Director of Operations - Manchester Area Pastorate

Dyersville Economic Development Corp.; Iowa; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range

Benefits package

Job summary

Manchester Area Pastorate seeks a Director of Operations to lead the operational and financial functions across parishes and schools, ensuring alignment with Archdiocesan standards and best practices. You will guide HR, facilities, and administrative systems, promoting stewardship and change management while supporting pastors and ministry leaders in their spiritual mission.

You will supervise staff, lead budget planning, oversight, and reporting, and partner with parish leadership to deliver

Qualifications

• Practicing faithful Catholic who supports Church teaching and mission.
• 7–10 years of leadership experience in operations, admin, HR, or related field.
• Experience managing multi-site operations or complex org structures.
• Strong leadership, organization, and change management capabilities.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with staff and leaders.
• Financial and operational acumen with sound judgment and decision-making.
• Proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of all operational and financial functions across the pastorate; establish consistent processes and accountability.
• Supervise staff, set expectations, support growth, and foster collaboration across locations.
• Oversee budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls; align resources with mission.
• Support long-term financial planning, pursue shared services and cost efficiencies; liaise with Archdiocesan policies.
• Ex-officio member of Finance Commission and Buildings & Grounds Committee.
• Ensure HR practices, onboarding, payroll, benefits, and employee relations are standardized.
• Oversee facilities, risk management, vendor relations, and capital needs; support long-range planning.
• Align admin systems (HRIS, payroll, accounting) and implement efficient workflows.
• Lead operational transition to a unified pastorate model with clear communication.
• Serve as liaison to cemetery boards and consolidate boards where appropriate.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication

Relationship-building

Change management

HR experience

Financial acumen

Office software

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Bachelor's in Business Administration / Human Resources / Finance

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Job description

Director of Operations - Manchester Area Pastorate

Company: Manchester Area Pastorate

Company Description: The Manchester Area Pastorate is a group of 9 parishes in the Dubuque and Delaware County areas. These parishes include: Immaculate Conception, St. Boniface, St. Francis Xavier, St. John, St. Joseph, St. Mary, St. Patrick, Ss. Peter & Paul, and St. Paul. Each parish rejoices in the many gifts that God has bestowed upon us and we seek by our service to share those gifts in both love of God and neighbor.

Job Title: Director of Operations

Job Description: As a member of the Manchester Area Pastorate leadership team and rooted in the Catholic faith, the Director of Operations aligns and oversees all operational and financial efforts of the Manchester Area Pastorate. This role ensures leadership and consistency across finance, human resources, facilities, and administrative functions, promoting effective stewardship of resources and alignment with Archdiocesan standards and best practices.

Working closely with the Pastor and Manchester Area Pastorate leadership team, the Director of Operations strengthens the operational foundation of the Manchester Area Pastorate so clergy and ministry leaders can remain focused on the spiritual and pastoral mission of the Church.

Essential Duties

• Provide leadership and oversight of all operational and financial functions across the Manchester Area Pastorate, including parishes, ministries, and current parish-based schools. Establish consistent processes, expectations, and accountability across all locations, ensuring alignment with Archdiocesan standards and supporting effective, efficient day-to-day operations.
• Provide supervision and leadership to assigned staff, including establishing clear expectations, supporting professional growth, promoting accountability, and fostering collaboration across pastorate locations.
• Oversee pastorate-wide financial operations, including budgeting, financial reporting, and internal controls across multiple parishes, so material resources align with the Manchester Area Pastorate mission and vision.
• Support long-term financial planning and sustainability, identify opportunities for shared services or cost efficiencies, and partner with finance councils and parish leadership, while ensuring compliance with Archdiocesan policies and procedures.
• Serve as an ex-officio member of the Manchester Area Pastorate Finance Commission and the staff representative on the Manchester Area Pastorate Buildings & Grounds Committee
• Ensure consistent human resource practices across all Manchester Area Pastorate locations in collaboration with Archdiocesan HR. Support hiring, onboarding, and employee transitions related to Manchester Area Pastorate formation; provide guidance to local leaders on employee relations, performance management, and compliance; and reinforce standardized payroll, benefits, and HR processes.
• Oversee facilities, maintenance, and risk management across all Manchester Area Pastorate locations. Prioritize and coordinate repairs and capital needs, lead proxy communications with the archdiocese, manage vendor relationships, evaluate building usage, and support long-term planning for facilities to ensure safe, well-maintained, and sustainable environments.
• Align and integrate administrative systems and processes across the Manchester Area Pastorate, including communications, scheduling, recordkeeping, and reporting. Support the implementation and consistent use of Archdiocesan systems (HRIS, payroll, census, accounting) and establish efficient workflows that reduce duplication and improve overall effectiveness with faithful stewardship.
• Help to lead and support the operational transition to a unified pastorate model. Guide staff and leaders through change with clarity and consistency, identify and address gaps or inefficiencies, reinforce alignment with Archdiocesan direction, and serve as a contact with Archdiocesan teams.
• Serve as the primary liaison to all cemetery boards, supporting the management and streamlining of cemetery operations and, when appropriate, leading the consolidation of cemetery boards.

JOB SCOPE:
Position encounters a wide range of complex and varied work situations across multiple parishes and schools. The Director of Operations operates under general direction from the Pastor and is expected to exercise sound judgment according to Church teaching, establish priorities, and determine appropriate practices and procedures with minimal supervision.
This role requires coordination across multiple locations, balancing competing priorities, and leading through virtuous influence rather than direct authority in some situations. The position plays a key role in implementing consistent operational practices and supporting organizational change within the Manchester Area Pastorate.

DIRECT REPORTS: 6-9

POSITION SUPERVISES

• Controller/Business Manager/Finance staff
• Human Resources staff
• Maintenance staff
• Secretarial staff
• Communications staff (if desired)
• Other (as needed at the pastorate level)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent experience
• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, or related field preferred

Experience and/Or Job Skills

• Practicing faithful Catholic who respects and supports Church teaching, worships regularly, and has passion for furthering the mission of Jesus Christ
• 7–10 years of leadership experience in operations, business administration, HR, or related field preferred
• Experience managing multi-site operations or complex organizational structures preferred
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to bring structure to complex environments
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff, lead change, and align structures
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Financial and operational acumen with sound judgment and decision-making ability
• Proficient in office technology including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite

Perks

PERKS: SALARY RANGE: $85,000-$110,000
Plus competitive benefits package - vacation, sick time, paid holidays, health insurance, dental, life insurance, flex spending, long term disability insurance, and retirement plan.