About the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio comprises congregations and ministry communities across Northern Ohio, stretching from Toledo to Youngstown and from the southern Lake Erie shoreline through Akron, Canton, Mansfield, and communities north of the Columbus region. The Diocese encompasses urban, suburban, rural, and post-industrial contexts, bringing together a broad range of congregational identities, histories, and ministry realities.
Across this diverse region, diocesan leaders and congregations are working to strengthen communities of belonging, support vibrant local ministry, and build structures capable of sustaining the Church’s mission for future generations. This work is shaped by a spirit of collaborative leadership, faithful innovation, thoughtful stewardship, and care for the dignity of all persons.
Led by the Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly, the first female Bishop in Ohio, the Diocese is actively discerning how its resources, properties, systems, and leadership structures can more effectively support congregational vitality and long-term institutional sustainability. Bishop Anne brings a clear and forward-looking vision for diocesan life, grounded in adaptive leadership, shared ministry, and a deep commitment to the future of the Church in Northern Ohio.
As Episcopalians, members of the Diocese believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and seek to embody God’s love through worship, justice, formation, service, and community. The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion and shared leadership among lay and ordained people. The Diocese of Ohio is committed to honoring the dignity of all persons and providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
A Season of Evolution
The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio is in an active season of institutional evolution. Across the Episcopal Church, dioceses and congregations are navigating changing patterns of attendance, giving, property use, staffing, leadership, and community engagement. In Ohio, these realities are being met by a Bishop and senior leadership team with a clear sense of direction and a desire to align diocesan structures more fully with mission, sustainability, and congregational vitality.
At this stage in its life, the Diocese is strengthening operational systems, improving financial clarity, supporting thoughtful property strategy, clarifying internal workflows, and building stronger coordination across staff and diocesan leadership bodies. These efforts are not separate from ministry. They are the infrastructure that allows ministry to be sustained with greater clarity, accountability, and care.
Significant assets, committed leaders, and a bold sense of possibility give the Diocese a strong foundation for this next chapter. Realizing that possibility will require durable systems, disciplined execution, transparent communication, and leadership capable of translating vision into operational reality.
This role is well suited for a leader who is energized by complexity, grounded by mission, and capable of bringing structure, trust, and follow-through to a system in motion.
The Opportunity
The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio seeks a thoughtful, strategic, and relationally grounded leader to serve as its next Canon for Operations.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future operational life of a Diocese actively discerning how its systems, resources, properties, and people can best support vibrant ministry across a changing ecclesial landscape.
Working closely with Bishop Anne Jolly, Canon to the Ordinary Jessie Dodson, and the broader Canons Team, the Canon for Operations will serve as a collaborative senior leader responsible for helping strengthen the organizational infrastructure that supports the Diocese's mission and strategic priorities. As a member of a highly engaged leadership team, this person will contribute operational perspective, organizational discipline, and implementation support while partnering closely with colleagues whose portfolios collectively advance the Diocese's vision.
More than a traditional administrator, this leader will help steward a period of organizational evolution, operational strengthening, property discernment, financial stewardship, and long-term strategic alignment.
The strongest candidates will bring operational leadership experience alongside emotional intelligence, systems thinking, institutional judgment, and the ability to build trust across complex relational environments. Success will require someone capable of creating clarity without rigidity, strengthening accountability without diminishing collaboration, and helping an ambitious Diocese build the operational foundation necessary for long-term flourishing.
Position Summary
The Canon for Operations is a senior leader responsible for shaping and strengthening the organizational infrastructure of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. This role integrates leadership across finance, human resources, operations, property strategy, systems, and administration to ensure that diocesan structures effectively support the mission of the Church and the vitality of its faith communities.
Working in close partnership with the Bishop, Canon to the Ordinary, fellow members of the Canons Team, diocesan staff, and elected leadership bodies, the Canon will serve as a key contributor to organizational clarity, sustainability, and alignment. Core responsibilities include leadership of operational functions, supervision of key staff, and strategic coordination related to resource stewardship, property initiatives, organizational systems, and administrative effectiveness.
At its best, this role combines executive judgment, operational discipline, financial fluency, and relational maturity. The Diocese needs a leader who can move comfortably between strategy and implementation, structure and adaptation, authority and collaboration.
Essential Position Responsibilities
Organizational Leadership and Integration
As a member of the Canons Team, the Canon for Operations will contribute to diocesan strategy, decision-making, and organizational alignment alongside colleagues whose complementary areas of responsibility collectively support the Diocese's mission and vision. This leader will help strengthen internal systems, workflows, and structures so that staff, congregations, and leadership bodies can operate with greater clarity, consistency, and effectiveness.
The Canon will be expected to lead through influence, trust, and disciplined follow-through. Success will require the ability to see across departments, identify where systems are unclear or underdeveloped, and create practical structures that support both accountability and collaboration. Key responsibilities include:
Provide leadership and coordination across core administrative functions.
Strengthen systems, workflows, and internal processes.
Support organizational change initiatives and structural redesign.
Help clarify roles, decision rights, accountability, and communication practices.
Serve as an integrating leader across finance, operations, HR, property, and administration.
Property Strategy and Real Estate Leadership
Property is a major strategic issue for the Diocese and its congregations. The Canon for Operations will help lead diocesan vision and strategy related to property use, redevelopment, risk management, and long-term asset stewardship.
This work will require both strategic imagination and operational discipline. Through clear frameworks, practical processes, and strong partnerships, the Canon will support congregations as they discern how buildings, land, and other assets can serve mission in a changing environment. Key responsibilities include:
Lead strategy related to diocesan property use, redevelopment, and long-term asset stewardship.
Partner with the Missioner for Operations on property initiatives, assessments, redevelopment projects, and management processes.
Develop frameworks to support faith communities in discerning the future use of buildings and land.
·Work with Trustees, Standing Committee, Chancellor, and other leadership on property transactions, encumbrances, litigation, insurance, and risk management.
Translate property strategy into clear, scalable, sustainable operational processes.
Finance Leadership and Oversight
Financial stewardship is an important component of this role. The Canon for Operations will provide strategic oversight of financial systems, support strong financial management practices, supervise key finance personnel, and help ensure that financial resources are aligned with diocesan priorities and long-term sustainability.
This position is not intended to serve as the Diocese's chief accountant or technical financial expert. Rather, the Canon will work alongside finance professionals and elected leaders to strengthen financial transparency, support sound decision-making, and build confidence that financial operations are being managed responsibly and effectively. Key responsibilities include:
Provide strategic oversight of diocesan financial systems and practices.
Supervise finance personnel and support strong financial accountability.
Improve financial reporting, budgeting, and organizational transparency.
Support the continued development of financial structures, staffing, and systems.
Help to align financial resources with mission priorities.
Clearly communicate financial information that is accessible and actionable.
Systems and Operational Infrastructure
Operational infrastructure is central to the Diocese’s next stage of growth and sustainability. The Canon will oversee the development and improvement of systems that support diocesan staff, ministries, congregations, vendors, and leadership bodies.
The work requires a leader who can move between broad strategy and practical execution. Operational practices must be strong enough to support consistency, transparency, and follow-through, but not so rigid that they inhibit creativity, pastoral judgment, or adaptive ministry. Key responsibilities include:
Improve systems, workflows, documentation, and decision-making processes.
Partner with the Missioner for Operations on implementation, vendor relationships, property processes, and internal systems.
Identify opportunities for greater efficiency, clarity, and consistency.
Support scalable systems that resource faith communities across a geographically broad Diocese.
Help diocesan leadership operate at a more strategic level by strengthening executional infrastructure.
Human Resources Leadership
The Canon for Operations will support healthy organizational practices by partnering with colleagues responsible for human resources and staff development. This role will provide supervisory support where appropriate while helping ensure that policies, systems, and administrative practices effectively support the Diocese's mission and staff culture.
Provide support and oversight for key human resources functions and systems.
Partner with the Missioner for Human Resources and Canon to the Ordinary on staff-related matters as appropriate.
Support clear organizational practices, policies, and employment procedures.
Contribute to a healthy, transparent, and mission-centered workplace culture.
Ensure that HR practices align with diocesan priorities and organizational needs.
Governance and Collaboration
Governance in an Episcopal context depends on trust, clarity, communication, and respect for both formal authority and relational influence. The Canon will work closely with diocesan leadership bodies, including Trustees, Diocesan Council, Finance Committee, Standing Committee, and other partners as appropriate.
The ability to prepare leaders for good decisions will matter as much as the ability to manage technical details. Key responsibilities include:
Support communication between diocesan staff and elected leadership bodies.
Serve as key liaison on administrative, operational, financial, and property matters.
Prepare clear reports, analysis, recommendations, and decision materials.
Help leadership bodies engage complex operational matters with confidence.
Build credibility with clergy, lay leaders, staff, and governance partners.
Qualifications
The Diocese seeks candidates who bring many of the following experiences, qualities, and capacities:
Significant senior leadership experience in operations, finance, administration, systems, property, organizational infrastructure, or a related field.
Demonstrated success leading complex change, organizational redesign, systems improvement, or institutional development.
Strong financial acumen, including the ability to interpret financial information, support sound stewardship practices, supervise financial functions, and engage thoughtfully in budgeting, reporting, and organizational decision-making.
Experience supervising staff and strengthening team performance, accountability, and clarity.
Ability to build trust with clergy, lay leaders, staff, governance bodies, vendors, and community partners.
Strong systems-thinking capacity and the ability to connect operational decisions to long-term mission and strategy.
Emotional intelligence, maturity, and steadiness in complex or ambiguous environments.
Ability to offer thoughtful pushback and operational perspective with diplomacy and sound judgment.
Comfort working in a collaborative, relationship-driven, mission-centered culture.
Strong written, verbal, and facilitation skills.
Commitment to inclusion, dignity, equity, and the full participation of diverse communities.
Familiarity with The Episcopal Church, another faith-based context, or complex nonprofit governance is strongly preferred. Candidates from outside church settings who are excited to learn the culture, governance, and traditions of the Episcopal Church are encouraged to apply.
Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree, financial credential, legal training, real estate experience, nonprofit management experience, or relevant professional certification is welcome but not required.
Lay and ordained candidates are welcome to apply.
The strongest candidates will not simply be technical specialists. They will be trusted institutional partners who can connect people, systems, and strategy; improve organizational effectiveness while respecting culture; build clarity without creating unnecessary bureaucracy; and help translate diocesan vision into consistent, sustainable execution.
Working & Reporting Relationships
The Canon for Operations reports to the Canon to the Ordinary and serves as a member of the Canons Team and the Bishop's senior staff. Close partnership with Bishop Anne Jolly, Canon to the Ordinary Jessie Dodson, fellow canons, diocesan staff, and elected leadership bodies will be essential to success in this role.
The Canon will supervise and provide leadership for key operational functions, including:
Interim CFO (temporary, contract)
Missioner for Operations
Missioner for Human Resources
Senior Accountant
Interim Controller
External vendors related to technology, operations, property, finance, and administration as appropriate
Collaboration with the Treasurer, Finance Committee, Trustees, Standing Committee, Chancellor, Diocesan Council, and other leadership bodies will be frequent, particularly on finance, property, administration, risk, and organizational infrastructure matters.
The person in this role should expect to participate in senior staff meetings, individual supervision meetings, staff-wide meetings, governance meetings, and regular planning and implementation conversations across the Diocese.
Authority here is both formal and relational. To be effective, the Canon must earn trust, clarify expectations, create follow-through, and support decision-making in a system shaped by shared governance, pastoral relationships, and strategic change.
Location & Travel Expectations
The Diocese's offices are located in Cleveland, Ohio. While regular in-person presence is expected, candidates may reside elsewhere within the Diocese provided they can maintain a consistent onsite presence and fully participate in the relational and collaborative aspects of diocesan leadership.
Because the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio spans a broad and diverse geographic region across Northern Ohio, the Canon for Operations must be able to travel independently for meetings, congregational support, property-related matters, governance responsibilities, and other diocesan activities.
Evening and weekend commitments will be required, consistent with the rhythms of diocesan, congregational, and governance life. The role also includes regular engagement with congregations and faith communities throughout the Diocese, including approximately two Sunday visitations per month. Scheduling flexibility is provided to accommodate these ministry commitments.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this position is approximately $103,000 with final compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications. The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio offers an exceedingly competitive and comprehensive benefits package to support the well-being of employees and their families. Including benefits, total compensation for the chosen candidates will range from $126,000-$157,000. Those benefits include:
100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance coverage.
Employer-funded Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions to cover 100% of maximum out-of-pocket expenses.
Employer-paid life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Employer funded retirement contributions at 9% for lay employees through a defined contribution plan
Clergy Defined Benefit contributions and service credit through the Church Pension Fund in accordance with Episcopal Church requirements.
Generous paid time off, including:
32 days of PTO for exempt employees.
Significant paid holiday schedule, with 20 observed holidays in 2026.
Paid sabbatical leave
Paid week of leave for spiritual retreat
Continuing education and professional development support.
Family and medical leave benefits consistent with diocesan policy.
A mission-centered and collaborative work environment grounded in shared leadership and institutional care.
The Diocese understands that total compensation extends beyond salary alone. Depending on health coverage selections and retirement participation, the value of employer-provided benefits adds substantial value to the overall compensation package.
As a reflection of our firm’s commitment to equity and equal pay for all, Cooper Coleman requires that salary ranges or salary starting points be published for every search we conduct. The practice of not posting salaries perpetuates the gender and racial wage gap and is unfair to historically excluded populations by causing individuals to negotiate from a disadvantaged starting point.
Submission Instructions (read carefully)
To apply, click the " Apply Now " button and complete the brief application. All expressions of interest must be made through this link.
A cover letter is not required with your initial application but is welcome to help us understand your fitness for and interest in this role during our initial evaluation. Candidates invited for interviews will be asked to provide a thoughtful letter of interest indicating their specific qualifications for the opportunity, desire to join the Diocese, and connection to its mission.
Cooper Coleman LLC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, ability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.
Background Checks & Credentials Verification
Before submitting materials for this position, candidates are encouraged to review their resumes for accuracy. Cooper Coleman verifies candidates’ employment and academic credentials at the time of offer, and the Diocese may conduct background checks before finalizing employment. Candidates should be prepared for a standard background, reference, and credentials verification as part of final considerations.
EEO & Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio lives into its Baptismal Covenant to honor the dignity of all persons. The Diocese is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, or military status in any of its activities or operations.
These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. The Diocese seeks to foster a community where all people are respected, supported, and empowered to contribute to the mission of the Church.
About Cleveland
Cleveland is a major cultural, civic, healthcare, educational, and economic center in Northeast Ohio. Located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, the city offers a distinctive combination of affordability, cultural depth, historic neighborhoods, major institutions, and access to both urban amenities and natural beauty.
The Cleveland region is home to nationally recognized healthcare institutions, universities, arts organizations, museums, professional sports teams, parks, restaurants, and lakefront assets. Its cultural infrastructure includes Playhouse Square, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and a wide range of neighborhood-based arts, food, and community life.
For candidates considering relocation, Cleveland offers the opportunity to live in a vibrant metropolitan region with a comparatively accessible cost of living, strong civic identity, rich cultural assets, and close proximity to communities across the Diocese.