The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is an assembly of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The purpose of the Conference is to promote the greater good which the Church offers humankind.  The bishops themselves constitute the membership of the Conference and are served by a staff of approximately 315 lay people, priests, deacons, and religious, located at the Conference headquarters in Washington, DC, with branch offices in Miami, FL and Rome.

The Conference is organized as a corporation in the District of Columbia. Its purposes under civil law are: "To unify, coordinate, encourage, promote and carry on Catholic activities in the United States; to organize and conduct religious, charitable and social welfare work at home and abroad; to aid in education; to care for immigrants; and generally to enter into and promote by education, publication and direction the objects of its being."

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, marital status, disability or other status protected by Federal, State or local laws, except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.  Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be provided to individuals needing assistance.

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Clergy/religious candidates must request written approval form their diocesan bishop or religious superior before an application can be considered. Diocesan lay employees must also request approval from the local bishop. Minorities are encourage to apply.

Select a Department-Office-Secretariat below to view the available career position(s)

Director, International Justice and Peace  (Full Time)
Department-Office-Secretariat: Office of International Justice and Peace
Date Posted: July 10, 2024

Must live in the DC area.

 Position Description

Under the direction of the Chairman and Committee on International Justice and Peace, and the supervision of the Executive Director, the Director advances the USCCB mission and the Bishops’ priorities and plans, primarily their international dimensions, and directs/supervises/coordinates the efforts of the Office of International Justice and Peace.  This work is carried out in collaboration with the Executive Director, Directors, and Associate Director of the Secretariat working together as a team with final responsibility, authority, and accountability rests with the Executive Director.  The Director works in an integrated way with the entire Secretariat to collaborate in sharing the Church’s social mission as it relates to the international priorities of the bishops. The director is a practicing Catholic, registered in a Catholic parish or regularly attending a Catholic parish or Catholic faith community, who embraces, upholds, and promotes in every aspect of his/her work the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church.  The Director contributes to the Bishops’ strategic plan for the Conference and demonstrates willingness and ability to understand, respect, and contribute to the USCCB mission and to fulfill job duties per its Catholic identity.

Responsibilities

1)Management

a)Lead, manage, and coordinate on a day-to-day basis the activities of the Office of International Justice and Peace, supervising and coordinating the work of policy advisors, interns, and those providing administrative support, and overseeing consultant agreements.

b)The Director develops new policy positions and new initiatives with the direction of the Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace and in collaboration with and under the supervision of the Executive Director.  

c)Work collegially with the Executive Director, the Directors, the Associate Director of the Secretariat, and the Associate General Secretary in carrying out the work of the overall Secretariat.

d)Direct, supervise, and coordinate the Office’s participation in USCCB planning, budgeting, administrative, and human resource responsibilities.

e)Work collegially with other Conference offices to promote the overall mission and priorities of the bishops.  Promote and implement the Bishops’ strategic plan for the Conference, including prioritizing the office’s activities according to the parameters outlined in the strategic plan.

f)Ensure compliance with all aspects of USCCB administrative and personnel policies within the Office.

2)Staffing Bishops’ Committees 

a)Supervise and coordinate (working closely with the Executive Director) staff assistance and support for the Committee on International Justice and Peace as well as appropriate task forces. 

b)Work collegially to support joint efforts between the International Committee, the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and other Conference committees as appropriate.  

c)Coordinate the Office’s staff and Committee participation in the work of the bishops’ Subcommittee on the Church in Africa and related efforts of the USCCB National Collections Committee.

3)Policy Development and Advocacy 

a)Supervise, coordinate, and contribute to public policy analyses on international issues that lead to policy development/recommendations and/or applications of current USCCB policy, especially on issues that affect the poor and vulnerable and with issues of human life and dignity as priorities.

b)Supervise, coordinate, and contribute to advocacy of public policy positions on priority international issues with members of Congress and the Executive Branch in close coordination with the Office of Government Relations.

c)Lead, coordinate, and contribute to the development, review, and clearance of bishops’ statements, official correspondence, resources, alerts, and other communications on international issues to advance the USCCB mission and advocate the Bishops’ policies and priorities.

d)Represent and advocate for Conference positions on international policy with the media, Congress, the U.S. government, other governments, and non-governmental organizations.

4)Representation/Relationships

a)Coordinate policy and advocacy with Catholic Relief Services, offering policy direction, an overall framework, and ongoing guidance, and ensuring consistency with USCCB policy adopted by the Committee on International Justice and Peace.

b)Maintain and develop bonds of solidarity between the U.S. Bishops and the Church around the world through virtual meetings with bishops’ delegations and periodic bishops’ delegations abroad, hosting visiting delegations of bishops to the U.S., and other collaborations (e.g. Coordination of Bishops’ Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land).

c)Enable the bishops to work with ecumenical and interfaith partners on international issues of mutual concern, e.g. the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East, and with other national and international organizations on specific issues, as appropriate.

5)Education/Convening/Communications

a)Develop, deliver, and arrange presentations (e.g. speeches, articles, talks, testimonies, interviews, and workshops) on international issues, Catholic Social Teaching on international issues, and the bishops’ teachings and positions.

b)Collaborate with other Conference offices on major meetings that incorporate international issues, e.g. the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering and broader Conference events.

c)Collaborate with the Associate Director for Education & Outreach on creating popular educational and advocacy materials on international policy issues that build capacity for the Church’s social mission, sharing Catholic social teaching, and acting on USCCB priorities.

d) With the Associate Director for Education & Outreach, provide formation for staff on the Church’s social mission as it relates to international policy concerns.

e) In coordination with the Communications Manager for Social Mission and the Office of Public Affairs, coordinate responses to requests from journalists and others and proactively promote USCCB positions on priority international concerns.

Requirements

 Education:  Masters Degree in Theology, Public Policy, or other related discipline (or combination of undergraduate degree with equivalent experience and knowledge)

Major Field/Specialty:  International affairs and/or Catholic social ethics or related field

Number of Years Required: Minimum 10 years experience needed

Foreign Language Requirement: Spanish is very helpful and French useful, but not required

This position pays between $127,907 - $165,602