Executive Director of Communal Life

About Us:

Impelled by the love of Christ, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (SCL), a Roman Catholic congregation of women religious, offer every loving service in our power to meet the critical needs of God’s people. Established in 1858 in Kansas, the Sisters of Charity live our mission in the spirit of our founders: St. Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, and Mother Xavier Ross. The Sisters, as Gospel-centered women, share a tradition of responding to the needs of the time, ministering to the vulnerable and marginalized, and caring for the fragile Earth. We share our mission in partnership and collaboration with those committed to working for peace and justice.

Job Summary:

The Executive Director of Communal Life, in collaboration with the SCL Leadership Team and the Executive Directors of Mission and Resources, will support the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Community as it focuses on sustaining its mission and charism into the future. The primary responsibility of the Communal Life Office is to oversee the coordination and communication of strategies and resources needed to implement the most recent SCL Chapter Directional Statement. The Communal Life Office, with dedicated staff, will assist the Community in developing, fostering, promoting, and communicating the initiatives, activities, processes, and structures necessary for furthering the life and mission of the members of the Community. The primary purpose of the Communal Life Office is to animate, encourage, and support all Sisters as they live their vocation. The Communal Life Office will fill a critical role in the development and promotion of formal, ongoing formation and the cultural changes needed to live the vowed life and animate the most recent SCL Chapter Directional Statement through the lens of integral ecology.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Create inclusive and holistic systems and structures that support and facilitate ongoing formation, individual member well-being, the well-being of the Community, and the engagement of Sisters in the mission.
• Direct and oversee the functions, activities, and staff leading the areas of ongoing formation and communal well-being.
• Foster an environment within the Community that emphasizes the importance of personal and communal well-being in furthering the mission and charism and living the vowed life fully and well.
• Communicate, collaborate, and coordinate with the Offices of Communications, Mission, and Resources to promote and advance the SCL mission.
• Advocate for resources that enhance and support the necessary infrastructure for promoting the health and well-being of all Sisters.
• Promote opportunities for Sisters to engage in conversations about religious life and the future of the mission, recognizing the variety of member abilities, interests, and locations.
• Integrate cultural change in the current system for tending to the health and wellness needs of the Sisters.
• Assist the SCL Leadership Team and staff in creating opportunities for tending to the formation of Sisters, including pastoral and spiritual needs.
• Maintain, strengthen, or develop the structures and processes necessary for enhancing the quality of member participation.
• Encourage personal responsibility of Sisters to tend to their own holistic well-being within a communal commitment.
• Promote self-esteem and personal fulfillment.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Coordinator of Communal Life
• Executive Director of Health and Wellness

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work, spirituality, theology, or related field
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in a faith-based setting
• 1-3 years supervisory experience

Essential Attributes:

• Understanding of and sensitivity to the life of Catholic women religious with ability to support the SCL philosophy of care, compassion, and concern.
• Understanding of and commitment to Catholic Social Teaching.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, planning, and verbal / written communication skills.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Highly effective communication and coaching skills including the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Able to create a team environment and work collaboratively.
• Able to create, modify, and implement structures based on a systems-thinking perspective.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and responsibilities.
• Capacity to use technology adequately and appropriately.
• Capacity to learn, understand, structure, and manage the above duties of this position.
• Strong knowledge and commitment to SCL mission and Vincentian charism.
• Demonstrate flexibility, creativity, negotiation skills, and personal initiative.
• Model ethical conduct and personal integrity.
• Knowledge of charitable nonprofit organizations.
• Ability to understand and implement solutions to complex issues.
• Results oriented with established track record.

Physical Requirements:

• The ability to sit for extended periods of time and perform computer work.
• The ability to move around the office and perform tasks such as filing and retrieving documents.
• The ability to attend meetings in different locations within the campus.
• The position may also require occasional travel, which may involve sitting for extended periods on airplanes or in cars.
• Candidates should be able to lift and carry up to 15 pounds.
• Candidates should have good vision and hearing, as well as the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

A cover letter is required.

We are committed to ensuring the diversity of our team. While not a minimum or mandatory qualification, we strongly encourage candidates of color, those who identify as Native American, women, people of low-income backgrounds, and those who are differently-abled to apply for this role.