Chancellor, Director of Canonical and Civil Affairs

Job Description

Download Job Description at: https://saginaw.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/Chancellor-JDrv2024.pdf

Purpose:
The purpose of the offices of the Diocese of Saginaw is to foster effective evangelization, collaboration, and communication among the priests, deacons, religious, and lay Faithful; leverage the collective gifts and talents of the local Church to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed; and share, under the guidance of the Bishop, the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ in joyful expectation of a New Pentecost.

Core Values:
All ministerial team members serving in the diocesan offices give witness to the following in their daily service:
Rooted in faith: prayerful, anchored in the Holy Spirit, nourished by the Eucharist; transformed in faith and love of the Lord
Focused on relationship: trustworthy, considerate, empathetic; good follow-up and follow through
Equipped to facilitate solutions: competent, collaborative; engaging
Guided by proactive listening: responsive, open to feedback, reliable, observant
Animated by shared mission: resilient, resourceful, focused, courageous, humble

Position Summary
The Chancellor is responsible for assuring that the canonical and civil law records of the Diocese are properly prepared and maintained. The person named as Chancellor is freely named and removed by the Bishop. The Office of the Chancellor works closely with the bishop and the Vicar General in the governance of the diocese.

The position as Director oversees diocesan legal and canonical matters, working with legal consultants and includes supervision of the archives.

The Delegate for Safe Environment oversees all aspects of the Safe Environment Policy, including education and prevention, implementation of the Code of Conduct, criminal background checks, outreach to victims, and communication with the Diocesan Review Board.

The chancellor is the diocesan notary, establishing the authenticity of the acts of the diocesan curia and ensuring that such acts and historical documents are safely stored in the diocesan archives. The chancellor is also responsible for sacramental records and the diocesan archives, which are directly cared for by the archivist.

Desired Qualifications:
Education and/or Experience:
Education as attorney and/or as a canonist
Strong writing and oral communication skills, organizational expertise, analytical ability, and facility in the use of a computer
At least 5 years' administrative experience working for a diocese or Catholic organization

Critical Qualifications/Skills:
Catholic knowledgeable of the organization of the Roman Catholic Church
Business skills in working with and forming corporations, trusts or other legal entities, preparing for meetings, maintaining records, documenting processes, and developing schedules
5 or more years administrative and supervisory experience is preferred, with proven project management ability
Ability to work independently and as a team member, attention to detail, and capacity to maintain professional discretion
Capacity to meet deadlines and to present material in a professional and useful manner
Excellent organization, writing, communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills
Understanding and commitment to professional confidentiality
Valid driver's license

Additional Requirements:
The applicant must attend the Diocese of Saginaw Safe Environment Training for new hire employees within the first 30 days of hire.
The applicant must successfully complete a criminal background check, pre-employment physical and drug screening.

Chancellor - KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS

• Plan and establish legal and canonical entities
• Organize documentation of corporations and communicate with contact persons and board members to set meetings, share documentation, respond to inquiries
• Develop policies, statutes, guidelines
• Track canonical and legal concerns, assuring proper record-keeping and facilitating communication
• Assist in the transition of diocesan records to electronic format
• Communicate with affiliated organizations, as needed

Delegate for Safe Environment - KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS
• Develop, with the Review Board, safe environment policies and programs and carry out the policies
• With the chair of the Review Board and legal counsel, prepare for meetings of the diocesan Review Board
• Maintain records regarding criminal background checks, safe environment training, education for children and youth, and allegations, contact with victims
• Assure proper investigation of allegations and documentation of concerns, communication with legal counsel, diocesan Review Board and Bishop
• Prepare for and participate in audits and surveys sponsored through the USCCB
• Oversee safe environment compliance

DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES- KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS
• Collaborate with archives to assure proper maintenance of historical records
• Facilitate the comprehensive operations of Youth and Child Protection Office, to assure accurate record-keeping, effective training, and data collection
• Collaborate with consultants and other diocesan and parish personnel as needed.
• Develop and maintain departmental mission and vision and cohesive working relationship among colleagues

About the Employer

The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw was established on February 26, 1938 by Pope Pius XI. Its territory included 16 counties, carved out the Diocese of Grand Rapids and the Archdiocese of Detroit, in Michigan's "thumb and index finger."

Today, the Saginaw diocese covers 11 counties in eastern mid-Michigan within the Roman Catholic Province of Detroit: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac, and Tuscola.

The diocese encompasses 6,955-square-miles of land and is home to an estimated 132,000 Catholics, according to the 2000 Census.