Executive Director - Human Resources

Arthur J. Gallagher · Dallas

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General Summary of the Position

The Executive Director of Human Resources serves as the senior human resources leader for the Diocese of Dallas and is responsible for fostering a workplace culture, under the leadership of the Bishop and in collaboration with the Diocesan Leadership Team, that reflects the mission, teachings, and values of the Catholic Church. As a key steward of the Diocese’s hiring process, the Executive Director helps ensure that candidates selected for service at the Pastoral Center have the qualifications, character, and commitment needed to advance the Diocese's mission.  The Executive Director builds and sustains a talented, mission-centered workforce dedicated to serving the Church and the people of the Diocese. This is a ministerial role in the Diocese's mission to spread the gospel and promote Catholic values.

The Executive Director works closely with the Bishop and the Vicar General to recruit, evaluate, and select candidates for key diocesan positions.  The Executive Director provides strategic leadership for talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation and benefits, organizational development, performance management, HR operations, and employment compliance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Position

Catholic Mission, Culture and Executive Leadership

• Respects the Office of the Bishop and the hierarchy of the Church
• Accepts a ministerial role to support the mission of the Diocese.
• Model ethical, confidential, service-oriented leadership, sound judgment, and respect for every person’s dignity.

• Execute an HR strategy aligned with pastoral priorities, operational goals, and responsible stewardship.
• Advise senior leaders on structure, leadership, succession, workforce trends, and change.
• Establish consistent, scalable HR policies while respecting the authority and needs of parishes, schools, and ministries.

Talent and Organizational Leadership

• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, selection, onboarding, retention, and offboarding.
• Oversee performance, development, leadership formation, succession, and career pathways.
• Equip supervisors, pastors, principals, and ministry leaders to manage people and apply diocesan employment practices effectively.

Employee Relations and HR Operations

• Oversee employee relations, workplace concerns, investigations, corrective action, conflict resolution, and separations.
• Ensure timely, impartial, pastoral, confidential, and well-documented handling of concerns.
• Maintain secure, accurate HR systems, records, reporting, and data governance.
• Improve HR processes, service, technology, controls, and communications.

Compensation, Benefits, and Compliance

• Oversee compensation, job architecture, salary administration, benefits, leave, and recognition programs.
• Partner with Finance on personnel costs, benefit sustainability, budgets, audits, and vendor performance.

• Monitor applicable employment laws and coordinate diocesan implementation.
• Oversee employment policies, notices, record retention, accommodations, wage-and-hour practices, and related compliance.

Diocesan Service and Collaboration

• Prepare clear recommendations, policies, reports, and presentations for leadership and governance bodies.
• Coordinate cross-functional matters with Legal, Risk Management, Finance, Communications, Safe Environment, and other offices.
• Perform other assigned duties and special projects.

Ministerial Responsibilities:

• Uphold the mission, teachings, values, policies, and canonical responsibilities of the Roman Catholic Church and Diocese.
• Ensure fair, consistent, mission-aligned hiring and strengthen pipelines for leadership and hard-to-fill roles.
• Build strong relationships with clergy, religious, lay leaders, employees, advisory bodies, and external partners.

Position Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field; master’s preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including senior or executive leadership.
• Expertise in employee relations, compliance, compensation and benefits, talent management, organizational development, and HR operations.
• HR leadership in a complex, decentralized, nonprofit, faith-based, education, healthcare, or multi-site organization strongly preferred.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar senior HR certification preferred.
• Strong financial, data, technology, budget, and vendor-management skills.
• Catholic and active in a Roman Catholic faith community.
• Spanish bilingual ability a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive HR practices, including employment, policies, training, compensation, relations, and benefits
• Workers’ compensation, liability, insurance, and safety requirements
• Local, state, and federal labor, payroll, benefits, and equal employment opportunity laws
• Church, diocesan, and parish operations preferred
• Supervision and performance evaluation
• Current office technology, methods, and personnel systems

Leadership Competencies:

• Mission-centered, service-oriented leadership
• Strategic thinking and sound judgment
• Executive presence, credibility, and discretion
• Pastoral and cultural awareness
• Clear, persuasive communication
• Collaboration, influence, and conflict resolution
• Decisiveness, accountability, and follow-through
• Change leadership and continuous improvement
• Fairness, integrity, and respect for human dignity

Working Conditions and Employment Requirements:

• Primarily office-based, with regular diocesan travel and occasional evening or weekend work.
• Must communicate effectively, use standard office technology, and perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Position

Catholic Mission, Culture and Executive Leadership

• Respects the Office of the Bishop and the hierarchy of the Church
• Accepts a ministerial role to support the mission of the Diocese.
• Model ethical, confidential, service-oriented leadership, sound judgment, and respect for every person’s dignity.

• Execute an HR strategy aligned with pastoral priorities, operational goals, and responsible stewardship.
• Advise senior leaders on structure, leadership, succession, workforce trends, and change.
• Establish consistent, scalable HR policies while respecting the authority and needs of parishes, schools, and ministries.

Talent and Organizational Leadership

• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, selection, onboarding, retention, and offboarding.
• Oversee performance, development, leadership formation, succession, and career pathways.
• Equip supervisors, pastors, principals, and ministry leaders to manage people and apply diocesan employment practices effectively.

Employee Relations and HR Operations

• Oversee employee relations, workplace concerns, investigations, corrective action, conflict resolution, and separations.
• Ensure timely, impartial, pastoral, confidential, and well-documented handling of concerns.
• Maintain secure, accurate HR systems, records, reporting, and data governance.
• Improve HR processes, service, technology, controls, and communications.

Compensation, Benefits, and Compliance

• Oversee compensation, job architecture, salary administration, benefits, leave, and recognition programs.
• Partner with Finance on personnel costs, benefit sustainability, budgets, audits, and vendor performance.

• Monitor applicable employment laws and coordinate diocesan implementation.
• Oversee employment policies, notices, record retention, accommodations, wage-and-hour practices, and related compliance.

Diocesan Service and Collaboration

• Prepare clear recommendations, policies, reports, and presentations for leadership and governance bodies.
• Coordinate cross-functional matters with Legal, Risk Management, Finance, Communications, Safe Environment, and other offices.
• Perform other assigned duties and special projects.

Ministerial Responsibilities:

• Uphold the mission, teachings, values, policies, and canonical responsibilities of the Roman Catholic Church and Diocese.
• Ensure fair, consistent, mission-aligned hiring and strengthen pipelines for leadership and hard-to-fill roles.
• Build strong relationships with clergy, religious, lay leaders, employees, advisory bodies, and external partners.

Position Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field; master’s preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including senior or executive leadership.
• Expertise in employee relations, compliance, compensation and benefits, talent management, organizational development, and HR operations.
• HR leadership in a complex, decentralized, nonprofit, faith-based, education, healthcare, or multi-site organization strongly preferred.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar senior HR certification preferred.
• Strong financial, data, technology, budget, and vendor-management skills.
• Catholic and active in a Roman Catholic faith community.
• Spanish bilingual ability a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive HR practices, including employment, policies, training, compensation, relations, and benefits
• Workers’ compensation, liability, insurance, and safety requirements
• Local, state, and federal labor, payroll, benefits, and equal employment opportunity laws
• Church, diocesan, and parish operations preferred
• Supervision and performance evaluation
• Current office technology, methods, and personnel systems

Leadership Competencies:

• Mission-centered, service-oriented leadership
• Strategic thinking and sound judgment
• Executive presence, credibility, and discretion
• Pastoral and cultural awareness
• Clear, persuasive communication
• Collaboration, influence, and conflict resolution
• Decisiveness, accountability, and follow-through
• Change leadership and continuous improvement
• Fairness, integrity, and respect for human dignity

Working Conditions and Employment Requirements:

• Primarily office-based, with regular diocesan travel and occasional evening or weekend work.
• Must communicate effectively, use standard office technology, and perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation

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