Executive Director

About The Heritage and Research Center at Saint Mary’s:

Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, IN:

The Heritage and Research Center at Saint Mary’s (HARC) located in Notre Dame, Indiana, is actively recruiting for an Executive Director.  The mission of HARC, “is to preserve and honor the rich histories of women religious and their sponsored ministries through partnership and collaboration of congregations of women religious.”  HARC is an archives repository created to hold the archival collections of Catholic women’s congregations from the Midwest Region of the United States. The archival collections of these congregations highlight their histories, their daily lives, and the significant contributions they have made to society. HARC will be a testament to the women whose vision, values, courage and imagination contributed to shaping the modern world and the Church. Planned to open in Fall 2025, this new organization is seeking its first Executive Director.

About the Position:

HARC seeks an enthusiastic, creative, strategic and experienced professional with excellent interpersonal, leadership and community building skills for the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director will oversee all archival and preservation activities of the institution and will lead HARC’s visioning and outreach, including developing exhibition, education, and research programs. The Executive Director will have strong public-facing skills needed to develop community and educational relationships, telling the story of these remarkable women through programs and events.

The anticipated start date for this position is July 2025.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Promote the mission and values of HARC.
• Provide strategic leadership in the development of programs and activities of HARC including archives operations and preservation, exhibits, and public education.
• Facilitate the process of visioning, developing and articulating strategic objectives.
• Serve as the primary face of HARC, being active and visible, speaking on behalf of HARC, and communicating its message and values.
• Cultivate a positive culture and promote transparency and collaboration within HARC and with its member congregations.
• Develop and maintains partnerships with Saint Mary’s College, the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College, Clarke University (Dubuque, Iowa), Loyola University (Chicago), Marian University (Fond du Lac, WI) and other colleges/universities.
• Develop cooperative relationships and partnerships with academic, civic, Church, cultural and other institutions and people in support of HARC’s mission and strategic goals.
• Administer HARC’s operations, including budgeting, fundraising, marketing and staffing. Oversee external communications, including website, newsletters and social media
• Develop exhibits and programming in collaboration with the archivist and community partners.
• Provide leadership and execute responsibility for fundraising efforts including events, grants, and donor cultivation and solicitation.

Qualifications:

• Understanding of and dedication to the mission of preserving the history and vision of Women Religious.
• Willingness to learn about member congregations’ mission, heritage, spirit, culture, and their place in history.
• Leadership and management experience of 3-5 years preferably in the non-profit sector.
• Master’s degree or higher in a related field.
• Experience with public relations, marketing, and/or fundraising.
• Effective communication and relationship building skills.
• Experience working in a collaborative environment.
• Experience with archival research preferred.
• Knowledge with the Roman Catholic Church and women religious preferred.
• Experience in higher education preferred.

Position is full-time, exempt/salaried.  Compensation depends on experience and ranges from $85,000 to $110,000 annually.  Excellent benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, short term and long-term disability insurance, group term life insurance and AD&D, paid vacation, sick, personal, and holidays, 403(b) retirement savings plan, and tuition assistance program. 

To apply, please send a cover letter, CV or resume, and a list of three professional references to [email protected]

To learn more about the Heritage and Research Center at Saint Mary’s, please visit www.harcsm.org.

It is the policy of the Heritage and Research Center at Saint Mary’s that, as required by law, equal employment opportunities be available to all employees and job applicants in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, veteran status, citizen status, disability, sexual orientation or any other category protected by law.