Director of Operations

July 2025 | Boston, MA
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St. Anthony Shrine seeks a collaborative, strategic, and highly adaptable Director of Operations to serve as an advisor, ambassador, and operational leader.

About St. Anthony Shrine

St. Anthony Shrine (the Shrine) is a cherished and dynamic center for Roman Catholic ministry in the heart of downtown Boston, MA, directed by the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The doors of the Shrine boldly proclaim, “All Are Welcome” – reminding its community of the central focus of the ministry that has remained constant for over 70 years: providing a convenient and prayerful setting for people desiring to praise and worship. The Shrine currently offers 24 weekly Masses and 19 hours of confession. Inspired by the enduring legacy of St. Francis of Assisi, the friars and the lay people of the Shrine strive to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all people, by caring for our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need. In preaching, prayers, adult formation, and spiritual counseling, the Shrine fosters Christian discipleship “in the marketplace” by reaching out and inviting people to deepen their relationship with God and with one another.

In addition to the Masses, the Shrine has a wide variety of outreach and worship ministries, managed and supported by 24 Friars and 60 lay staff members. These include:

• Father Mychal Judge Recovery and Counseling Center: The Center offers therapy through couples counseling, family counseling, and individual counseling for people experiencing anxiety, depression, loss, family crisis, and other mental health and emotional issues. The Shrine also offers individual or group substance abuse counseling and pastoral support and assistance for individuals seeking to complete Fifth Step work. The Shrine’s Mission is to extend support to adult individuals, couples and families grappling with mental health and substance use challenges
• The Lazarus Ministry: Providing proper and dignified burials and funerals for those who die homeless, abandoned, or with no known next-of-kin. The Lazarus Ministry does not discriminate and has served many people of different religions, recent immigrants to the United States, and homeless veterans.
• The Franciscan Food Center: The Center feeds people who are hungry by providing high-quality and nutritious food in a client-choice setting and creating a community in an environment of dignity, compassion, and respect.
• LGBTQ+ Spiritual Ministry: A community of faith where LGBTQ+ Catholics, as well as their family and friends, can explore and express their Catholic spirituality and grow in hope with one another. The Ministry includes monthly meetings along with scheduled days/evenings of prayer and reflection, social events, and guest presenters.
• Women’s Clinic: In partnership with the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and supported by the Cummings Foundation, the Clinic serves the complex health care needs of homeless women in Downtown Boston. The Clinic is staffed by a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor.

In keeping with the Franciscan spirit of meeting the needs of all people, the Shrine has emerging programs that serve the current needs of the community.

Employees of St. Anthony Shrine share and embody the Franciscan values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation, and collegiality in the workplace.

For more information about St. Anthony Shrine, please visit www.stanthonyshrine.org 

About the Position

The Director of Operations reports to Executive Director, Fr. Thomas Conway, OFM, and is a key leadership role responsible for the effective and mission-aligned management of St. Anthony Shrine’s physical infrastructure, operational services, and organization-wide communications. This individual will oversee facilities, security, housekeeping, and building maintenance, with a focus on maintaining a safe, welcoming, and well-functioning environment for all who enter the Shrine.

The Director of Operations will also ensure smooth day-to-day operations, effectively manage unexpected issues and opportunities, and contribute to the overall stewardship of the Shrine’s resources and mission.

The Director will join a 6-person leadership team, as well as supervise and mentor a team of four. An adept project manager and systems thinker, this role will maintain and enhance policies and procedures to support a culture of collaboration and service excellence and superior customer service across the organization. Given the hands-on nature of this position, the Director of Operations will be expected to work primarily on-site, with flexibility as needed.

Key Responsibilities

Operational and Systems Management

• Oversee all building operations to ensure safety, cleanliness, and efficiency that support of the mission of the Shrine and all of its programs and services.
• Maintain and enhance operational systems and procedures.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and service providers related to the management of facilities.
• Develop and manage operational budgets to ensure responsible use of resources.
• Lead emergency planning and response efforts, including fire safety, weather events, and other contingencies.
• Provide oversight and facilitate internal communications across departments.
• Review and provide input on regular reports from staff and departments, acting to ensure efficiency, harmony and good workflow across the organization.
• Assist HR with onboarding new staff to the Shrine.

Staff and Project Management

• Supervise and support operations staff, including security, facilities, and housekeeping.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven work culture that reflects the Shrine’s values.
• Design, oversee, and maintain a project management system, ensuring that projects continue to progress smoothly and on schedule.
• Facilitate cross-departmental projects by bringing together multiple stakeholders to help drive decisions in support of organizational goals.

Leadership Support

• Serve as a member of the 6-person leadership team.
• Provide operational assistance to the Guardian, Fr. Frank Sevola, OFM, the leader of 24 resident Franciscan Friars who live a vowed religious life.
• Work to proactively solve problems, mediate disputes, and address issues across the organization.
• Maintain ongoing, transparent communication with the Executive Director and the Guardian, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Respond to internal and external issues proactively to reduce the unnecessary involvement of the Executive Director.
• Disseminate information and communicate ideas on behalf of the Executive Director and the Guardian.

Key Qualifications

• Established organizational leader with 7+ years of experience in nonprofit leadership,

  administration, human resources, or operations.

• Commitment to the mission and values of St. Anthony Shrine and the Franciscan tradition of hospitality and service.
• Ability to work autonomously with little day-to-day supervision.
• Proven experience in facilities or operations management, preferably in a nonprofit, religious, or community-based setting.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage diverse teams and build consensus.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Familiarity with building systems, safety regulations, and vendor management.
• Skilled in implementing organization-wide policies and procedures.
• Acumen, finesse, and flexibility to manage complex situations and multiple responsibilities, balancing long term timelines with urgency of immediate demands.
• Strategic, data-driven, and analytical in approach to problem solving and decision-making.
• Ability to build strong, sustainable, and collaborative relationships and networks.
• Exceptional judgement and communications skills.
• Volunteer management, sacristy management, elder care management, and/or grant management a plus.
• Commitment to Franciscan values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation, and collegiality in the workplace.

St. Anthony Shrine is an equal opportunity employer. Employees are assured of equal opportunity in employment recruitment, placement, promotions, demotions, layoffs, training, compensation and all other conditions and terms of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, gender/sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic or family medical history, veteran status or any other protected status. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States. The Shrine is committed to fostering an environment of inclusion and belonging.

Compensation for this position begins at $135,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Tracy Marshall, Executive Director – Search Practice, Development Guild