The Director, Center for Diaconal Formation, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, provides key leadership in the organization, facilitation, and oversight of the Center, while working closely with senior leadership of each of the sending (Arch)dioceses, mainting high visibility off-campus at each location, conducting meetings and visiting classes. The Director collaborates with the Rector/Dean and Associate Deans regarding program development, strategic planning implementation, and course instructor staffing. Collaborating with the ICSST Assessment Team, the Director assesses the diaconal program and provides ongoing strategic planning and analysis. The Director provides financial managemen of the Center, and works with Seton Hall's Public Relations and Marketing in the marketing of new cohorts.The Director will be the leading expert on the theology, formation, life, and ministry of the permanent diaconate within the Seminary and University.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Collaboration and Relationship Management: Leads, manages, and conducts off-campus meetings, site, and class visits to ensure adherence to requirements of Seminary, University, National Directory for the Permanent Diaconate, and accreditation institution standards. Negotiates program documents, reviews academic status and progress of each program with diocesan leadership and maintains a visible presence at each sending diocese location. Management responsibilities include collaboration with senior (Arch) diocese, Seminary and University leaders in offering in-person, off-site, and distance learning academic formation for permanent diaconate candidates, pastoral formation, retreats, conferences, and continuing education programs. Attends national NADD conventions and collaborates with diaconate directors and leaders across the country.
Strategic Planning, Assessment, and Implementation: Oversees and manages the development, implementation and administration of the Center for Diaconal Formation. Provides strategic analysis and reporting to ICSST, the Univerisity, and the Board of Overseers. Provides recommendations and guidance on academic and faculty concerns, program enhancements and participates in meetings with the Seminary and University leadership regarding, academics, and strategic planning, and learning assessment initiatives. Provides oversight, guidance, and recommendations on accreditation issues regarding Middle States and Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and is responsible for the program and course assessment plan. Ensures that a culture of assessment and a culture of documentation are inculcated into all aspects of the Center operations.
Instructor and Student Engagement: Collaborates with the Rector/Dean and Associate Deans, in searching for, interviewing, onboarding, and assessing instructors for in-person and distant learning courses in both English and Spanish. Reviews and provides guidance to instructors on their syllabus and expected learning outcomes. Collaborates with Associate Deans and diocesan leaders in reviewing and assessing transcripts of applicants to the diaconate. including traditional and non-traditional students. Meets with instructors and with students regularly through on-site visits and conducts exit interviews at the conclusion of the students' academic formation.
Administration and Supervision: Manages the collection of all relevant data and maintains all records and documents for enrollment into a theology degree and/or certificate in diaconal ministry program and coordinates all post enrollment records to include student performance, course, and professor evaluations. Manages, oversees, and supervises the work of the Coordinator of Daily Operations, including hiring, training, developing and job appraisal reviews. Oversees the work of the Coordinator regarding the Center's website including its design and content and messaging.
Financial Management, Funding, Marketing: Provides financial oversight, budgetary recommendations; prepares and manages the daily operational budget. Participates in meetings with the Seminary and University leadership regarding finances and facilitates invoicing and billing resolutions by working with University, Seminary, and diocesan personnel. Develops funding and pricing strategies for diaconate programs. Overseers and negotiates contracts with outside vendors and suppliers on diaconate workshops, retreats, and conferences. Actively involved in the marketing and recruitment of new student cohorts including distance learning delivery options to expand sending diocese participation and grow students, credits, and financial contribution to the Seminary and University. Engages the University Public Relations and Marketing Department in support of existing and new programming.
Required Qualifications:
Master's degree
Desired Qualifications:
Preferred: Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacon; 5-8 years of experience in ministerial lwork, with some degree of financial oversight. Familiar with all aspects of the responsibilities of a permanent deacon. Organizational and writing skills; ability to multi-task and prioritize voluminous work. Knowledge of the organization and structure of the Archdiocese of Newark.
Excellent skills in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Microsoft office applications to create analysis of data and for producing reports and proposals. Additional technical skills required to use and maintain Microsoft Access Database, Sharepoint and Teams. Use of Cognos, SLATE, Banner required.
Competence and confidence in facilitating meetings and delivering presentations, workshops and lectures.
Salary Grade:
AD120 - Administrative
Exempt/Nonexempt: Exempt
Physical Demands: General Office Environment
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Requires presence at four off-site campus locations located in the Dioceses of Metuchen and Paterson, Trenton and the Archdiocese of Newark. Attendance at NADD regional and national meetings. Regular weekly travel in the evenings to Paterson, Metuchen and Trenton in the evening for courses and monthly weekend travel for workshops, retreats and lectures. Travel to NADD convention (1X) and NADD training as needed (1x) per year.
Seton Hall University is committed to programs of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the principles of affirmative action.
