Program Director

Program Director

Employment Opportunities Designed to Help Us Collaborate in Creation!

Position Title:

Program Director
Position Number: 8102859
Work Modality:
Fully Remote
Job Category:
University Staff
Job Type: Full-Time
FLSA Status:
Exempt
Campus:
Off-Campus/Remote
Department:
Institute for Pastoral Studies

Location:

Institute of Pastoral Studies (03200A)
Grant Funding:
Yes

Loyola University Chicago seeks a dynamic and efficient leader to serve as national director of the grant‑funded Catholic Education Network to Enact and Resource Synodality (CENTERS). Growing out of engagement with the 2021‑2024 Synod on Synodality, the sixteen‑university network housed at Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies seeks to cultivate synodal leadership across Catholic Higher Education nationally, in close conversation with local dioceses and international partners, including the Holy See.

The Director serves as the executive officer for the CENTERS Initiative, ensuring that collaborative projects, fellowships, convenings, communications, evaluation, and budgeting proceed on schedule, and reflect synodal principles. Other responsibilities include developing and aligning with the consensus of the Steering and Leadership Committees, liaising with Lilly Endowment, overseeing day‑to‑day operations, coordinating the inter‑institutional network, and driving strategic planning and implementation for all grant‑supported activities.

The ideal candidate will have a graduate degree in theology, leadership, or a related field (ideally a terminal degree), demonstrated organizational and administrative expertise, and a fluency in the contours of policy, strategic vision, mission/identity, and organizational management in both church and university contexts. A familiarity with the methods of synodality and community organizing is desired, but not strictly necessary.

The Director also teaches one graduate course each academic year that advances theological and pastoral understandings of and engagement with synodality.

• Serve as executive officer for the CENTERS Initiative, translating committee decisions into actionable plans
• Chair (or co‑chair) Leadership Committee meetings when rotating into that role and prepare materials for all Steering Committee sessions
• Maintain and grow productive relationships with Core Partners, Network Participants, Regional Tables, Advisory Council, bishops, and external collaborators
• Ensure program alignment with Vatican implementation timeline (2026‑28) and synodal methods and virtues

• Develop and manage annual work plans, grant timelines; monitor deliverables across multiple work streams
• Oversee sub‑grants to partner schools, ensuring compliance with Lilly Endowment guidelines and Loyola’s sponsored‑program policies
• Coordinate national convenings, advise and support core partners for regional gatherings and other activities; assist as needed with the Synodal Adsumus Fellowship program
• Serve as primary liaison with Lilly Endowment at all stages to ensure compliance and mission alignment
• Coach Network Participant liaisons in synodal leadership and movement building

• Partner with external evaluators to design and implement the performance‑indicator framework; steward data collection and continuous‑improvement cycles
• Translate findings into actionable insights for committees, funders, and public audiences and scholarly audiences
• Implement standardized evaluation rubrics for pilot projects and regional activities

• Supervise contracted communication consultants; produce reports, web content, and thought‑leadership pieces that amplify project impact
• Serve as primary spokesperson to Lilly Endowment, media, and ecclesial networks
• Coordinate dissemination of best practices and pilot project outcomes
• Represent CENTERS at professional conferences and ecclesial gatherings

• In collaboration with IPS finance staff, prepare the annual CENTERS budget, authorize expenditures, and forecast long‑term sustainability strategies
• Support…