In close consultation with the Executive Director of the Gibbons Institute, the Managing Director of the St. Nicholas Initiative oversees the development and execution of the programs and administrative functions of the St. Nicholas Initiative.
The St. Nicholas Initiative is a signature initiative of the Institute's House of Family and Population, dedicated to the intrinsic value of marriage and children. Activities of the initiative include: (1) a multi-faceted program of preparation and education for the vocation of marriage; and (2) a multi-faceted research
arm with distinctive and high-profile analysis of marriage and family formation, fertility and demography, religion and religious practice, and the formation and education of children.
In close consultation with the Executive Director, the Managing Director will be responsible for the strategic planning and launching of the marriage formation program in its pilot year: developing and organizing lectures, curricular and extracurricular programming, discussions, opportunities for mentorship, and social events for
students at Catholic University. The position will also be essential to the integration of marriage formation into the University’s core curriculum, working closely with the University administration and Campus Ministry.
In addition, the Managing Director will provide administrative and research support to the Executive Director’s scholarly contributions to the Saint Nicholas Initiative, as well as other academic and logistical operations as needed to support the Executive Director’s role at the Institute as a teacher and scholar.
Consequently, the Gibbons Institute is seeking an individual who is eminently trustworthy and reliable; understands and cherishes the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage and family life; is ready to take initiative and to work independently; has good judgment; is positive, enthusiastic, and works well with others, particularly
undergraduate students; is self-motivated, hard-working, and able to work without constant supervision; has strong organizational abilities and attention to detail; and is strongly motivated by the Gibbons Institute’s mission to bring the truth of the Catholic intellectual tradition to the Catholic University campus and the wider public square.
The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, resourceful, and responsible, embodying the Institute’s patron virtues of wisdom, humility, and charity as we strive to foster open dialogue, intellectual friendship, and moral clarity. The ideal candidate will also be married–bringing lived experience of marriage to his or her formative role, and will be
an energetic advocate for the Church’s position on sanctity of life and openness to life.
Familiarity with basic accounting is strongly desired; a record of work in diocesan or retreat-based marriage formation is also strongly desired; and an exemplary track record for supporting executive-level work is also desired.
The projected salary range for this position, which represents the full range of anticipated compensation, is: $85,000 - $93,000 annually.
Plan and develop the formative activities of the initiative in its pilot year, in collaboration with the Executive Director, ensuring a sustainable model with room for expansion in future academic years.
1. Oversee and execute the planning of fireside chats and campus events with married couples for Catholic University undergraduate students.
2. Identify and implement opportunities for mentorship and social events for undergraduate students on dating and marriage.
3. Work closely with the Institute’s media firm to update and manage the St. Nicholas Initiative's online presence through the Institute’s website, email, and social media, including creative audio and video programming.
4. Represent and advertise formative offerings to students at on-campus events and fairs, as well as at select off-campus events.
5. Serve as the primary liaison with Campus Ministry and the Center for Student Engagement to collaborate on and promote the Saint Nicholas Initiative.
6. Draft reports and updates for a variety of audiences, including donors and key stakeholders, about the Saint Nicholas Initiative's progress and updates.
7. Develop and make use of assessment strategies to understand baseline attitudes, beliefs, and habits related to marriage, for comparison with exit attitudes, beliefs, and habits.
8. In consultation with the Executive Director and the University administration, work to integrate marriage formation into the University’s core curriculum, either
9. Marriage, Family, and Social Order (SRES 345) or a substantial portion of its contents into a new course in a revised core curriculum.
10. Contribute administrative and research support to the Executive Director’s research projects on marriage and family, as well as other administrative tasks as needed to support the Executive Director’s role at the Institute.
Education and Experience:
● Bachelor's degree
● Minimum 3-5 years in a program management position, preferably in a university setting and/or
student-facing role
● Demonstrated track record of successful program development and strategic planning
● Proven administrative and research experience
● Strong project management, and organizational abilities
● Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills
● Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
● Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for events
● Experience in higher education or academic settings
● Firm understanding, belief, and knowledge of the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage and family life.
● Familiarity with Catholic higher education environment
● A strong desire to work with students and instill the beauty of marriage in the Catholic tradition