Director of Strategic Initiatives

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

The Director of Impact serves as a senior strategic partner to the President and School Leadership Team, advancing the mission of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School by facilitating governance excellence, leading strategic planning processes, strengthening relationships with key organizational partners, and cultivating a vibrant professional culture. Assisting the President, this role provides executive-level representation across cross-functional initiatives, drives institutional alignment, and moves high-priority special projects forward with clarity and accountability. This role is designed for a mission-driven leader who moves fluidly between high-level strategy and hands-on facilitation, bringing people, data, and ideas together to drive institutional impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
Demonstrates commitment to the Catholic and Jesuit mission of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
Experience in a complex organizational environment, with exposure to governance, strategic planning, or institutional leadership
Strong project management and organizational skills, with a track record of managing multiple priorities with follow-through and attention to detail
Outstanding written and interpersonal communication skills; able to build trust with board members, staff, and external partners
High degree of discretion, judgment, and professional maturity when handling sensitive or confidential information

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in education, nonprofit management, organizational development, or a related field preferred
Experience supporting nonprofit or school governance boards
Familiarity with the Cristo Rey Network, Jesuit Schools Network, or Catholic school ecosystems
Background in organizational development, culture-building, or professional learning design
Experience with strategic planning processes, including facilitation and data management

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary staff liaison to the Cristo Rey Jesuit Governance Board, supporting the President in all board-related matters
Ensure productive, mission-aligned board meetings through agenda development, pre-meeting preparation, and post-meeting follow-up
Provide dedicated support to board committees, subcommittees, and working groups - including scheduling, materials preparation, minutes, and action tracking
Maintain the board's online portal, ensure bylaw compliance, and record governance changes with accuracy and care
Assist the President with board recruitment, orientation, and ongoing engagement
Coordinate with the school's external strategic planning consultant, serving as a key internal point of contact and project manager
Facilitate cross-departmental conversations to surface opportunities for collaboration and alignment across school functions, working closely with senior leaders to break down departmental silos and track progress on institutional initiatives
Support data collection, tracking, and reporting related to strategic plan metrics; conduct post-project evaluations to assess institutional impact and program effectiveness, gather stakeholder feedback, and document best practices
Design and facilitate strategic planning sessions, retreats, and working meetings with senior and extended leadership
Represent the Office of the President on internal cross-functional committees and working groups to ensure alignment; lead and advance special projects assigned directly by the President; proactively identify operational bottlenecks, resource constraints, or timeline risks, propose solutions, and assist with solution implementation.
Serve as a key institutional liaison to the Cristo Rey Network, Jesuit Schools Network, and Midwest Jesuits, supporting CRJ's active participation in and compliance with each organization
Coordinate and prepare materials for site visits, reporting requirements, and network convenings in partnership with the President and relevant staff
Track deliverables, deadlines, and commitments across network relationships, ensuring CRJ meets its obligations with excellence
Partner closely with Human Resources to design and implement a cohesive professional development strategy that supports staff growth and mission alignment
Lead planning and facilitation of school-wide professional development days and related programming, ensuring content is mission-aligned, purposeful, inclusive, and impactful
Develop and steward ongoing culture initiatives that deepen belonging, connection, and shared mission across CRJ's staff community
Assess staff needs and gather feedback to continuously improve PD and culture offerings
Other duties as assigned