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Reporting Relationships

 

• The CAO Reports to the LCMS BOD, ordinarily through the board’s chairperson. The CAO, as part of the Administrative Team, also serves under the leadership and oversight of the President.
• This position also serves on the following international Board(s)/Committee(s): China Evangelical Lutheran Church – Legal Corporation (CELC-LC)

 

Position Relationships

 

• Serves as staff person and assists the BOD to carry out its responsibilities and as its executive and chief operating officer, carrying out such decisions of the board as it may direct and performing such duties as it may delegate.
• Serves as part of the Corporate Synod Administrative Team, consisting of the President of Synod, the First Vice-President, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Mission Officer, under the leadership of the President.
• As part of the Administrative Team and liaison of the BOD, meets regularly with the leadership of Synod’s mission offices (CMO), commissions and synodwide corporate entities and provides leadership to assure that the mission and ministry activities of the church are being carried out in a coordinated, cooperative and efficient manner.
• Convenes and serves as part of the Corporate Synod Operations Team, together with the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Mission Officer.
• Serves as the Board’s representative on the International Center (IC)’s Committee for Human Resources and as advisory member and chair of the IC Facilities Committee.
• Engages and serves as liaison for Synod’s legal counsel.

 

Essential Job Functions

• Serves as the Board’s representative and CAO of the Synod.
  • Carries out responsibilities as delegated in the Handbook and Board Policy Manual.
  • Implements the decisions of the BOD and communicates those actions and decisions as appropriate.
  • Meets regularly with the President of the Synod (at the President’s determination) or his representative to keep the President informed as well as to receive counsel from the President regarding the ongoing work of the Synod.
  • Works with the President, First Vice-President, Secretary, Chief Financial and Mission Officers, as part of the Corporate Synod Administrative Team and under the President’s leadership, to assist with the supervision, management and coordination assigned by the Constitution, Bylaws and resolutions to the President and BOD.
  • Works with the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Mission Officer as part of the Corporate Synod Operations Team, in their respective roles of oversight, supervision, management and coordination of national office operations.
  • Assists the BOD in adopting and carrying out long-range plans.
  • Prepares the agenda and dockets for BOD meetings under the direction of the Board Chair and in consultation with the Administrative Team and the President of Synod.
  • Assures compliance with convention mandates that are related to the BOD’s responsibilities, oversight, and supervision.
  • Within his/her areas of responsibility, creates positions within the approved budget and supervises staff to meet and carry out the responsibilities of this position.

• Enhances relationships with the Board’s partners and administers the Board’s coordinative responsibilities.
  • Communicates regularly with the BOD members to keep them informed between board meetings.
  • Works to enhance relationships with the Church-at-large, the Board’s partners, as well as the public, informing and educating them regarding the Board’s activities and responsibilities.
  • Provides leadership and oversight of compliance issues relating to the Board’s area of supervision.
  • Provides advice and counsel on structure, operation, staffing and finances to other boards, commissions and councils.
  • Seeks opportunities for collaboration with Presidents of the other synodwide corporate entities to work cooperatively toward effective and efficient operations and, where applicable, common policies and directives.
  • Maintains contact with the Lutheran fraternal societies and his/her counterparts in other church bodies, in consultation with the President as chief ecumenical officer of the Synod.

• Provides leadership to the administrative and legal functions of corporate Synod.
  • Serves as the BOD’s representative to the Committee for Human Resources and the IC Facilities Committee.
  • Provides administrative supervision to the executive directors of Operations and Support Services, Human Resources, the CAO Administrator and senior director of Event Planning and Procurement.
  • Works closely with the Chief Financial Officer on issues relating to asset management, assuring implementation of the BOD actions on such matters.
  • Maintains contact with legal counsel, making decisions in accordance with the Board’s legal policies.
  • Keeps the BOD apprised of potential litigations and/or substantial violations in compliance with the Synod Bylaws, applicable federal and state laws and other areas related to the Board’s supervision of the business matters of the Synod.

• Is responsible for Corporate Synod’s compliance with the Articles of Incorporations, Constitution, Bylaws, convention resolutions, Board policies and applicable civil laws on behalf of the BOD.
  • Serves as the Board’s corporate compliance officer, monitoring compliance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws, convention resolutions, the Board of Directors Policy Manual, other board policies and applicable civil laws as they relate to the agencies of the Synod.
  • Reviews and drafts corporate policy statements and procedures.
  • Is responsible for the negotiation and drafting of corporate agreements.
  • Advises and implements compliance initiatives on behalf of the BOD.

• The CAO, or his/her designee, serves as convention manager. He/she is responsible to the President for making arrangements for and directing the externals of the convention and other major assemblies of the Synod.
  • Works with the President to determine convention location, budget and other logistics.
  • Submits the convention budget to the President and the BOD for final approval.

 

Required

 

Position Qualifications

 

• An active member of a Lutheran Church¾Missouri Synod congregation, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and supportive of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, resolutions, practices and policies.
• At least 10 years or equivalent experience in corporate or organizational management in the private or public sector. Knowledgeable of the operations and structure of the Synod.
• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or in equivalent fields related to business administration and/or corporate compliance.
• Ability to travel approximately 25%.

 

Desirable

 

• Juris Doctorate or Master’s Degree in Business Administration or related field.
• Experience as a member of a board or staff of a Synod entity.
• Experience as a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Human Resources or Vice-President of Marketing of a multi-million-dollar corporation.

 

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills And Abilities)

 

• Integrity and Ethics: models and encourages high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for others; creates a culture that fosters a high standard of ethics; demonstrates integrity by honoring commitments and promises; demonstrates a sense of responsibility and commitment to public trust; demonstrates congruence between statements and actions.
• Mission Alignment: actively and demonstrably aligned with the teachings of the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions and theological resolutions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; understands what it means to be a confessional Lutheran church body; can articulate the faith and its relation to the work carried out through Corporate Synod.
• Strategic Thinking: formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and mission strategy of the organization; applies long-term perspective in analyzing policy issues and developing strategic plans; develops objectives and sets priorities consistent with the organization’s long-term strategies; adjusts strategic policies and plans in response to change, both internal and external.
• Problem Solving: recognizes, defines, and analyzes problems and issues; obtains relevant data before deciding; develops alternative solutions and plans to solve problems; uses qualitative and quantitative data and analytical tools in problem solving.
• Creativity and Innovation: develops insights, innovative solutions, and non-traditional approaches to improve organizational effectiveness; creates an environment that encourages, recognizes, and rewards risk-taking, creativity, and innovation; designs and implements new or innovative programs/processes.
• Vision: articulates and actively supports the Corporate Synod vision in a way that causes employees at all levels to understand the organization’s goals, values, and strategies; aligns personal vision with functional and programmatic goals and objectives; takes a long-term view and acts as a catalyst and champion of change.
• Interpersonal Skills: demonstrates an understanding of others' needs; provides appropriate feedback in a manner that reinforces or elicits desirable behavior; considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others; treats all individuals with sensitivity and respect.
• Internal and External Awareness: maintains currency with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, trends, and developments; understands general roles and responsibilities of International Center entities, Synodwide Corporate Entities, and global entities; understands corporate plans and agreements relevant to the mission; understands and makes effective use of the basic principles and processes for resource allocation, acquisition, and management; understands the dual role of the Board of Directors as a corporate board and a Synodwide Board.
• Team Building: empowers others by sharing power and authority; inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishment; emphasizes cooperation and a team approach to work; creates an environment that encourages and rewards cooperation, collective problem-solving and participative decision-making; builds trust and open communication among team members and with stakeholders; develops leadership in others through coaching, mentoring, and rewarding.
• Accountability: Assures that effective organizational level status and control mechanisms are developed and maintained to ensure performance of the organization; takes responsibility for actions; identifies how organizational or program results will be measured; monitors programs and/or activities and takes corrective actions when necessary; encourages others to take ownership of work products, services, and results.

 

Supervisory Responsibility

 

• Responsible for the supervision of the office of the CAO staff (Administrator), executive directors of Operations and Support Services, Human Resources and senior director of Event Planning and Procurement.

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