University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan’s largest Catholic university, requests nominations and applications for the position of Vice President for Mission Integration (VPMI). The VPMI will provide leadership and strategic vision in the cultivation of a robust mission-oriented university culture, helping to develop and communicate a shared understanding of the University’s distinctive mission as informed by the collaborative sponsorship of the Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus. The VPMI will champion structures and policies that reflect a reverence for the dignity of each human with a commitment to justice, the solidarity of the human family, and the common good. 

In 1990, University of Detroit, founded in 1877 by the Society of Jesus, and Mercy College, established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1941, consolidated to form University of Detroit Mercy. As a member of the President’s Council and reporting to the President, the Vice President for Mission Integration leads the Office of Mission Integration and is responsible for providing strategic guidance for mission integration across the university and stewardship of our distinctive identity as a Mercy, Jesuit, and Catholic institution.

 

Required qualifications include

• A terminal degree in any discipline and advanced studies in theology, spirituality, religious studies, or other relevant field
• Demonstrated record of effective leadership in a mission-focused area in higher education
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the Mercy and Jesuit higher education traditions
• Ability to articulate the opportunities and challenges of integrating the Catholic intellectual tradition and Catholic social thought within a diverse campus community
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice as mission-critical goals
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to a collaborative approach 
• Professional experience that prepares the candidate to fulfill the position’s essential duties and responsibilities

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee campus mission formation and integration, working to ensure that the university community develops a shared understanding of mission and its impact on work and learning
• Create and oversee campus programming that provides orientation and ongoing development opportunities for staff, faculty, administrators, and trustees
• Collaborate with faculty on campus initiatives related to pedagogy, scholarship, curriculum, and/or programming
• Support mission integration in student co-curricular experiences, including, and especially through University Ministry and Student Life.
• Supervise and collaborate with University Ministry, the Office of Mission Integration Faculty Fellows and Affiliates, and any future OMI staff
• Serve as the mission liaison to the Board of Trustees
• Guide relationships between the university and the leadership of the Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus, the local Catholic Church, and leaders of other faith traditions
• Cultivate strong community relations rooted in mission and the university’s Mercy, Jesuit, and Catholic identity
• Work closely with the President and Advancement Office to build the endowment for programs and initiatives related to mission and ministry 
• Represent the university as chief mission officer in regional, national and international organizations of Mercy, Jesuit, and Catholic higher education
• Collaborate on mission-related initiatives with representatives of the Mercy and Jesuit sponsors as well as other Mercy, Jesuit, and Catholic universities
• Assist university leadership in significant campus decision-making including but not limited to recruitment; hiring; budgeting; strategic planning; equity and access; marketing and communication; labor relations; and environmental sustainability

Physical Requirements

Job may require lifting light weight objects (1 to 10 pounds) with no repetitive bending or stooping. Occasionally lift average weight objects (1 to 10 pounds).

Work Environment

Regular exposure to favorable conditions such as those found in a normal office. 

Salary/Pay Information

Commensurate with Experience 

Anticipated Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Candidates should submit a letter of interest indicating how the applicant’s experience relates to the required qualifications and essential duties and responsibilities; a complete CV or resume; and the names and contact information of three references who can speak to the candidate’s abilities and experience. References will not be contacted until a later stage of the search after receiving permission of the candidate. 

The position will remain open until filled, with preference given to applications received by January 15, 2023. The anticipated start date of the position is Summer 2023.