The Opportunity
Southside Parish Renewal (SPR) seeks a founding Executive Director to launch and grow this exciting, life-changing initiative. The right candidate will be provided with adequate resources to shape and grow this program from its inception, targeting the youth of the four SPR parishes initially, but growing it to encompass a larger footprint over the southwest side of greater Chicago over time. The responsibilities of the position, and the qualifications for the Executive Director, are outlined below. We view this as a unique opportunity for the right person to grow this critical ministry in our communities.
The Vision
Journey aspires to accompany teens as they deepen their relationship to God, experience a sense of cherished belonging in their community, and become outfitted with a "spiritual backpack" filled with tools and practices they can carry into adulthood. In this innovative program, teens will experience ways to use their Catholic faith when life is difficult and they face challenges. The need is great as our teens live with pressures beyond what they are capable of handling without God. Today's youth cannot escape social media, physical standards of beauty, packed schedules, anxiety, perfectionism, striving for grades, awards, college worthy resumes, and the list goes on. These cherished young people share that they feel they are "never enough" and are increasingly lost in their phones and disconnected from each other.
Journey hopes to attract these teens and have them experience the beautiful, mystical and contemplative practices of their Catholic faith coupled with living the gospel through service. Our goal is that through Journey they will experience the joy of belonging, whether as part of a small faith group, their parish or the broader Catholic community.
Responsibilities
Journey's Executive Director will:
• In collaboration with SPR parishes and surrounding Catholic schools, develop and implement engaging youth ministry programs for high school students, deepening their relationship with Christ now and for the future
• Continually seek to develop and implement creative programming that captures youth's interests and meets their needs
• Create visibility and awareness of Journey among youth and parishioners
• In collaboration with the SPR board, develop a strategic plan, including a vision, mission, goals, strategies, and success measures
• Secure additional resources that empower Journey to thrive and grow programmatically, geographically, and financially
• In collaboration with the SPR board, establish governance, financial, administrative, and personnel policies and processes
• Retain and direct staff and volunteers and provide for their formation
Qualifications
The successful candidate will possess:
• At least three years of experience in Catholic youth ministry and/or education
• At least three years of experience of management responsibilities in a nonprofit or similar organization, including responsibilities such as working with a governing board, managing finances, and managing employees
• Understanding of the social, emotional, and spiritual challenges facing teens and experience with the programs and strategies for supporting them
• Experience raising money from both from individuals and foundations
• Familiarity with Catholic parishes and schools
• Knowledge of and experience with a range of communication media, especially with social media practices of teenagers
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience organizing projects, events and volunteers
• Familiarity with the Beverly neighborhood or surrounding communities is preferred but not required
