Director of the Van Lunen Center

Job Description: Director of the Van Lunen Center

Position Title: Director, Van Lunen Center for Executive Management in Christian Schools:

Institution: Calvin University (in partnership with the Van Lunen Foundation)

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan (or as negotiated)

Appointment Type: Full Time (minimum 1.0 FTE), year-round, with or without faculty status

Reports To: Calvin University (with primary accountability to the Dean for the School of Education and the Van Lunen Center Governing Board)

Position Summary

The Van Lunen Center seeks a visionary, collaborative, and administratively skilled Christian leader to serve as its Director. The Director serves as the principal officer of the Center, providing strategic leadership, operational management, and external representation for all Center programs. 

The Director will initiate, manage, and promote the Center’s work while maintaining strong partnerships with Christian schools, their supporting networks, and Calvin University. This role combines high-level program leadership, board liaison responsibilities, grant development, and financial stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Program Management

• Initiating, managing and promoting the overall work of the Van Lunen Center and its programs.
• Advancing the Van Lunen Center strategic plan in cooperation with the Van Lunen Center Board.
• Remaining current to trends, opportunities, and challenges pertinent to Christian school executive leadership.
• Recruiting, hiring, and supporting exceptional faculty members current in their field
• Providing full administrative responsibility for the Center and its staff.
• Organizing, operating, and continuously evaluating the Van Lunen Fellows Program, including:
  • Determining program objectives, content, schedule, and required resources.
  • Selecting, orienting, training, and evaluating the Fellows and Ascending Leaders faculty team.
  • Leading the selection process for each cohort.
  • Determining and arranging financial assistance for Fellows as needed.
  • Assessing and reporting on program outcomes.

2. Governance & Board Liaison

• Serving as the chief liaison between the Center and its Governing Board.
• In consultation with the Board Chair, preparing meeting agendas and supporting materials.
• Recommending program plans, budgets, and grant fund allocations to the Board.
• Implementing all policies, plans, and budgets adopted by the Governing Board.
• Providing regular reports on the Center’s activities, outcomes, and impact to the Board.

3. External Representation & Partnerships

• Representing the Van Lunen Center in its partnerships with Christian schools and their supporting networks.
• Convening advisory bodies as needed and as approved by the Governing Board.

4. Resource Development & Financial Accountability

• Securing funds from donor groups and grants that support leadership and management development
• Managing all grants and external funding sources received in support of Center programs.
• Serving as the budget officer for the Center and maintain accountability to Calvin University for all Center activities and finances.
• Providing regular financial reports to the Van Lunen Foundation (the principal financial supporter of the Center).

5. Reporting

• Preparing and submitting an annual report to the Governing Board for review, followed by submission to the School of Education Dean.
• Providing a summary of the annual report to the Calvin University Board of Trustees and Faculty Senate.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required:

• Deep commitment to the mission of Christian schooling and the development of effective school leaders.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in Christian education, preferably in school administration or leadership development.
• Informed regarding executive trends, opportunities, and challenges pertinent to Christian school executive leadership.
• Strong administrative, organizational, and program management skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building abilities.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with boards, faculty, donors, and partner organizations.
• Experience with fundraising is highly desirable.
• Eligibility for faculty status at Calvin University (terminal degree preferred; candidates must meet Calvin University faculty qualifications).

Status & Compensation

• The Director will hold or be eligible for faculty status and compensation will be commensurate with existing faculty scale.
• If director does not hold faculty status, compensation will be based on Director rank within Calvin University’s R
• The Director serves as an ex officio (non-voting) member of the Governing Board but may not serve as Board Chairperson.

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts University affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.