Position Title: Associate Director
Employment Type: Full-time
Salary range: $64,480 – $70,993
FLSA Status: Exempt
Supervised by: Fr. Eduardo A. Samaniego, SJ, Director of the Permanent Diaconate

Position Summary:

The Associate Director provides support to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. This position is responsible for the care and formation of the men in formation and their wives, as well as support for the already-ordained deacons and their wives. He/she helps with the budgets, as well as helping to provide for the Spiritual development of each candidate for Ordination and his wife. Bi-lingual (Spanish) is preferred.

Primary Responsibilities:

• In partnership with the Administrative Assistant, he/she maintains accurate records for all diaconate participants.
• Attends weekly staff meetings and quarterly Diaconal Council meetings.
• A support for the Director
• Serves as Ex-Officio member of the Diaconal Council
• Meets periodically with the candidates to teach and help them reflect on the social teachings of the Church.
• Establishes internship programs with various institutions so that candidates gain valuable, supervised, experience in social outreach in the 4 areas of emphasis: the poor, the incarcerated, hospitals and hospice.
• Meets semi-annually with candidates in their deaneries.
• Plans the 6 yearly retreats sponsored by the Office. This includes procuring the director, arranging for the retreat center, and planning for the Eucharist(s) and prayer-services.
• Aids the pastors in identifying viable candidates to the diaconate, keeping them informed about the process at entrance, and the ongoing process of formation.
• Interviews potential Aspirants, facilitating at some of the Aspirant meetings, counseling them as they discern their diaconate call.
• Assist the director in arranging and planning the monthly formation days for the candidates and their wives.
• Meets regularly with the Director to discuss formation issues and to aid in assessing the suitability and readiness of the candidates for Ordination.
• Monitors the Lector and Eucharistic minister training of all the candidates and their wives (if desired).
• Keeps track of the social ministry intern hours for all candidates, to ensure their meeting the requirements outlined in the Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons.
• Fosters good-will between the Office and deacons in the Diocese through meetings, emails, and telephone conversations.
• Participates in the biannual Region XI Director’s meeting.
• Attends events involving the diaconate community, e.g., the Million Meal Event (MME), social events planned by the Social Committee, the biannual Convocations of Deacons and wives, the formation retreat, and the Annual Deacon Appreciation Dinner.
• Cooperates and networks with other offices in the Pastoral Center.
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge & Skills:

• Friendly with excellent people skills, and is good at working in a team
• Is a detail-oriented person.
• Demonstrates ability to manage relationships with sophisticated professionals.
• Professional demeanor
• Familiarity with Microsoft office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access). Experience with Adobe Photoshop.
• Able to maintain confidentiality.
• Thorough knowledge and familiarity with the organizational structure and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Must have an understanding of Catholic Sacraments, Rites, and Liturgies.
• Has familiarity with various types of retreats (having made them).

Education & Experience:

• Must be a Catholic in good standing, and embraces the Catholic traditions and practices.
• Is very familiar with the Documents of Vatican II and the documents of Pope Francis.
• Is up-to-date with the National Directories of the Permanent Diaconate.
• Proficiency in Spanish is highly desirable.
• Has a Master’s Degree in theology or equivalent.
• Has familiarity with Ignatian Spirituality and other forms of prayer.
• Five to ten years’ experience with the formation of men and/or women.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities and organize work effectively.
• Experience with a diaconate program preferred.

Physical Demands

While performing duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to remain in an office at a computer work-station and access information from a computer and the use of a telephone. He/she is required to be mobile to, from, and within the Pastoral Center and his/her office. One must be able to attend and assist with meetings, briefings, and other work-related events. Occasionally, the employee may be asked to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Please Note: This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of duties, activities, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time or without notice.

Please send all cover letters and resumes to: mhabana@sdcatholic.org