Coordinator of Rural Ministry Program

Summary: The Coordinator of the Rural Ministry Program is a fully bilingual individual that leads the project “Caminando Juntos: Accompanying Small-Town and Rural Pastoral Ministers,” serving dioceses primarily in the Southwest region. This person accompanies and supports the partner dioceses to expand or implement Small-Town and Rural Ministries. The Coordinator, under the direction MACC’s President, ensures there is a comprehensive strategy for outreach and support to partner dioceses in the region and works with the Director of Regional Programs to ensure the integration of students fully online in all courses taught at MACC. Working with the President, the Academic Dean, faculty and administrative staff, the Program Coordinator will (1) Direct MACC’s efforts to support partner dioceses in implementing or expanding diocesan outreach in Small-Towns and Rural areas of a given diocese; (2) In collaboration with the Coordinator of Lifelong Learning, lead the curricular activities of young adults from the partner dioceses in MACC’s Young Adult Formation Program; (3) Work with the Director of Regional Programs regarding the academic curriculum and accompaniment of students from the partner dioceses to ensure a holistic approach to ministry formation; and (4) Help cultivate and support on-going relationships with Catholic bishops, diocesan offices and parishes.

The role of the Program Director requires a fundamental integration of the New Evangelization and the formation of Missionary Discipleship in a pastoral de conjunto to support dioceses in reaching out to the farthest and smallest areas of a diocese, and form ministers in service of the multicultural pastoral needs of children, youth, young adults, adults (as couples, and also men and women separately), seniors and persons with disabilities.

Position Responsibilities:

• Implement (weekly online meetings, monthly webinars, and individual accompaniment) and refine (through monthly meetings with diocesan coordinators) a comprehensive strategy for supporting dioceses in the Southwest Region of the U.S. as well as other dioceses in the area in expanding or starting a comprehensive outreach to their small towns and rural areas
• Use all the technological tools available for the Church and professional training markets, especially tailored online teaching and meeting
• Ongoing problem solving and research for new training methods of ministry development for both young adults and adults in ministry
• Engages and coordinates national and regional partners so they can offer the monthly webinars to the partner dioceses.
• The coordinator develops models of comprehensive formation that take into account the multicultural reality of the church
• Maintains regular communication with the diocesan coordinators regarding project advancement, curriculum and student performance
• Maintains the records of the project and ensures that benchmarks and key performance indicators are monitored and documented
• Creates the yearly grant report as well as coordinates with the diocesan partners the receipt of program highlights from the dioceses
• Supervises the administrative assistant
• Works with the Grants Accountant to ensure subgrants to the dioceses are paid on time and that all program expenses are accounted properly
• Informs diocesan coordinators of any issues regarding student participation and completion of courses, and meets with the diocesan coordinator and Director of Regional Programs whenever necessary
• Assists in the enrollment process of new students as needed
• Assists in addressing issues that arise regarding student performance, in collaboration with Director of Regional Programs (for students in the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program) or with the Coordinator of Lifelong Learning (for students in the Young Adult Leadership Formation Program)
• Participates in regularly scheduled staff meetings at MACC in person
• Serves as a member of the Student Academic Success Committee (SAS) and participates in the committee meetings
• Is aware of the national trends, important documents and resources that are available
• Participates in professional associations, when possible, to expand knowledge of national and international issues influencing the Church and to develop a network of useful contacts
• Regularly engage in personal growth, professional development, theological study, prayer, charity and justice work, and spiritual formation
• Adhering to safety training and protocols on a daily basis and taking precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of self, others.
• Responsible for protecting the confidentiality of any information or material obtained in the service with the organization to include but not limited to students’ names and information, services rendered to students, donors names and gifts, internal and external investigations or results of any investigations, and financial information.
• Adherence to the Code of Conduct and the Faith and Moral Policy is mandatory.
• Every employee is required to take a solution-oriented approach in their interactions and undertakings, as well as being a team member that promotes collaboration and commitment to the Mission and Vision of the organization.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry, theology, religious studies, education, or business administration required.

Experience

• Minimum of five (3) to five (5) years of teaching or pastoral and management/administrative experience with background in program development, evaluation, Program/Project Management, or other related experience.
• Demonstrated excellence in networking, online communications, organization and service in the School and profession.
• Knowledge and experience of one or more areas of ministerial practice, such as congregational studies, pastoral care, catechetics, justice ministries, rural ministry, spirituality, and intercultural ministry, most especially with Hispanic and Asian American communities.

Minimum Knowledge and Skills:

• Must be bilingual in English and Spanish;
• Must be a Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church
• Thorough knowledge of the Catholic Church Magisterium;
• Demonstrate maturity as a person (being), believer (knowing) and apostle (knowing how) as outlined in the General Directory for Catechesis and National Directory for Catechesis;
• Proven ability to design and develop talks, presentations, and educational and skill training programs, and the technical support for required for these;
• Excellent ability to comprehend and explain complex, semi-complex policy and procedure;
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and project management experience;
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs and excellence in organizational and project management with the ability to achieve strategic objectives;
• Strong analytical skills; basic business intuition, and prudential judgment;
• Strong problem-solving skills; able to see problems in context of the local Church and think through consequences of solutions in a swift manner;
• Ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders with impeccable integrity;
• Excellent collaborative team leadership and program coordination skills;
• Excellent diplomacy, tact and strong negotiation skills;
• Excellent public speaking skills, detailed planning and organizational skills;
• Experience with a range computer software, Learning Management Systems, and Microsoft Office Suite;
• Must be organized, self-motivated, work well independently and on a team;
• Must have good written and verbal skills;
• Must have good critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel requirements for the position includes some regional travel (10%), some local travel (5%) and 5% overnight.