Seeks An Executive Director
Executive Director (Part-Time Independent Contractor)
Cristo Rey Institute
www.cristoreyinstitute.org
To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Matthew Couture, chair, at: [email protected]
Applications due by May 1, 2025
The Cristo Rey Institute (CRI) seeks an Executive Director to lead our organization. This senior leadership position is part-time and contracted independently. While CRI is nearly ten years old, the Executive Director will be its first paid leader.
The Cristo Rey Institute (CRI) is a permanent body of consecrated religious and lay Catholic leaders established under the authority of the Pope to participate on behalf of the Catholic Church “in the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ and to continually implement His charism and values, especially to the underserved children and families.” It is charged with providing Catholic religious sponsorship for Cristo Rey Network Schools.
JOB OVERVIEW
The Executive Director reports to CRI Membership through its Chair. Key responsibilities include:
DEVELOP RESOURCES AND SUPPORT DELEGATES
• Develop and collect resources for members of the Institute who are delegated to serve on boards of CRI sponsored schools.
• Overall support and care for delegates representing CRI on school boards.
MANAGE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CRISTO REY NETWORK (CRN)
• Work in collaboration with the CRN leadership team to insure a productive and collegial relationship among CRN and CRI sponsored schools.
MANAGE AND OVERSEE COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOLY SEE
• Draft annual correspondence to the Holy See
• Provide whatever follow-up may be requested from time to time by dicasteries of the Holy See
MANAGE THE DUE DILIGENCE OF NEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
• Coordinate meetings between CRI delegates and the boards or others representing potential new Cristo Rey schools that may request CRI sponsorship.
ESTABLISH AND INITIATE A FUNDRAISING STRATEGY FOR CRI
• Identify prospective funders, both foundations and major donors.
• Develop outreach plan to prospective funders and related materials.
• Manage ongoing relationships with current and prospective funders.
CREATE AND MANAGE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR CRI
• Ensure that all accounts payable are fulfilled on a timely basis.
• Present quarterly financial statements to the person delegated by CRI to act as leader.
CREATE AND MANAGE A CORPORATE FILE
• The corporate file should include, but not be limited to, By-Laws, meeting minutes, sponsorship agreements, formation resources, and charism resources.
MANAGE CRI MEMBERSHIP
• Assist in identifying and recruiting of new members
• Communicate with membership on a regular basis
• Assist in the organization of meetings, namely the Annual Meeting
• Assist in spiritual and CRI charism formation for CRI Members
• Coordinate and participate on Catholic identity reviews teams at CRI schools
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
• Is a practicing Catholic
• Knowledge and understanding of Catholic faith, Catholic education, and Catholic liturgical life
• Demonstrated capacity to partner with low-income communities to transform lives through accessible Catholic education
• Experience in strategic fundraising and research
• Excellent communication skills
• Proficiency with bookkeeping software
• Proficiency with writing and content creation software
• Strong time-management skills
• A self-starter
• Ability to manage and work within remote teams
• Exceptional listening skills
• Ability to influence and advocate
• Ability to tactfully communicate and problem-solve
• A team player willing to embrace Cristo Rey Institute values
CRI’s administrative headquarters are currently housed at the Viatorian Province Center, outside Chicago, but this role is one that will be performed remotely, with travel expected, particularly in regard to visits to CRI and CRN meetings, sponsored schools, and to new school sponsorship opportunities. The work of this role equates to about two full days of work on a weekly basis, on average, recognizing that demands vary over the course of a year.
POSITION DETAILS
• Part-time independent contractor role (15-20 hours per week)
• Work from home with travel to schools and meetings
• Report directly to the CRI Membership Chair
• Annual evaluation against performance criteria
• Starts July 1, 2025
The ideal candidate will be passionate about CRI's mission to provide high-quality, Catholic education to students with limited economic resources. They will embody CRI's spiritual charism of being Christ-centered, engaged in the world, and wisdom-seeking.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Matthew Couture, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected]. Applications are due by May 1, 2025.
CRI is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who are dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for underserved youth through Catholic education.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CRI:
www.cristoreyinstitute.org
The Cristo Rey Institute (CRI) is accountable to the Holy See, under the authority of the Pope, to ensure
that its sponsored schools:
❖ Practice a life of prayer, both private and communal, which nourishes us in following Jesus
❖ Offer religious formation of the highest quality for all members of the school community
❖ Extend welcome toward all potential students and their families, without regard to any criteria other than financial or academic ones established in accord with its identity as a Cristo Rey Network school
As the first and only ministerial Juridic Person of pontifical rite not evolved from an existing religious congregation, CRI was established by decree of the Congregation (now Dicastery) for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Erected in March of 2017, the Cristo Rey Institute (CRI) is specifically charged “to carry on the ministry of education of youth in the Catholic Church.” CRI embraces a spiritual charism that seeks to transform the world as:
❖ Christ centered. In a CRI-sponsored institution, the Kingship of Christ is celebrated in a special way.
❖ In the world. In a CRI-sponsored institution, learning in the marketplace has a special place in the formational process, leading to our emphasis on the spirituality of work and the role of the laity.
❖ Wisdom seeking. In a CRI-sponsored institution, the entire community discerns the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lovingly grow in wisdom.
