Chief Executive Officer

Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington (CCDA) seeks a faith-filled, mission-driven President & CEO to provide executive leadership and advance its Catholic mission across the Diocese. Appointed by the Bishop, the CEO will lead programs, people, and resources, aligning culture with Gospel values and the Church’s teachings.

The role requires a track record of strategic leadership, financial oversight, and fundamental fundraising expertise to serve the poor and vulnerable with humility and

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of senior executive or organizational leadership experience, ideally including nonprofit, Catholic, human-services, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success leading people, building teams, and creating a healthy organizational culture.
• History of understanding, communicating and reducing risk for the organization.
• Strong strategic, operational, and financial leadership capabilities, including experience overseeing complex budgets and multiple programs or business units.
• A record of building trusted relationships with boards, donors, employees, volunteers, community leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to support and lead fundraising efforts, particularly donor engagement and relationship development.
• Excellent written, verbal, and public communication skills.
• Ability to represent the Church and CCDA effectively with Catholic and non-Catholic audiences and community partners.
• Collaborative leadership style marked by sound judgment, humility, integrity, accountability, and a genuine desire to serve.
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Experience working successfully within the Catholic Church or a Catholic organization is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a visible and compelling witness to the Catholic identity and mission of CCDA.
• Provide overall leadership and direction for CCDA’s programs, operations, staff, and organizational culture.
• Execute the plans and priorities of the Bishop and Board of Directors to fulfill their vision for Catholic Charities within the Diocese.
• Build, develop, and lead a strong executive team and foster a healthy, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture.
• Keep the Board informed of organizational performance, opportunities, challenges, risks, and emerging needs.
• Ensure CCDA operates with integrity and in compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and standards.
• Represent CCDA within the Diocese and with community, government, nonprofit, CCUSA, grants and human-service partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Fundraising leadership

Donor relations

Public speaking

Financial acumen

Risk management

Team building

Board relations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington (CCDA) seeks a faith-filled, experienced, and mission-driven executive to serve as its next President & Chief Executive Officer. Appointed by Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, the President & CEO provides executive leadership for CCDA and is responsible for advancing its Catholic mission, leading its people and programs, stewarding its resources, and strengthening its impact throughout the Diocese.

At the heart of this role is a commitment to the Catholic Church’s call to serve those most in need with dignity, compassion, and love. The President & CEO will ensure that CCDA’s Catholic identity is not simply reflected in its programs, but animates the culture and work of the entire organization. Through personal witness and organizational leadership, the President & CEO will foster a culture rooted in the Gospel and the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church. The President and CEO operates under the authority of the Bishop and his Episcopal Vicar for Charitable Works, with the oversight of the Board of Directors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

CATHOLIC MISSION & LEADERSHIP

• Serve as a visible and compelling witness to the Catholic identity and mission of CCDA.
• Ensure that Catholic teaching and the vision of the Bishop inform CCDA’s culture, programs, policies, and strategic priorities.
• Foster a spirit of service and mutual cooperation among employees, volunteers, donors, and other stakeholders, helping them understand their work as participation in the mission of the Church.
• Build strong relationships throughout the Diocese, including with the poor and needy of our diocese, the Bishop, clergy, Chancery leadership, parishes, Catholic schools, employees, volunteers, and the faithful.
• Comfortably and authentically integrate prayer and Catholic teaching into the life and leadership of the organization.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY

• Provide overall leadership and direction for CCDA’s programs, operations, staff, and organizational culture.
• Execute the plans and priorities of the Bishop and the Board of Directors to fulfill their vision for Catholic Charities within the Diocese.
• Build, develop, and lead a strong executive team and foster a healthy, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture.
• Keep the Board informed of organizational performance, opportunities, challenges, risks, and emerging needs and opportunities.
• Ensure CCDA operates with integrity and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and professional standards.
• Represent CCDA within the Diocese and with community, government, nonprofit, CCUSA, grants and human-service partners.

BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP

• Ensure that the CFO accurately prepares budgets and reports of Catholic Charities, of each program and service delivery unit, and as may otherwise be required.
• Responsible to assure that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of CCDA provides the Finance Committee Chairperson of the Board of Directors with the necessary financials to create and execute an annual fiscal year budget that is approved by the Board of Directors and the Bishop.
• Investigate, consistent with the authorization of the Board of Directors, the viability and resource needs for the initiation of new programs and services of Catholic Charities.
• Oversee the organization’s financial structure, ensuring adequate and sound funding for the mission and goals of the organization.
• Is responsible for meeting all annual plans, including financial plans, every year.
• Review the financial results of all operations, comparing them with the organization’s objectives and budget and taking appropriate measures to continue growth and to correct unsatisfactory performance and results.
• Work with the CFO to ensure that the auditing process is positive, is not violating any important standards, and shows high integrity.
• Works cooperatively with the CCDA Risk Committee to be sure that all risks are reasonably reduced and are managed to the satisfaction of the Board and the Bishop.

DEVELOPMENT & EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Works cooperatively and productively with the Chief Development Officer of the Diocese of Arlington and the Development Staff assisting CCDA to assure that development goals are met.
• Actively cultivate, solicit, and steward significant major gifts, corporate gifts, and foundation gifts to fund the strategic priorities of CCDA.
• Play a key role in organizing the CCDA Annual Ball, including special gifts fundraising for the ball, working closely with the Ball Committee, as well as other fundraising events through the year.
• Establish strong relationships with wide variety of stakeholders who impact the financial health of the organization including donors, prospective donors, pastors, and board members.

QUALIFICATIONS & ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will be a practicing Catholic whose faith is central to his or her leadership and who possesses a strong and demonstrable understanding of Catholic teaching, culture, and mission. The President & CEO should be comfortable serving under the leadership of Bishop Burbidge and able to articulate the Catholic faith and CCDA’s mission with conviction, humility, and warmth.

The ideal candidate will also bring:

• At least 10 years of senior executive or organizational leadership experience, ideally including experience within a nonprofit, Catholic, human-services, or similarly mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success leading people, building teams, and creating a healthy and effective organizational culture.
• Demonstrates a history of understanding, communicating and reducing risk for the organization.
• Strong strategic, operational, and financial leadership capabilities, including experience overseeing complex budgets and multiple programs or business units.
• A record of building trusted relationships with boards, donors, employees, volunteers, community leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to support and lead fundraising efforts, particularly donor engagement and relationship development.
• Excellent written, verbal, and public communication skills.
• The ability to represent the Church and CCDA effectively with both Catholic and non‑Catholic audiences and community partners.
• A collaborative leadership style marked by sound judgment, humility, integrity, magnanimity, accountability, and a genuine desire to serve.
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Experience working successfully within the Catholic Church or a Catholic organization is strongly preferred.

THE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

The President & CEO will have the opportunity to lead an important ministry of the Diocese of Arlington and to help extend the Church’s care to individuals and families throughout the entire diocese. This role calls for more than accomplished executive leadership. It requires a leader who sees Catholic Charities as an apostolate. This person should be drawn to serving the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, affirming their God‑given dignity.

The next President & CEO will be entrusted with strengthening that mission, caring for the people who carry it forward, stewarding its resources wisely, and positioning Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Arlington to serve faithfully and effectively for years to come.