Mission Director Job at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago Waukegan, IL 60085

Job Information

  • Date Posted
    2025-05-13
  • Location
    Waukegan, IL 60085
  • Job Title
    Mission Director
  • Gender
    Both

NOTE: There are (3) positions available at (3) locations to choose from:

  • Mission Director, City Southwest –Regional Office located at 5515 S. Sawyer., Chicago, Illinois
  • Mission Director, Lake County – Regional Office located at 671 S. Lewis Ave., Waukegan, Illinois
  • Mission Director, West Suburban –Regional Office located at 1400 S. Austin Blvd., Cicero, Illinois
The Opportunity
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago ("Charities" or "CCAC") was founded more than a century ago to meet human need through the Mission of Charity. Charities partners with mission-driven people and organizations across Cook and Lake Counties to witness a message of mercy and hope to a world in need - accompanying anyone in need, regardless of their faith, gender, race, or ethnicity.
With intention, respect, and tenderness, Charities staff and volunteers are called to:
  • improve lives and nourish spirits by meeting human need with courageous compassion,
solidarity, and joy.
  • strengthen and empower people, families, and communities by building programs that inspire
hope through meaningful dialogue and measurable impact.
  • Commit to being present to our times through the eyes of faith through service and advocacy,
community and network building, and impactful partnerships.

The Role
To further the organization's goal to become the region's most trusted partner for mission-driven people and organizations seeking to serve those in need, Catholic Charities has created a new role of Mission Director. The Mission Director will report to the Senior Director of Mission Engagement; together they will work to foster and strengthen Charities' relationships across two core constituent groups, including:
  • The region's 2+ million Catholics, including 300+ Archdiocesan and parish priests and their
staff, as well as the members of 200+ local parishes.
  • Key neighborhood and community leaders across the region who partner with Charities and otherhuman services organizations to protect, enrich, and sustain their well-being, livelihood, andsurrounding social infrastructure.
The Mission Director will model "courageous compassion in action" on the ground, where Charites' clients and volunteers live. They will work alongside and build collaborative and effective partnerships with Catholic Charities Program Operations team members - who will oversee and run Regional Welcoming Centers that Catholic Charities will be launching across the Cook and Lake County catchment area. The goal of these Centers and the overarching mission engagement strategy is to "localize" Charities' service to communities it is called to serve and more boldly partner with individuals, parishes, and organizations through both brief and lasting initiatives.
To meet this goal, the Mission Director will be charged with furthering Catholic Charities' parish engagement and community relations strategy execution throughout a group of defined and distinct areas. The Mission Director will need to become versed in the specific needs, culture, and community in each area and relate to the associated parishes in alignment with those needs.
Ultimately, Catholic Charities intends to make parish, community, and government engagement a source of distinction regionally and nationally. Effectively drawing on the strength of the scale, scope, and history of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Charities will be able to serve more people, more effectively and ensure that more residents of the Chicagoland area have the tools, resources and supports they need to thrive.
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Strategically grow partnerships with parish priests, staff, and leaders in order to significantly
increase Charities' presence and impact across and within the Archdiocese of Chicago
o Increase the number of parish communities actively partnering with Catholic Charities in
service
o Increase number of parish communities actively served by Catholic Charities
  • Strategically grow partnerships with aligned nonprofit and/or human service organizations to
increase how they collectively support key populations, neighborhoods, and communities in
need.
o Strengthen existing partnerships to enhance the scale and quality of service for the people
Charities is here to encounter, accompany, and serve
o Build relationships with new organizations which provide complimentary services and/or who
serve similar vulnerable populations.
  • Thoughtfully steward and equip Charities' most engaged, mission-driven stakeholders on newly
established Regional Mission Boards to localize and vitalize their neighbors, fellow parishioners,
colleagues, and friends to participate in service, education, and advocacy on behalf of the most
vulnerable.
o Convene Regional Mission Board meetings, gatherings, and signature service initiatives.
o Leverage Regional Mission Board members' connectivity to local parishes, volunteer corps, and
nonprofit organizations to deepen and enhance strategic partnerships.
  • Serve as key partner with the program operations team to deliver excellent services with
courageous compassion to the region's most vulnerable.
o Coordinate seamlessly to conduct external facing outreach and community engagement.
o Coordinate to compile stories of faith in action to share publicly and raise awareness of
opportunities to witness mercy.
  • Effectively communicate a witness of faith-filled hope and joy through the work and life-
changing impact of Catholic Charities to external stakeholders.
o Collaborate with the Senior Director of Mission Engagement and Communications team to
share messages with parish, community organizations and local government stakeholders to
increase awareness and ultimately partnership with Catholic Charities.
  • Incorporate data-informed analysis, stakeholder reflection, and coordinated systems and strategy
into decision-making to advance community and parish relations and amplify service to more
people.

Candidate Profile

The Mission Director will possess the following attributes and competencies:

A Relationship Builder

The Mission Director will be a skilled network builder and experienced in sustaining relationships at multiple levels with varied constituencies, including Archdiocesan parish and other influential community leaders across Chicagoland. They will thrive in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people. They will bring an entrepreneurial spirit to fostering new dynamic partnerships, consistently seeking out mission-driven individuals and educating them on what it means to serve with charity and mercy. They will gain energy from showing others how to encounter the stranger, receive them with radical hospitality, and honor the dignity of humankind through accompaniment.

A Strong Team Leader and Collaborative Team Member

The Mission Director will be a results-oriented leader focused on advancing the vitality of the Regional Mission Boards and increasing the number of partnerships and key relationships locally through empathetic and effective leadership. They will help mission-driven individuals and organizations in their area navigate processes and systems to maximize impact and engagement functions within Catholic Charities. They will initiate collaboration internally amongst colleagues and gainfully contribute to the mission engagement team and wider organization. The ideal candidate will be organized and efficient and demonstrate a keen ability to problem-solve with a strong decision-making capability. A diplomatic and supportive professional, they will enhance the organization's culture of values-driven collaboration and high performance.

A Locally Rooted Leader

The Mission Director will recognize the need for the Church's teachings to be lived out at the local level in communion with leaders and the most vulnerable. They will understand and illuminate the wealth of lived expertise, passion, and commitment present in communities and invite Charities' stakeholders to learn, witness, and encounter practical mercy during times of darkness and in moments of celebration. They will embrace and cherish difference and diversity and leverage wisdom gained from collaboration to improve and nourish lives. They will embody solidarity and open hearts in parishes and local nonprofit organizations to service through Catholic Charities.

A Leader with Deep Personal Faith and Integrity

The Mission Director will have a deep faith and a strong understanding of who God and Jesus are and why they matter to the work that Catholic Charities undertakes. They will be comfortable representing the values of the Catholic Church and have a passion for the unifying role that faith can play in a highly diverse (ethnically, racially, socio-economically, and religiously) workplace and complex stakeholder environment. The Mission Director will be passionate about Charities' mission and demonstrate a fervent commitment to social justice. Accordingly, they will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation. They will possess a strong work ethic, emotional and social intelligence and a natural joy and foundational understanding of our shared humanity.

Additional Requirements
XBackground check, including any program specific requirements.
XDriver's License and reliable transportation
XAgency-specified automobile insurance
Immediate Supervisor: Senior Director of Mission Engagement
Education and Experience Requirements:
Relevant Education:
Bachelor's Degree with experience working in human services sector
Relevant Experience:
3-5 years of relevant leadership experience in a mission-driven organization
  • Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred for City Southwest & Lake County roles.



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