About Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School

Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School in Bridgeport, CT is seeking its first Senior Director of Mission Advancement. Employed by the Catholic Community Foundation of Fairfield County and focused primarily on Kolbe Cathedral, the Senior Director will serve as the senior executive responsible for advancing the school's long-term growth, external engagement, and strategic direction.

The early 1960s marked the opening of several Catholic secondary schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport, among them Kolbe Boys' High School, staffed by the Franciscans, and Cathedral Girls' High School, staffed by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. In June 1976, Bishop Walter Curtis closed Kolbe, and that September Cathedral was renamed Kolbe Cathedral High School, a co-educational secondary school. Today, Kolbe Cathedral blends the traditions of both schools into a strong, diverse, value-centered college preparatory school.

Kolbe Cathedral's mission is to empower students with knowledge, skills and Catholic values. Members of the school community are expected to "Work Hard and Be Nice," and the school and family form a partnership to foster the development of young Christian men and women academically, spiritually, socially, emotionally, and physically.

Kolbe Cathedral is a Catholic, co-educational, four-year urban high school established by the Diocese of Bridgeport and dedicated to serving a diverse, multicultural population of about 325 students. Formed by the witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the call to "Forming Scholars. Forming Saints.," Kolbe serves a talented, high-achieving student body drawn largely from families facing significant economic challenges. Every graduating class earns 100% college acceptance, and the school's work study program applies student wages directly to tuition. Kolbe Cathedral is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Connecticut Department of Education.

To learn more about this amazing school community, please visit their website here.

The Opportunity

The Senior Director of Mission Advancement role extends beyond traditional school development. Reporting to the President of the Catholic Community Foundation of Fairfield County, the Senior Director will work closely with the Principal, the Kolbe Board, Foundations in Education (FIE) leadership, and Diocesan leadership to connect philanthropy, student body growth, marketing and positioning, strategic partnerships, and long-term institutional planning into one coordinated growth strategy. Philanthropic support will be raised through the Catholic Community Foundation of Fairfield County for the benefit of Kolbe Cathedral, with the Senior Director leading Kolbe-focused advancement within FIE's broader major gift and development platform.

Key areas of impact include:

• Executive Strategy and Board Collaboration: Partner with the Kolbe Board, Principal, FIE, and Diocesan leadership to define and advance Kolbe's annual and multi-year strategic priorities, and provide board-level analysis, recommendations, and reporting.
• Fundraising and Philanthropic Growth: Grow support from major donors, alumni, foundations, corporations, and community partners; build and manage a portfolio of leadership-level prospects; and develop compelling cases for support tied to scholarships, student success, programs, facilities, and long-term priorities.
• Student Body Growth, Market Position and Partnerships: Partner with school leadership to strengthen recruitment, retention, and Kolbe's competitive market position, and build relationships with parishes, schools, colleges, employers, foundations, corporations, and community organizations.
• Marketing, Brand and External Engagement: Work with FIE's marketing resources, Kolbe leadership, and Diocesan communications to strengthen Kolbe's brand, positioning, and visibility throughout Fairfield County and beyond.
• Advancement Leadership and Shared Services: Work through FIE's centralized development infrastructure, coordinate with Kolbe's on-site donor and alumni stewardship function, and develop the budgets, forecasts, and performance measures needed to evaluate advancement activity.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing who embraces the mission of Catholic education and combines the relationship-building and fundraising ability of a senior advancement leader with the strategic judgment, financial literacy, and board presence of an institutional executive. The strongest candidate may come from advancement, business development, finance, consulting, higher education, nonprofit leadership, independent schools, or another field requiring strategic growth, executive judgment, and relationship development. Direct school advancement experience is valuable but not required.

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, business development, fundraising, finance, consulting, education, nonprofit leadership, or a related field.

• Demonstrated success building revenue, securing major commitments, developing strategic partnerships, or leading organizational growth.

• Strong financial literacy and the ability to evaluate budgets, revenue opportunities, business models, strategic investments, and long-term sustainability.

• Proven ability to work effectively with executive leaders, boards, major donors, community partners, and internal teams.

• Strong executive communication, presentation, judgment, and relationship-management skills.

• Experience in Catholic education, independent schools, higher education, or mission-driven organizations preferred.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following materials in a single PDF attachment. Name the file attachment using the following template: LAST NAME, KOLBE, SDMA.

• Cover letter that aligns your experiences and skills with the school's current needs as you understand them.

• Current resume with all appropriate dates included.

• Statement of Catholic educational leadership philosophy.

• List of five references with names, physical addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. No references will be contacted without your knowledge and approval.