Vice President, Mission Integration and Pastoral Care

Mercy Medical Center · Mercy Medical Center

Work Shift

Day

Scheduled Weekly Hours

Summary

The Vice President of Mission Integration serves as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. This executive leader is responsible for advancing and integrating Mercy’s Catholic identity, mission, vision, values, and heritage throughout all aspects of healthcare delivery, governance, operations, strategic planning, organizational culture, workforce engagement, and patient experience consistent with The Mercy Touch.

The Vice President provides leadership for mission integration, ethics, spiritual and pastoral care, ministry formation, community benefit, ecclesial relationships, and systemwide efforts that promote an exceptional patient and family experience while ensuring Mercy remains faithful to its identity as a healing ministry of the Catholic Church. The role promotes a culture of compassion, dignity, justice, and stewardship consistent with Catholic healthcare tradition and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs). The Vice President is also responsible for community outreach, involvement, and partnerships, including the local Catholic community and the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Job Description

Essential Responsibilities

Mission and Catholic Identity Leadership

Serve as the executive steward of Mercy’s mission, vision, values, heritage, and Catholic identity.
Ensure mission integration is embedded in strategic planning and transformation, operations, clinical care, human resources, governance, and organizational decision-making.
Collaborate with executive colleagues to ensure mission principles inform policies, practices, operational priorities, and culture.
Foster an organizational culture reflecting human dignity, compassion, justice, stewardship, and service to persons who are poor and vulnerable.
Guide mission discernment processes related to strategic initiatives, partnerships, affiliations, acquisitions, and organizational change.

Promote understanding of Catholic social teaching and its application to healthcare ministry.
Develop regular accountability reports for executive team and board members regarding key areas of performance.

Ethics Leadership

Provide executive leadership and consultation regarding organizational, clinical, and business ethics.
Ensure adherence to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
Serve as executive sponsor and co-chair of the Ethics Committee.
Facilitate ethical reflection and values-based decision-making throughout the organization.
Collaborate with medical staff, legal counsel, compliance, and operational leaders regarding complex ethical issues.

Spiritual Care and Pastoral Ministry

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all Spiritual Care and Pastoral Care services.
Ensure the delivery of high-quality spiritual care services to patients, families, caregivers, providers, and volunteers.
Promote holistic care that addresses physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial needs.
Support sacramental ministry, chaplaincy services, grief support, end-of-life care, well-being initiatives, and programs.
Foster interdisciplinary collaboration between pastoral care and clinical care experts and teams.

Ministry Formation and Leadership Development

Develop and implement a comprehensive ministry formation strategy for leaders, providers, board members, and caregivers.
Lead initiatives that deepen understanding of Catholic healthcare, Mercy heritage, and mission.
Oversee and deliver orientation programs related to Mercy’s’ mission, values, heritage, Catholic identity, and transformational organizational culture.
Facilitate formation experiences that strengthen leadership effectiveness and mission-centered decision-making.

Community Benefit and Health Equity

Provide executive oversight for community benefit and outreach initiatives.
Champion efforts addressing health disparities, social determinants of health, and community well-being.
Build strategic partnerships with community organizations, faith communities, and public agencies.
Ensure compliance with community benefit reporting requirements and charitable mission obligations. Support advocacy efforts consistent with Catholic social teaching.

Ecclesial and Sponsorship Relationships

Serve as primary liaison to diocesan leadership, clergy, religious congregations, sponsors, and Catholic organizations.
Cultivate collaborative relationships with bishops, diocesan leaders, and parish communities/pastorates.
Represent Mercy at Catholic healthcare and Church-related gatherings.
Support sponsorship responsibilities and the preservation of Catholic identity and Mercy’s heritage.

Patient Experience and Culture Leadership

Ensure mission integration serves as a foundational driver of both organizational culture and the patient experience, reinforcing the organization's commitment to whole-person care, healing, and well-being.
Serve as the executive sponsor for Mercy’s patient experience strategy and culture of service excellence.
Champion the integration of Mercy’s heritage, mission, values, spiritual care, and person-centered care principles into the patient and family experience.
Partner with executive, operational, clinical, nursing, physician leaders, and other experts to ensure patient experience priorities are aligned with organizational strategy and performance goals.
Advocate for patient and family perspectives in strategic planning, organizational decision-making, and transformation initiatives.

Organizational Culture and Workforce Engagement

Promote an organizational culture – grounded in Mercy’s heritage, mission, and values – in which every interaction reflects compassion, dignity, respect, hospitality, and well- being for the whole person.
Coordinate celebrations and events supportive of Mercy’s Mission, values, heritage, and evolving culture.
Collaborate with Human Resources to integrate mission-centered leadership competencies and performance expectations.
Champion diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, inviting appreciation for different faith traditions, beliefs, and cultures.
Lead mission-focused celebrations, rituals, blessings, recognition programs, and heritage events.
Support caregiver well-being, resilience, and workplace spirituality initiatives.

Leadership Competencies

Strategic Thinking
Mission-Centered Leadership
Ethical Discernment
Executive Presence
Change Leadership
Patient and Family-Centered Leadership
Collaborative Partnership
Organizational Influence
Relationship Building
Cultural Humility
Communication Excellence
Formation and Coaching Skills

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Advanced knowledge of Catholic theology, spirituality, and healthcare ministry.
Thorough understanding of Catholic social teaching and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
Knowledge of mission integration methodologies and Catholic identity assessment tools.
Understanding of healthcare delivery systems, clinical operations, and regulatory environments.
Ability to facilitate organizational ethics consultations and complex decision-making.
Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
Demonstrated ability to influence executive leadership, boards, physicians, and staff.
Strong organizational development and formation expertise.

Education

Master's degree in Healthcare Mission Leadership, Theology, Divinity, Religious Studies, Spirituality, Ethics, Pastoral Ministry, or related field required.
Doctorate (D. Min., Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline preferred.
Formal education or certification in ethics, mission leadership, or organizational development preferred.

Experience

Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive leadership experience in Catholic healthcare, mission integration, spiritual care, ethics, formation, or related ministry leadership required.
Demonstrated success leading mission-centered organizational initiatives required.
Experience working with executive leadership teams and governing boards required.

Executive-level leadership experience in a Catholic health system preferred.
Experience overseeing pastoral care and spiritual care departments preferred.
Experience with ministry formation, sponsorship, and church relations preferred.

Faith Commitment

Active, practicing Catholic status in good standing with the Roman Catholic Church required.
A deep understanding of and commitment to the healing ministry of the Catholic Church, Catholic healthcare ethics, Catholic social teaching, and the mission-driven values essential to a Catholic healthcare organization required.

Certifications and Professional Affiliations

Preferred certifications or active participation in:

Catholic Health Association (CHA)
National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC)
Catholic Moral Theology or Healthcare Ethics professional organizations

Physical Requirements

Light: Exert up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Mercy is an independent, community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years.

Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

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