Program Director

Program Director Thank you for your interest in Loyola University Chicago. To view open positions, please enter your search criteria below. You may view all open positions by not specifying any search criteria and selecting the "Search" button. Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago's mission, candidates should consult our website at . For information about the university's focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at .

Position Details

Position Details

Job Title PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Position Number 8102859

Work Modality Fully Remote Work

Job Category University Staff

Job Type Full-Time

FLSA Status Exempt

Campus Off-Campus / Remote

Department Name INSTITUTE FOR PASTORAL STUDIES

Location Code INSTITUTE OF PASTORAL STUDIES (03200A)

Is this split and / or fully grant funded? Yes

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Director

Catholic Education Network to Enact and Resource Synodality ( CENTERS )

Loyola University Chicago, Institute of Pastoral Studies

Position Type : Full-time, Grant-funded (5 years)

Reports to : Dean, Institute of Pastoral Studies

Location : Chicago, IL with national travel required

About CENTERS

The Catholic Education Network to Enact and Resource Synodality ( CENTERS ) is a $10 million Lilly Endowment-funded initiative housed at Loyola University Chicago's Institute of Pastoral Studies. CENTERS is a collaborative network of 16 Catholic colleges and universities across the United States working to implement synodality-the Church's official mode of proceeding emphasizing shared discernment, participation, and co-responsibility among all the baptized. This transformative initiative responds to Pope Francis's global call for ecclesial renewal and Pope Leo XIV's continued emphasis on unity and Catholic social teaching.

Position Summary

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. Housed at the Institute of Pastoral Studies, 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). S / He will have demonstrated organizational and administrative expertise, along with 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. S / He will work closely with the grant PI's to envision, coordinate, implement, and report on various elements of a larger project with various local, regional, and national initiatives. A willingness to contribute collaboratively within a team dynamic and an ongoing commitment to pastoral formation in educational settings are essential and compulsory.

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

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Governance

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

Project & Grant Management

Develop and manage annual work plans, grant timelines; monitor deliverables across multiple workstreams

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

Evaluation & Learning

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

Communications & Stakeholder Engagement

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

Financial Oversight

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

Support collaborative fundraising efforts for program sustainability beyond grant period

Work with network partners on fundraising, endowment development, and long-term governance planning

Team Supervision

Hire, mentor, and evaluate any needed project staff, graduate assistants, and volunteers; foster a collaborative, synodal work culture

Coordinate with Loyola faculty and offices (e.g., Advancement, Marketing, Sponsored Programs) to embed CENTERS within university systems and leverage additional resources

Teaching & Academic Integration

Design and teach one graduate-level course per year that advances students' understanding of synodality and connects directly to CENTERS programming

Mentor students involved in CENTERS research and fellowship activities

Support integration of synodal principles into broader IPS curriculum and formation programs

Additional Responsibilities

Perform other activities as assigned to advance the CENTERS mission

Travel frequently to network institutions, regional gatherings, and national conferences (approximately 25-30% of time)

Required Qualifications

Knowledge and Expertise

Deep understanding of Catholic ecclesiology, particularly synodal theology and Vatican II

Knowledge of Catholic social teaching and its applications in institutional contexts

Familiarity with contemporary challenges in Catholic theological education and ministry formation

Understanding of participatory pedagogies and adult learning principles

Awareness of global Catholic Church developments and papal teaching

Skills and Competencies

Exceptional organizational and project management abilities, including experience with workplan development, timeline management, and risk assessment

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to serve as spokesperson to diverse audiences

Proven ability to facilitate collaborative decision-making processes and translate committee decisions into actionable plans

Experience with meeting planning, event coordination, and logistics management

Proficiency in digital collaboration tools, database management, and budget oversight

Ability to supervise staff and foster collaborative, synodal work culture

Experience with external evaluation processes and data-driven continuous improvement

Ability to travel frequently (approximately 25-30% of time)

Intercultural competency and sensitivity to diverse ecclesial contexts

Personal Attributes

Commitment to synodal values of dialogue, participation, and co-responsibility

Collaborative leadership style aligned with participatory ecclesiology

Spiritual maturity and understanding of contemplative dimensions of leadership

Flexibility and adaptability in dynamic, emerging organizational contexts

Cultural sensitivity and ability to work across diverse Catholic institutions

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience with Lilly Endowment grants or similar large-scale ecclesial initiatives

Background in Catholic community organizing or grassroots ecclesial movements

Experience with Vatican offices or international Catholic organizations

Demonstrated experience in fundraising and development activities

Graduate-level teaching experience in Catholic theological education

Fluency in Spanish or other languages relevant to U.S. Catholic diversity

Published scholarship or presentations in areas related to synodality, ecclesiology, or theological education

Network of relationships within Catholic higher education or diocesan leadership

Experience with external evaluation and assessment processes

Minimum Education and / or Work Experience

Master's degree in Theology, Pastoral Studies, Ministry, or related field; Doctorate preferred

Minimum 7-10 years of experience in Catholic higher education, theological education, or ecclesial leadership

Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-institutional collaborative projects

Proven track record in grant administration and program management, preferably with Lilly Endowment or similar large-scale initiatives

Experience with Catholic Church structures, governance, and contemporary ecclesial movements

Teaching experience at the graduate level preferred

Qualifications

Previous experience with Lilly Endowment grants or similar large-scale ecclesial initiatives

Background in Catholic community organizing or grassroots ecclesial movements

Experience with Vatican offices or international Catholic organizations

Demonstrated experience in fundraising and development activities

Graduate-level teaching experience in Catholic theological education

Fluency in Spanish or other languages relevant to U.S. Catholic diversity

Published scholarship or presentations in areas related to synodality, ecclesiology, or theological education

Network of relationships within Catholic higher education or diocesan leadership

Experience with external evaluation and assessment processes

Certificates / Credentials / Licenses

Previous experience with Lilly Endowment grants or similar large-scale ecclesial initiatives

Background in Catholic community organizing or grassroots ecclesial movements

Experience with Vatican offices or international Catholic organizations

Demonstrated experience in fundraising and development activities

Graduate-level teaching experience in Catholic theological education

Fluency in Spanish or other languages relevant to U.S. Catholic diversity

Published scholarship or presentations in areas related to synodality, ecclesiology, or theological education

Network of relationships within Catholic higher education or diocesan leadership

Experience with external evaluation and assessment processes

Computer Skills

Proficiency in digital collaboration tools, database management, and budget oversight

Supervisory Responsibilities No

Required operation of university owned vehicles No

Does this position require direct animal or patient contact? No

Physical Demands None

Working Conditions None

Open Date 01 / 05 / 2026

Close Date

Position Maximum Salary or Hourly Rate $70,000 / ann

Position Minimum Salary or Hourly Rate $60,000 / ann

Special Instructions to Applicants

As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago's mission, candidates should consult our website at . For information about the university's focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at .

About Loyola University Chicago

Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation's largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes (.shtml) -including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences-Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation's top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country's most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.

Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits. To view our benefits in detail, click here () .

Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and / or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University's Nondiscrimination Policy () .

Quick Link for Posting