Director of Student Formation and Belonging

Catholic School in Cuyahoga Falls•Cuyahoga Falls, OH

About The Position

Walsh Jesuit High School is seeking a Director of Student Formation and Belonging to provide visionary leadership for student spiritual life, faith formation, equity and justice education, and to foster a deep sense of belonging within our community. This position plays a central role in advancing the school’s mission by fostering students’ spiritual growth, moral development, and sense of belonging. The Director of Student Formation and Belonging reports to the Vice President for Mission and Identity and leads a team of 3–4 full-time professional ministers to help form our students in the dimensions of faith, justice, and belonging. This position relates directly to the Director of Adult Formation and Belonging, who together with the Vice President for Mission and Identity constitute the core mission management team. As such, the mission directors function analogously to, and collaborate directly with, assistant principals, advancement directors, athletic administrators and others who have both managerial and operational roles. The work schedule for this 10+ month position generally mirrors the academic calendar for the school with the expectation that the director will also work approximately 15 days each summer (including one additional week at the beginning and the conclusion of the summer break). The portfolio of responsibilities is divided among visioning, management, and assisting with the direct implementation and execution of specific programs while actively providing a ministry of presence and witness to the school community.

Requirements

Practicing Catholic with a deep understanding of and commitment to Ignatian spirituality
Master’s degree in theology, pastoral ministry, religious education, or a related field
Minimum of 5–10 years of professional ministry and/or administrative leadership experience, preferably in a Catholic secondary school
Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing complex student programs.
Strong pastoral presence and ability to connect with adolescents.
Excellent communication, organizational, and collaborative leadership skills.
Commitment to Jesuit values, faith-based student formation, and inclusive community-building.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership
Supervise and mentor a team of 3–4 professional full-time ministers in the areas of faith, justice, belonging, and programming to instill and maintain a strong service and mission oriented culture for students.
Identify and support a group of adjunct staff to assist with specific initiatives (liturgies, prayer services etc.)
Deliver training and ongoing support to ministers and students.
Student Formation & Belonging
Design and implement a longitudinal formation program to follow and accompany students during their four years including the development of formation portfolios that students build through reflection on and engagement with the characteristics of a Graduate at Graduation (“Grad at Grad”): open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, committed to doing justice)
Support and direct student programs that foster growth in the areas of faith, justice, and belonging.
Faith (sacraments, prayer initiatives, retreats, pilgrimages)
Belonging (pastoral care, especially for underrepresented students and students feeling disconnected; restorative practices; thematic programs; family engagement)
Justice (service, outreach, justice organizations and events, immersion trips)
Help plan and lead students on at least one experience in each area of formation (retreat, mission trip, belonging initiative) annually.
Mission Integration
Actively collaborate with the Director of Adult Formation and Belonging and personnel across the school to integrate formation and belonging into the life of the school.
Foster development and implementation of school-wide mission initiatives and events.
Ministry of Presence
Embrace, witness, and support Ignatian, Catholic, Gospel values in professional and personal conduct
Regular participation in Ignatian formation activities including the school’s formal formation program, school masses, retreats, and other activities/events as scheduled.