Director of Ministry Development

Your future role at a glance

• Location: Remote, Chicago/ Milwaukee
• Facility: Alexian Brothers Health System
• Department: Business Administration
• Schedule: Day Shifts | Full-time
• Salary: $66,194.10 - $89,556.99 per year

Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

Benefits that help you thrive

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
• Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
• Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
• Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program , counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
• Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
• Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more

Benefit options and eligibility vary by position, scheduled hours and location. Benefits are subject to change at any time. Your recruiter will provide the most up-to-date details during the hiring process.


How you'll make an impact in this role

• Oversee and coordinate all administrative operations, including setting priorities, assigning workloads, and ensuring high-quality output.
• Develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures to maintain compliance with regulatory standards.
• Lead talent management efforts, including hiring, training, performance evaluations, and staff development.
• Manage budgets and departmental activities, ensuring cost-effective operations aligned with organizational goals while serving as a key resource for stakeholders.

What minimum requirements you'll need

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience and 1 year of cumulative leadership experience required OR 4 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience and 1 year of cumulative leadership experience required.

What additional preferences we're seeking

The Alexian Charism is the prophetic and daring response of a faith community to

the gospel of Jesus. It is rooted in prayer and simple life style. In discipleship with

Jesus, our response is reaching out to the poor, sick and dying, especially the

marginated and the powerless. Our charism calls us to conversion and total self-

giving in continuing the healing and reconciling mission of Jesus in collaboration

with others.

The Values Which Shape the Alexian Brothers Philosophy

Compassion

We manifest God's presence in the world by our concerned approach and

competent care of those we serve.

Dignity of the Person

Because we believe that all individuals are created in God's image, we treat them

with respect.

Care of the Poor

We serve the sick, aged, dying and unwanted, of all socio-economic levels,

especially the poor.

Holism

We promote healing of the whole person (body, mind and spirit) through physical,

psycho-social and spiritual care of the whole person.

Partnership

We collaborate with those who share our ministry in carrying out our mission.

Position Overview

The Director of Ministry Development is responsible for developing and sustaining

mission-driven ministries aligned with the charism of the Alexian Brothers. Thi

role focuses on identifying unmet needs in the communities of Milwaukee and

Chicago, building innovative and sustainable ministries rooted in

Catholic/Christian values, and fostering a visible "Brother's Presence" among

those most in need.

This leader will ensure that all ministry initiatives reflect the Alexian charism and

our values of compassion, simplicity, and service to the marginalized, while also

cultivating pathways that connect ministry engagement to a vibrant and growing

vocation pipeline.

Core Responsibilities

1. Ministry Discernment & Development

• Identify and evaluate emerging social, pastoral, and human service needs in

Milwaukee and possibly Chicago.

• Develop new ministries that respond to gaps not currently being addressed

by other organizations.

• Ensure all ministries are aligned with the Alexian Brothers' values and

Gospel mandate (cf. Matthew 25:40).

• Design scalable and sustainable ministry models with measurable impact

and outcomes.

2. Charism & Mission Integrity

• Safeguard and integrate the Alexian charism and values into all ministry

initiatives.

• Ensure ministries reflect:

o Compassionate presence and care;

o Service to the marginalized;

o Relational accompaniment ("Brother's Presence").

• Maintain fidelity to Catholic and Christian principles in all operations and

partnerships.

3. Strategic Growth & Sustainability

• Conduct ongoing evaluation of ministry effectiveness, sustainability and

mission alignment with the Alexian Brothers charism and values.

• Develop strategic plans for long-term viability of ministries.

• Explore partnerships, funding opportunities, and collaborative efforts to

trengthen impact.

• Align ministry development with broader Unit strategic planning efforts.

4. Vocations Integration

• Intentionally design ministries that serve as entry points for discernment and

vocational awareness.

• Collaborate closely with the Vocation Director and vocation team.

• Ensure ministries create opportunities for:

o Relationship building;

o Exposure to the life and mission of the Alexian Brothers.

• Embrace the model:

Ministry feeds vocations Vocations feed ministry.

5. Volunteer Program Development

• Build and oversee a structured volunteer program across ministries.

• Develop a "volunteer-to-vocation" pathway, fostering deeper engagement

and discernment.

• Recruit, form, and retain volunteers aligned with the charism, mission and

values of the Alexian Brothers.

• Provide formation opportunities rooted in charism, service, and faith by

working with the Director of Vocations.

6. Community Presence & Awareness

• Establish a strong and visible Alexian Brothers presence in Milwaukee and

possibly Chicago.

• Increase awareness of the Alexian Brothers Congregation, its mission, and

ministries.

• Represent the Alexian Brothers in civic, ecclesial, and nonprofit settings.

• Promote storytelling and engagement that highlights impact, values and

charism.

7. Innovation in Ministry

• Identify and develop overlooked ministries that are:

o Underserved or overlooked;

o Aligned with the Brothers' historical mission (care for the sick, poor,

marginalized);

o Responsive to contemporary needs (e.g., trauma care, transitional

housing, accompaniment ministries).

• Encourage creative, "hands on" approaches rooted in relational ministry.

Key Competencies

• Understanding of Catholic/Christian social teaching and religious life.

• Ability to integrate mission, strategy, and operations.

• Proven leadership in nonprofit, ministry, or mission-driven environments.

• Skilled in relationship-building, collaboration, and community engagement.

• Visionary thinker with the ability to implement practical, sustainable

olutions.

Success Measures

• Development of new ministries aligned with charism and community needs.

• Growth in volunteer engagement and structured pathways to vocations.

• Increased visibility and awareness of the Alexian Brothers.

• Demonstrated integration of ministry and vocation efforts.

• Sustainable ministry models with measurable community impact.

Guiding Principle

At the heart of this role is a living cycle:

Ministry Relationship Encounter Discernment Vocation

Ministry

This position ensures that the Alexian Brothers remain a visible, compassionate

presence in the world-where service to those in need becomes the doorway to

deeper transformation, both for those served and those called.

Equal employment opportunity employer


Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

Fraud prevention notice


Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.

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Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate all administrative operations, including setting priorities, assigning workloads, and ensuring high-quality output.
• Develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures to maintain compliance with regulatory standards.
• Lead talent management efforts, including hiring, training, performance evaluations, and staff development.
• Manage budgets and departmental activities, ensuring cost-effective operations aligned with organizational goals while serving as a key resource for stakeholders.

Qualifications

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience and 1 year of cumulative leadership experience required OR 4 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience and 1 year of cumulative leadership experience required.