Director of Ignatian Spirituality Center

Director of Ignatian Spirituality Center

Rockhurst University is looking for a dynamic, faith-filled team member to serve as Director of the Ignatian Spirituality Center. Founded by the Jesuits in 1910 and located in Kansas City, Missouri, Rockhurst is a comprehensive university of nearly 3,500 students that offers more than fifty undergraduate, master, and doctoral programs taught by nationally recognized faculty. Our mission is to form lifelong learners in the Catholic, Jesuit, liberal arts tradition who engage with the complexities of our world and serve others as compassionate, thoughtful leaders. Rockhurst is committed to creating a more just world through inclusive, innovative, and transformative education.

Reporting to the VP for Mission & Ministry, the full-time Director of the Ignatian Spirituality Center is responsible for providing strategic, spiritual, apostolic, and operational leadership for the Center and serving as the primary steward of its mission, programs, partnerships, volunteer ministry community, and organizational sustainability. The Director works collaboratively with the ISC Advisory Board and the Center’s core volunteer committees – including Program, Guide Formation, and Applications – in sustaining the mission, discernment, and apostolic life of the Center. Thus, this is a highly relational leadership role requiring pastoral presence, strong organizational leadership, strategic vision, and the ability to inspire and sustain a vibrant community of retreatants, spiritual directors, volunteers, donors, and institutional partners.  The Director will  ensure that the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life remain the Center’s primary mission and that the Center continues to serve the wider Kansas City community through a strong, volunteer-led ministry of trained prayer guides.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide strategic and spiritual leadership for the Ignatian Spirituality Center and its apostolic mission
• Oversee retreats, formation programs, spiritual accompaniment initiatives, and apostolic partnerships
• Support and sustain volunteer spiritual guide formation and lay apostolic leadership
• Foster strong relationships with Jesuit, ecclesial, civic, and university partners
• Provide operational oversight including budgeting, communications, advancement collaboration, marketing, assessment, and planning
• Collaborate with the ISC Advisory Board and core committees in sustaining the mission and life of the Center
• Support faculty and staff formation initiatives connected to Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit mission of Rockhurst University
• Represent the Center and the University within Ignatian and Jesuit networks and partnerships
• Perform other duties as assigned consistently with the mission and responsibilities of the position

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in theology, ministry, spirituality, higher education, nonprofit leadership, or related field strongly preferred
• Completion of the full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola
• Demonstrated knowledge of Ignatian spirituality, Jesuit mission, Catholic spiritual tradition, and an openness to engage in ecumenical relationships
• Five or more years of experience in spiritual formation, retreat ministry, pastoral leadership, higher education, nonprofit leadership, or related fields
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies including volunteers, clergy, faculty, administrators, benefactors, and community partners
• Strong organizational, strategic planning, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to provide pastoral leadership and spiritual accompaniment within a diverse community
• Commitment to the Catholic, Jesuit, and Ignatian traditions of Rockhurst University and the Ignatian Spirituality Center

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within Jesuit institutions or apostolic ministries
• Experience supporting volunteer leadership and advisory board governance
• Familiarity with fundraising, advancement, and mission-centered communications
• Experience with strategic planning, organizational leadership, and program assessment
• Experience coordinating retreats, spiritual formation programs, or adult faith formation initiatives
• Ability to build relationships with the Catholic community and other Christian denominations

Interested candidates should apply with a cover letter which includes salary requirements, a resume, and contact information for three professional references. Rockhurst cannot accept any application materials (resumes, cover letters, etc.) by email, mail, or walk-in. All applications and application materials must be submitted through our online application system.  Review of applications will begin the week of September 14 and continue until the position is filled. 

Rockhurst University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Rockhurst University uses E-Verify.