Director, Reasearch and Planning Office

Job Description

Purpose

The Director of the Research and Planning Office advances the mission of the Diocese of Rockford by serving as its principal researcher, planner, and evaluator. The director's primary focus is to assist diocesan leadership and offices in understanding and responding to the present and future needs of the diocese. Recognizing that effective planning requires meaningful consultation, the director also supports, strengthens, and partners with the consultative structures at the diocesan, parish, and school levels.

Responsibilities and Duties

It is expected that the Director of Research and Planning will be involved in four primary areas: Research and Evaluation, Planning and Training, Diocesan Archives, and Special Projects.

A. Research and Evaluation

To aid diocesan and parish leadership in responding to present and future needs of the diocese, the following responsibilities and duties are necessary:

1. Parish profiles. The annual report on each parish includes important demographic and financial information, as well as other key parish information.
2. Mass counts. The report includes actual attendance across all diocesan venues for a two-week period, an analysis of current realities, and historical trends.
3. Parish Priest Database. This electronic database links all priests who have every served in the diocese with all parishes, providing both current and historical reports.
4. Catholic Population and Demographic Trends. Analyze the current secular and Catholic population to assist diocesan leadership in better understanding the faithful of the diocese. Included in this area of responsibility is the annual calculation of the Catholic population estimate.
5. Ad Hoc Projects and Reports. This area of responsibility includes surveys, demographic analyses, and interpretation of various secular and sacred trends. Past examples of such projects include community demographic analysis, enrollment studies, Mass attendance trends, population changes, and various reports for the capital campaign.

B. Planning and Training

The strengthening of consultative structures at both the diocesan and parish levels requires positive principles of organizational development and training, as seen in the following areas.

1. Diocesan Pastoral Council. Serve as Executive Secretary. Duties include recruiting and vetting new council members, collaborating with the bishop to prepare meeting agendas, organizing the meeting, and managing council membership.
2. Pastoral Council Training. Offer on-site training for individual parishes, localized training at the area level, and web-based training.
3. Strategic Planning at the Parish Level. Serve parishes requesting assistance with planning.
4. Strategic Planning at the Diocesan Level. Provide comprehensive planning services to diocesan offices, schools, and other entities, as requested.
5. Analysis and Communication. Analyze data and findings and communicate them clearly and persuasively in writing and through presentations to parishes, committees, and diocesan leadership.

C. Diocesan Archives

According to Canon Law, the chancellor of a diocese is its official archivist. The Director of Research and Planning plays a key role in aiding the chancellor in the following areas.
1. Re-organization and Maintenance. Maintain, organize, and support the continued development of the diocesan archives and historical records, ensuring materials are properly preserved, organized and accessible.
2. Historical and Institutional Research. Conduct historical and institutional research using archival records, internal files, and publicly available sources to support the research needs of diocesan leadership, offices, parishes, and schools.

D. Special Projects

The Director of Research and Planning assists common diocesan efforts and other diocesan offices.

1. Special Projects. Provide leadership and coordination to ensure major diocesan projects and initiatives are completed in a timely and effective manner. These projects include initiatives such as school consolidations, the Synod on Synodality, the Quinquennial Report, the You Will Be My Witnesses capital campaign, and other diocesan priorities as assigned.
2. Consultation and Facilitation. Serve as a resource to diocesan leadership and offices as they evaluate programs, services, initiatives, and organizational changes. Provide research, analysis, consultation and facilitation to help identify needs, evaluate options, support informed decision-making, and improve the effectiveness of diocesan ministries and operations.
3. Other Duties. Accepts other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

E. Professional and Spiritual Development

To be effective in the four-fold focus of Research and Evaluation, Planning and Training, Diocesan Archives, and Special Projects, the Director of Research and Planning will expand their skills and develop a healthy sense of Christian discipleship.

1. Best Practices: Stay informed of current trends and best practices within the Catholic Church in terms of research, ministry, administration, and other issues that impact the Church.
2. Individual Discipleship. The Director of Research and Planning is meant to be more than a technical, professional position that can be filled outside of a faith context. The director should be an engaged, practicing Catholic who is devoted to the Church and active in a parish.

F. Administration

The Research and Planning Office shall be administered in an effective and responsible manner, with appropriate stewardship of diocesan resources and in accordance with diocesan policies, procedures, and guidelines.

1. Financial Administration. Manage the financial administration of the Research and Planning Office in accordance with diocesan policies and procedures. Responsibilities include developing and managing the annual office budget; establishing and monitoring office spending priorities; processing invoices and other expenditures; maintaining and reconciling financial records in QuickBooks, monitoring budget performance; and preparing quarterly reconciliations and other documents required for diocesan reporting and audit purposes.
2. Priority Management. Manage and prioritize the director's involvement in multiple diocesan, parish and school projects and responsibilities to ensure the effective use of time and completion of work. When necessary, the moderator of the curia may assist the director in establishing priorities among competing needs.

II. Qualifications

The Director of the Research and Planning Office should have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities.
1. Faith and Mission: Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church and possess a deep commitment to its mission.
2. Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant experience in ministry leadership, diocesan leadership, or leadership in an educational or non-profit setting. Executive-level leadership preferred.
3. Education: a bachelor's degree in the social sciences, library sciences, business administration, or related field. A master's degree or higher is preferred.
4. Analytical Skills: Strong analytical, research, and critical thinking skills, with proficiency in data analysis software like Microsoft Excel and/or SPSS.
5. Communication: Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate with co-workers, clergy, and laity.
6. Collaboration: strong collaborative skills, including the ability to listen to others, engage in open dialog, and arrive at a consensus. Experience facilitating meetings, focus groups and planning sessions is highly desired.
7. Technical Skills: proficient in using Adobe, Microsoft's Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and willing to learn Alpha Five (a database application used for the parish-priest database).
8. Organization: strong organizational ability, necessary for organizing the diocesan archives, and a willingness to develop skills in library science for this purpose
9. Other: Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends, and the ability to travel within the diocese as needed.

Application Process:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Janet Jensen at jjensen@rockforddiocese.org. Employment is contingent upon compliance with diocesan Safe Environment policies and ongoing adherence to ethical standards consistent with Catholic teaching.

All offers of employment are conditional pending criminal history background and reference checks and approval to hire.

About the Employer

We, the People of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford, are called by the Father through baptism to be the new People of God. United in faith and relying on the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, we have access to the redeeming love of Jesus, the Christ, and are called to share in his mission to proclaim the Reign of God in Word, Sacrament and Service.