Director, Marriage, Family & Respect Life

POSITION TITLE: Director, Marriage, Family & Respect Life

DEPARTMENT: Marriage, Family & Respect Life

REPORTS TO: Chancellor

CLASSIFICATION: Regular, Full-Time, Exempt

HOURS PER WEEK: 40

POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Marriage, Family & Respect Life provides leadership, coordination, and strategic support for marriage preparation, family ministry, and respect life ministry throughout the Archdiocese of Omaha. The Director develops and maintains ministry standards, resources, training opportunities, and best practices while fostering collaboration among parish leaders and volunteers. The Director equips and mentors parish ministry leaders through formation, networking, consultation, and ongoing support. Additionally, the Director serves as a central resource for policy guidance, program development, and ministry initiatives that strengthen marriage, family life, and respect for the dignity of every human person.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provide strategic leadership for marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, family ministry, and respect life initiatives in alignment with the Archbishop's pastoral priorities and goals.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate diocesan policies, standards, and best practices related to marriage preparation, family ministry, and respect life ministries, ensuring consistency across parishes.
• Plan and coordinate formation and enrichment opportunities regarding marriage preparation, marriage, family life, and respect life through workshops, retreats, conferences, webinars, and events for clergy, parish staff, ministry leaders, and laity.
• Recruit volunteers as needed to assist with and coordinate events.
• Create, evaluate, and recommend to parish ministry leaders curricula, resources, and ministry tools that support marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, family life, and respect life efforts.
• Create and execute a respect life strategic plan for the post-Roe work and raise up the dignity of the human person.
• Facilitate collaboration and communication among parishes, creating opportunities for peer networking, sharing best practices, and mutual support among ministry leaders regarding marriage preparation, family ministry, and respect life ministry
• Provide consultation and direct support to pastors, parish staff, and ministry leaders regarding program development, pastoral challenges, implementation of diocesan initiatives, and ministry effectiveness regarding marriage preparation, family ministry, and respect life ministry.
• Support and strengthen parish respect life ministries by providing formation, approved resources, guidance on advocacy and outreach efforts
• Communicate and coordinate with local and national Catholic pro-life organizations.
• Work with the Nebraska Catholic Conference when requested on issues regarding marriage, family, and respect life.
• Assess ministry needs regarding marriage preparation, family life, and respect life ministries, gather feedback, and evaluate outcomes to ensure diocesan support services remain responsive, effective, and aligned with the needs of parishes, families and ministry leaders.
• Development of and support to ministries to those on the peripheries of marriage and family life, such as widows, divorced, adult children of divorce, pregnant women in need, women who have suffered miscarriages, those in need of after abortion care, etc.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
• Knowledge of Catholic teaching and pastoral practice related to marriage, family life, human dignity, and respect life issues.
• Ability to develop, organize, and evaluate ministry programs and initiatives, including planning, implementation, and assessment of diocesan and parish-level efforts.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and relationship-building skills with the ability to recruit, mentor, and support clergy, parish staff, volunteers, and ministry leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information, facilitate meetings, conduct training sessions, and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple parishes and ministries, fostering teamwork, networking, and the sharing of resources and best practices.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate events and formation opportunities, and work independently with attention to detail.
• Prepare and administer the departmental budget.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Active, practicing Catholic in full communion with the Catholic Church, with a demonstrated commitment to the mission and teachings of the Church.
• Master’s Degree in theology, or a marriage and family life related field or equivalent work experience is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in parish, diocesan, or Catholic apostolate ministry, with demonstrated experience in family and / or respect life, or related pastoral ministry required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
• Routine office environment; ADA-accessible building.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as ministry responsibilities or events require.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
• Approximately 10-15%; Travel throughout the Archdiocese of Omaha to meet with pastors, parish staff, and others as necessary. Occasional overnight travel may be required for meetings, conferences, parish visits, and other ministry responsibilities.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Employees of the of the Archdiocese of Omaha will have knowledge of the Catholic faith, a willingness to work for a Catholic, faith-based organization and adhere to the policies of the Archdiocese of Omaha. Employees will not publicly oppose the teachings of the Catholic faith nor publicly advocate for any position in conflict with Catholic teaching, or the specific positions of the Archdiocese of Omaha or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This requirement includes any public speech, demonstration or writing including the use of social media or other digital technologies.