fee and airfare.
If you’ve already got some good short-term mission experience, and you think the Lord might be calling you to become a STEM Team Leader, your next step is to contact the Personnel Department at STEM using the "Personnel Initial Inquiry" link located on the Positions Available page.
Generally, there are 4 “big-picture” steps you’ll need to consider in becoming a STEM Team Leader:
- Previous short-term mission experience
- Application process
- Training
- Maintaining your active status and your certification
The 4 “Big-Picture” Steps to Becoming a STEM Team Leader
1. Previous Short-Term Mission Experience
To help us assess how well you live and work with people in various situations:
- You’ll need to participate as a Team Member on 1 (preferably 2 or 3) STEM Teams
- Your STEM Team Leader needs to recommend you
- Similar experience with other (non-STEM) mission trips may meet this requirement
2. Application Process
There are several “official” assessments we need to do next. The primary items involved are:
- First, inquire with STEM (use the "Personnel Initial Inquiry" link located on the Positions Available page)
- Formal written application
- Interview(s) with STEM Team Operations
- References, background checks, and other screening
3. Training
We’ll not only train you to lead STEM Teams in the “STEM system,” but we’ll train you in accordance to the “U.S. Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission.”
- You'll need to attend STEM’s “Short-Term Mission Leaders’ Conference (STMLC)” at least once every two years, including the “Becoming a STEM Team Leader” workshop and the “STEM Team Leader Certification (STLC)” pre-conference session
- You'll participate as an official Leader-in-Training (LIT) on 2-3 STEM mission teams (previous short-term mission experience with STEM or other mission organizations may be considered)
4. Maintaining your active status and your Certification
We need to regularly verify that you are up to speed in the “STEM system” and in accordance with nationwide industry standards.
- Lead at least one STEM Team no less than once every two years (preferably you will lead 1, 2, or more STEM Teams every year)
- Attend at least one STMLC and STLC every two years
- Non-active Team Leaders (unable to lead STEM teams for two or more years) are required to refresh their status by attending the STMLC before leading a STEM team.
