Senior Ministry Advisor Early Childhood, K-12 Education

Job Description

SENIOR MINISTRY ADVISOR EARLY CHILDHOOD & K-12 EDUCATION

FSI Senior Ministry Advisor ("SMA"): Early Childhood and K-12 Education has oversight responsibility for the Felician Sponsored Ministries in the Early Childhood Education ("ECE") and K-12 Education Affinity Groups.

Oversight responsibilities include providing direction and serving as a resource to CEOs/Presidents of the ECE and K-12 ministries. With support from the FSI Strategic Governance & Leadership Team, assures the integrity of the Felician reserved powers related to Mission Integration and Catholic Identity, Governance-Strategic (Board) and Operational (leadership), Educational Program/Service Quality, Financial Viability, and Corporate Compliance at the Sponsored Ministries.

The SMA represents and serves the Felician Sisters of North America ("FSNA") as the Corporate Member's (FSI) representative on ECE and K-12 ministry Boards of Directors. As an expert in Catholic Education Leadership, the SMA establishes effective relationships with sponsored ministry Boards and CEOs/Presidents, Mission Leaders, and other Senior Leaders to accomplish these responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Governance
-Safeguards and represents the Felician Sisters' and Felician Services' interests to the ECE and K-12 CEOs/President, Boards, and the community.

-Acts as the communication channel and liaison between the ministry CEO/President, Felician Services, and the Our Lady of Hope Provincial Council ("OLHP").

-Assures that the ministry CEO/President honors and implements the reserved powers delegated to FSI by OLHP.

-Assures oversight by the corporate member and recommends by-law changes as necessary.

-Serves as a Director and resource to the board of his/her assigned sponsored ministries and serves as a member of the executive committee and other committees, as appropriate.

-Ensures the recruitment and orientation of new ministry board directors and serves as a resource for assessing board performance.

-Facilitates the annual governance cycle for the assigned ministries in collaboration with the local Executive Committees.

-Works with ministry leadership to ensure an effective ministry planning process including -- the development, review and recommendation of long-range strategic plans that directs market positioning for the future; the establishment of collaborative initiatives to address unmet community needs; and other initiative-taking transformative work.

Mission Integration
-Supports and collaborates with the FSI Mission Integration Team ("MIT") regarding the effective implementation and oversight of the Felician Sisters' Mission Integration Policy.

-Financial Viability

-Collaborates with the FSI Financial Services Team to support the ministry finance team to assure that the sponsored ministry will continue to be a viable Felician ministry by

-Monitoring key indicators of ministry viability,

-Reporting results, exceptions, major issues/events and initiatives,

-Identifying and communicating opportunities and synergies between sponsored ministries.

-Ensures the financial health and long-term viability of his/her assigned ministry through effective oversight of resource allocation and management, bringing insights to the budgeting process, offering performance improvement strategies, and mobilizing contingency planning, as needed.

Program Quality
-Supports the ministry CEO/President in assessing, monitoring, and strengthening academic programs/services consistent with their mission, the Felician Core Values for Ministry, and overall excellence in Catholic Education.

-Champions the enhancement of the sponsored ministry's standing in the community.

Operational Leadership
-Supports the ministry CEO/President and senior leadership on operational best practices, innovation, and performance improvement in key result areas, i.e., leadership, enrollment and retention, marketing, advancement, facilities and master planning, information technology, hiring, accreditation, academic excellence, curriculum, instruction, and assessment, etc. As necessary, advises and supports the CEO/President the securing of competent consultation.

-Ensures and supports the effective performance reviews of the CEOs/Presidents of the sponsored ministries and facilitates, as needed, the annual CEO/President performance evaluation process.

Corporate Compliance
-Offers strategic and technical guidance on compliance including emerging compliance issues, risk management strategies, plans of correction, and other stakeholder communications.

-Ensures legal and ethical integrity and maintains accountability to safeguard the ministry's pursuit of its mission. Works with the FSI Corporate Compliance Officer to ensure a well-functioning ministry corporate compliance program and appropriate reporting to FSI.

ECE and K-12 Affinity Group Relationship
-Be an expert resource for all ECE and K-12 ministries.

-Host and facilitate Affinity Group roundtables to inform on matters of shared interest and build relationships among the senior leadership of the ministries.

-Monitor, assess, alert, and make recommendations to FSI leadership regarding trends, developments, and breakthroughs in the ECE and K-12 sectors.

QUALIFICATIONS - EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Master's Degree in Educational Leadership or other related field.

A minimum of 10 years of well documented experience to include progressively more responsible positions in administrative, supervisory, and governance roles.

Experience in academic operational oversight with a record of operational improvement and/or turn-arounds.

Preference for licensure as an academic administrator.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Servant leader with an understanding, respect, and commitment to living out Catholic Social Teaching and demonstrates a passion for the FSI's Mission, Vision, and Core Values as reflected in its Catholic Felician-Franciscan tradition.

Reflects working knowledge of Catholic-Sponsored Ministries.

Strong knowledge of the relationship of governance and operational roles in a corporate structure and sponsored ministries.

Highly relational, ability to connect with people and build relationships internally and externally in a variety of professional and community settings.

Must be candid, honest, and direct and project the highest personal integrity to foster trust in and outside the ministries with a willingness to speak up and address tough issues and be confident enough to admit when they do not know the answer.

Must be a great communicator, with the ability to communicate clearly and well with those who lead and work in the ministries and those served by them. S/he will be able to listen and respond, as well as "ask the questions not being asked."

Must have excellent sense of urgency, high level of energy, a tremendous work ethic and equally strong common sense, overall judgment and tact.

Strong business knowledge including strategic planning, budgeting, operations, and risk management.

Ability to monitor, assess, alert, and make recommendations to FSI leadership regarding trends, developments, and breakthroughs that potentially impact the ministries and/or need a response.

Deals effectively with conflict and resolves conflicts to preserve the dignity of those involved. Gives evidence of a high degree of sensitivity to persons and issues.

Holds a working knowledge of and/or comfort with distance communication (e.g., Microsoft Teams, WebEx, Zoom, etc.).

Exceptional understanding and utilization of software systems including time allocation reporting, calendaring, and more.

Strong presentation and public speaking skills.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This is a full-time position. This is a hybrid working position, with up to 60% of the time working on the road (at ministry) or elsewhere. Must be willing to contribute to an in-office presence as requested and needed.

Travel requirements

Travel to ministries required. Each ministry has approximately four to six Board meetings a fiscal year (some may be virtual). FSI has a travel reimbursement policy. Must have a valid US Passport and driver's license.

About the Employer

Felician Services, Inc. (FSI), a Catholic ministry, serves its sponsor, the Felician Sisters' Our Lady of Hope Province (OLHP) in Beaver Falls, PA, as the Sole Corporate Member of the Felician-Sponsored Ministries across North America.

By serving as an instrument of continuity across Provincial administrations, FSI supports these ministries in embracing and retaining their Felician identity and empowers lay women and men in managing and leading the Province's Felician-Sponsored Ministries.