Executive Director

St. Mary's Sewanee

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Job Summary

Full-time, salaried, lead executive management position, responsible for all aspects of St. Mary’s Sewanee: the Ayres Center for Spiritual Development (“the Center”). Reports to the Board of Trustees (“the Board”) through its Chair. Manages 3 direct reports, 9 part-time workers, and volunteers as needed.

The Center welcomes individuals and groups from across the United States and around the world to a place where one can rest, renew, and reconnect with one’s deepest spiritual self.

Job Responsibilities

• Provides leadership, management, and vision to ensure that the mission and core values of St. Mary’s Sewanee (SMS) are in practice.  Provides unity and cohesion of staff. Provides the Board Chair and its Board members with information regularly. In addition, serves as Ambassador and host for the Center to all public-facing stakeholders.
• Oversees and supervises the strategy, daily management, and operations of SMS to operate “in the black”, including the physical plant and campus, food services, fund-raising, marketing, public relations, social media, personnel management, and financial aspects of the Center. In conjunction with staff, manages retreat partner groups.
• Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, and supervision of staff members and volunteers, and, in conjunction with the Board, responsible for recruitment and hiring of senior staff.
• Works with staff to develop in-house, “sponsored,” spiritual retreats that are well-balanced and meet the needs of our wide spiritual constituency; as well as retreats SMS hosts that bring together “partner groups.”
• With the support of the Advancement Committee, leads all fundraising efforts, including the Annual Fund and, when appropriate, Capital Campaigns.
• Ensures that hospitality is extended to all guests, volunteers, and staff.
• Together with senior staff, and the Finance Committee, performs fiscal management of the organization, including but not limited to authorizing bill payments, ensuring that fiscal reports are completed as required and submitted to the Board for review and approval on a regular basis.
• Meets regularly with the Board and Executive Committee, and participates in Board committee meetings as necessary.
• Writes grants or oversees grant-writing to gain new resources, as needed.
• Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal mandates and standards as required.
• Assists in continuous quality improvement of protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Coordinates professional training for staff and volunteers as needed. In addition, oversees an annual evaluation of the staff.

Qualifications

• Experience in retreat centers, hospitality business related to lodging and/or food service, or ministry-related hospitality business.
• Vision for and personal belief in the importance of the spiritual development of the whole person, particularly as expressed by SMS’s operations and mission.
• Ability to understand and manage financial information.
• An ability to effectively collaborate with boards and staff.
• Understanding and experience with fundraising and/or Capital Campaigns, and possesses a willingness to provide leadership and participation in all fundraising efforts, while acting as an advocate of SMS’s mission.
• Successful experience in supervision and management. Able to provide constructive feedback and encouragement to staff and volunteers.
• Experience with spiritual practices, including Centering Prayer and meditation, is a plus.
• Experience with architecture, engineering, or physical plant maintenance is a plus.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, as needed.
• Conversant with office technology, database management, website navigation, Microsoft Office Suite, email and scanning skills, and social media.
• Ability to work within a diverse community and appreciate different spiritual perspectives.

Minimum Qualifications and Preferences

• Candidates from the local area are preferred, but we welcome all submissions. Bachelor’s Degree required; graduate degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 7-10 years of experience in retreat center management, hospitality business related to lodging and/or food service, or ministry-related hospitality business strongly preferred

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Please send all candidate inquiries to:

jobopportunities@stmaryssewanee.org

We will acknowledge receipt of your resume and respond as we commence the interviewing process.

Submissions of interest are due by November 1, 2024

Details

• Date Posted: September 20, 2024
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Accounting / Financial Management
• Service Area: Religious