Advertisement for the Position of Executive Director, Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute

Are you a Catholic bioethicist who is committed to the promotion of the dignity of all human life? Are you experienced in the recognition, analysis and clarification of moral and spiritual issues that arise in healthcare practice or research? Are you a compelling communicator, both orally and in writing, who can describe complex ideas in terms to meet the needs of both Church leaders and the broader Catholic community? Do you want to make a significant contribution to the understanding of the Catholic Church’s teachings on challenging bioethical issues? If this sounds like your area of expertise, commitment and interest, you may be drawn to the role of Executive Director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute (CCBI).

CCBI, guided by the teachings and charisms of the Catholic Church, seeks to fulfill its mission “to promote and protect the dignity of the human person through interdisciplinary ethics research and through education in healthcare and the life sciences.” CCBI is seeking a new Executive Director to shepherd the organization through its next phase of outreach and growth.

CCBI dates back to 1998, when a group of physicians, lawyers, and ethicists at the three Catholic hospitals of Toronto, University of St. Michael’s College, Regis College, St. Augustine’s Seminary and the Canadian Association of the Order of Malta agreed that it would be helpful to create an institute to enhance Catholic research and communications in the area of bioethics in a way that would be of service to Canadians generally.

CCBI’s focus is on fostering collaborative, integrated research and communicating the fruits of that bioethical research proactively in ways that are accessible to Canadians of all backgrounds. The goal is to share academically credible research that could support stronger links across the country among academics, clinical ethicists and workers in health and pastoral care.

The Executive Director of CCBI will be a Catholic who brings appropriate academic credentials at the doctorate level, with extensive prior leadership experience in the field of bioethics. CCBI’s new leader will be familiar with emerging bioethical questions facing the healthcare system and will be comfortable in academic and research settings.

With excellent interpersonal and communications skills, and the ability to build partnerships and networks, the new leader will understand the perspective of CCBI’s sponsors and will be a reliable, accessible resource and support to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).

Faithful and aligned with the Church’s principles and values, the Executive Director will be able to answer questions related to ethics and Church teachings and, relying on compelling historical knowledge, will be at the cusp of emerging ideas, issues and moral complexities. Skilled at the diplomatic exploration of controversial issues, the Executive Director will demonstrate confidence and diplomacy and establish and maintain trust with the Bishops and healthcare clinicians and others seeking clarity around bioethical issues.

The Executive Director will serve as CCBI’s ambassador to the Catholic community and will build relationships with diocesan and religious leaders, continuing to enhance CCBI’s contribution as a known and respected resource able to support and assist in addressing the critical bioethical issues of our time. The new leader will build upon the strengths of the current Executive Director to continue to provide advice and interpretation for the hierarchy of the Church, for pastoral work of Canada’s parishes, for Catholic healthcare providers, Catholic organizations such as school boards, and for the broader laity. The Board of Governors is seeking an Executive Director who will expand CCBI’s outreach, impact and resources.

An innovative leader, broadly interested in genuine dialogue about bioethical issues that “meets the Church where it is today”, the new Executive Director will be a reflective bioethicist, a servant leader who is responsive, visionary, empathetic and relational, with strong listening skills, keen communicative competence, strategic insight and patience. Energetic, open to new ways of outreach, the Executive Director will be able to navigate sometimes hostile environments while carrying the Church’s message on bioethics to broad audiences. Comfortable in national and international theological circles, the Executive Director will be able to write and present academic papers and will also be effective in speaking to the grassroots of the Church. Working to enhance CCBI’s presence and impact in print and social media and governmental advocacy, the Executive Director will be politically astute, diplomatic and invitational.

Recruitment Process

We appreciate the interest of all applicants but will only be contacting candidates whose skills, experience and qualifications best meet the requirements of the position.

To apply for this position with CCBI, submit your cover letter and resume by Friday, October 18, 2024. Please reference the position of Executive Director, CCBI in the subject line of your email. Send your application, including cover letter and resume, to Joan M. Green & Associates/LBCG at: steve.lough@lbcg.ca.

We are mindful of the importance of championing diversity amongst candidates. The project team is fluent in current diversity, inclusion and anti-oppression practices. We are committed to ensuring a respectful and inclusive recruitment process.

Accommodation Statement

Joan M. Green & Associates/LBCG fosters a culture of inclusion. We will make any appropriate accommodation based on any of the protected grounds in the Human Rights Code to support candidate participation in the recruitment and selection process. All candidates will be provided with an understanding of the expectations and requirements of the process in order to ensure full participation of all qualified candidates.

Joan M. Green & Associates/LBCG Land Acknowledgement

Together with LBCG, Joan M. Green & Associates make the following acknowledgement with respect to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples:

With humility and in the continuing spirit of being active participants in the reconciliation of Canada and the Indigenous Peoples of the land, we acknowledge that we are working and living on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit River, the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat, which today is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. As a firm and individually, we are educating ourselves to know and understand the Truth and participating with Indigenous colleagues to play our part in advancing Reconciliation.