Superintendent Search Information: We are excited to invite you to apply to be part of an exciting future for Western New York’s Catholic Elementary Schools. Like other Dioceses across the country, we have faced many challenges; but, with the collaboration of hundreds of people passionate about Catholic education, we have developed a strategic plan to ensure a bright and strong future for our schools.
Our plan focuses on deepening our Catholic identity in a welcoming and inclusive environment, enhancing academic excellence and student well-being, providing a great place to work, and strengthening our operational and financial position to provide Catholic education for more families across our Diocese.
Catholic Education – It’s Everything You Value!
Our parents value a safe and nurturing community where their children can grow in faith, achieve academic excellence, and build lifelong character. Our educators find a mission-driven career that allows them to inspire young minds, share their faith, innovate new solutions, and create lasting impact. What matters most to you – faith, community, excellence, innovation, autonomy, values, and a brighter future – is at the heart of everything we do.
This is your opportunity to be part of something extraordinary. We currently have 30 preK- eighth grade schools with over 6,500 enrolled students. They are geographically distributed from Lewiston to Olean and from the West Side of Buffalo to Batavia. We are implementing new academic models and programs to support social, emotional, and behavioral well-being. We are also re-structuring our organization to create one school system and a shared services team to create a solid foundation for growth. Together, we teach, serve, and evangelize so our students, their families, and our dedicated team grow in faith, knowledge, and love.
Primary Responsibilities: The Superintendent supervises and coordinates the activities of the Diocese of Buffalo Catholic School System, currently in formation, while implementing and achieving the goals of the Strategic Plan for Catholic Education. The Superintendent fosters and communicates our mission to teach, serve, and evangelize within the school community and Diocese. The ideal candidate will serve as the face of Catholic Education for the Diocese and will cultivate strong relationships throughout the Diocese and the Western New York community, as well as with donor communities, education policy makers, and associations. This position is also responsible for the policies, practices, and all aspects of education and operations of the schools and faith formation programs to enable them to achieve their strategic goals, in compliance with government regulations and Board of Directors’ policies. Most importantly, the Superintendent creates a strong Catholic identity among our students, school families, team members, and school communities.
Leadership – Provide leadership and strategic direction to the Catholic Education Department, school-based personnel, and central Faith Formation team members with an emphasis on best educational and operational practices while building accountability and financial stability. Hire, supervise, evaluate, and manage all aspects of the employment of the System’s Assistant Superintendents, Shared Services Staff, and Principals. Lead with a style that promotes high levels of trust, collaboration, teamwork, spirit, and synergy.
Change Management – Lead the merger of our elementary schools into one school system in preparation for the 2025/2026 school year. This includes building alignment, developing the organizational structure, system by-laws, operational practices, employment policies and practices, communication mechanisms, and other processes to ensure a smooth transition.
Board Management and Strategic Plan Execution – Work with Diocesan leadership to recruit and train directors of the new Board of Directors, establish and ensure good board governance, and measure board effectiveness. Once established, partner with the Board of Directors and its committees to execute the strategic plan, establish policies, and identify opportunities to advance the organization’s activities and relationships. Collaborate with a board of Pastors/Clergy, currently in formation, to inspire and promote a strong Catholic identity and support Sacramental preparation and Faith Formation programs. Form and collaborate with a board of Western New York’s Catholic High School and higher education Presidents to lead efforts to build mutually beneficial partnerships.
Relationship Management and Trust Building – Effectively engage and collaborate with a diverse constituency including staff, school families, community influencers, donors, the public, and other stakeholders. Undertake intentional efforts to restore and build trust of our schools, among our schools, between schools and Faith Formation, and of the Diocese as a whole. Represent the School System and strengthen our reputation and relationships with public officials, educational leaders, school district partners, and accrediting agencies.
Advancement and Fundraising – Foster relationships with existing and new donors, businesses, corporations, foundations, government and funding agencies to create multiple funding streams for programs, operations, capital equipment, and endowment funds. Collaborate with the Foundation of the Catholic Diocese to develop appropriate opportunities for funding as well as access funding from existing funding vehicles under the Foundation’s purview. Establish a fund for Catholic Education at the Diocesan level.
Academic Achievement – Direct and oversee Middle States Accreditation for all schools, high academic standards, and high performing programs to support students’ and families’ emotional, behavioral, and social needs. Establish educational models and approved curriculum pathways that drive high levels of performance based on community needs. Ensure the implementation and effectiveness of religious instruction and Safe Environment protocols in schools and Faith Formation programs. Implement virtual learning and other technical solutions to deliver robust student experiences and manage costs.
Human Resources – Create a motivating and rewarding workplace that attracts, develops, and retains top talent while helping our team members find Christ, meaning, and joy in their work. Oversee hiring, supervision, evaluation of, and management of all aspects of the employment of termination of all personnel in the Catholic School System. Develop, promote, and maintain employment policies that are aligned in school communities. Ensure proper labor relations and labor management practices are in place. Ensure compliance with Safe Environment policies and practices. Drive staff retention, accountability, professional and leadership development, succession planning, employee satisfaction, and catechetical development.
Operations Management – Direct and oversee all operations of the School System, in collaboration with the Diocese’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer to ensure strong and effective Human Resources, Finance, Facilities, Marketing, and Communications services are provided throughout the school system. Oversee technology innovations and the implementation of enrollment management, talent acquisition, financial management, student records, and other systems to support student achievement and efficiency within the System. Create means for collecting and maintaining data and eliminating school-based manual data entry, while significantly enhancing the statistical analysis, interpretative reporting, and data insight available at the school and system level.
Financial and Tuition Management – Oversee an annual budget of approximately $40 million and measure performance against financial targets/goals. Lead the annual budgeting process. Build and monitor monthly activity reports and financial statements to determine progress and status in attaining objectives. Work with the Board to establish tuition policies and new tuition models. Revise objectives and plans periodically in accordance with current conditions and the economy.
Communications and Brand Management – Develop and promote the brand for the School System to drive a positive image of our Diocese, Catholic Education, and our Church; celebrate our team, students, and families; and grow enrollment. Create protocols and methods for articulating programs and policies, trends, and issues in education to the System’s personnel, school parents, pastors and parish communities, and government agencies. Serve as an ambassador for Catholic education, representing the organization with the media, stakeholders, and other public venues.
Compliance – Develop, maintain, and communicate an accurate and in-depth understanding of laws, regulations, and guidelines mandated for schools and Faith Formation programs. Ensure schools proactively prepare for and meet substantial equivalency requirements. Oversee record-keeping practices for legal compliance, government contracts, administration of donations/grants/gifts, personnel files, and budgetary accountability.
Key Competencies:
Mission-Minded – Possesses a strong Catholic identity, a true passion for Catholic education, and an inherent desire to teach, serve, and evangelize in order to make a significant impact on our community.
Trust Builder – Exceptional reputation as well as wide and deep relationships within the Western New York community, particularly among donor communities, educators, school districts, and other community influencers.
Collaborator and Coalition Builder – Outgoing and extroverted leader who can energize audiences and inspire them to act. Has built widespread support for an organization and an aggressive strategy through collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
Team Development – Experience hiring and building new staff teams and project teams to quickly and effectively drive higher levels of organizational performance. Established successful leadership development and mentoring processes, systems of accountability, and a great place to work culture.
Emotional Intelligence – Inspires the confidence and respect of staff, Board members, donors and others such as parish leaders and customers/school families by actions and leadership. Strong listening skills, political savvy, and an ability to negotiate win-win solutions to conflict.
Strategic, Creative, and Critical Thinking – Significant experience uncovering community needs and implementing strategic programs to make an impact. Ability to bring disparate audiences, philosophies, and approaches together and implement new and consistent models to drive results. Must be able to forecast future needs and develop well-reasoned action plans. A keen ability to synthesize information quickly and turn it into insight and action.
Business and Financial Acumen – The ability to combine a mission and business focus, manage a strategic plan, build financial and operating systems of accountability for results, and lead with a growth mindset. Experience building processes, systems, and communications that facilitated effective mergers, acquisitions, or consolidation of organizations.
Board Development – Experience building board membership, creating board policies and procedures, and developing Boards of Directors and other advisory groups. Willing to take the lead and also follow as appropriate.
Communicator – An excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing, and presenter. Experience in using formal protocols including surveys, leadership and town hall meetings, websites, social media, and other vehicles for communicating with internal and external stakeholders with sensitivity. We are seeking someone who is personable, humble, approachable, and comfortable with business partners, donors, government leaders, and the media.
Fundraiser – Growth of a not-for-profit organization through major and planned gifts, grants, in-kind support, annual funds, etc. or success growing a for-profit organization. Should have significant connections with donors and a demonstrated record of cultivating and closing six- and seven-figure relationships to secure financial support for the organization.
Composure – Professional and positive manner, particularly in environments where emotions can run high and difficult decisions are necessary (e.g., changes in schools). Must demonstrate capacity for staying steady under pressure while maintaining perspective. Must be self-motivated toward success with a strong work ethic. Takes ownership of actions and responsibilities.
Qualifications:
• 10+ years of experience driving growth as a school or district administrator, not-for-profit leader, or business executive
• Experience reporting to a board or in a matrix leadership reporting environment
• Master’s Degree in school administration or management
• 10+ years of teaching experience and knowledge of Middle States Accreditation standards and processes, National Catholic Education Association standards and benchmarks, Multi-Tiered System of Supports systems and methodologies, and best practices in curriculum, instruction, and assessment, preferred but not required
• Superintendent certification preferred, but can be obtained in an on-the-job residency
Reporting Structure:
• Appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo
• Reports to the Board of Directors of the Diocese of Buffalo Catholic School System, currently in formation, with regular communication with the Board Chairperson
• Responsible for a staff of approximately 7-9 people including Assistant Superintendents and Directors for Finance, Human Resources, Government Programming and Advancement, Enrollment and Data Management, Athletics and Extra-Curriculars
• All school principals report into the Superintendent’s office, either through an Assistant Superintendent or senior-level principal
• The Director of Faith Formation will report to the Superintendent. However, Parish-based Faith Formation team members, such as Directors of Religious Education will report to Parish leadership.
Salary Range: $130,000 – $140,000 annually
To Apply: Email resume to Nancy DiBerardino at ndiberardino@buffalodiocese.org
