Calgary Catholic School District – Area Director Opportunity
About Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD)
Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) is Alberta’s largest Catholic school district and one of the largest in Western Canada. We proudly serve over 64,000 students in 119 schools across Calgary and the surrounding communities of Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, and Rocky View County. With a history dating back to 1885, CCSD is deeply committed to providing outstanding education rooted in Catholic values.
Recognized as one of Alberta’s Top Employers for fourteen consecutive years, CCSD offers a dynamic, collaborative, and faith-centered work environment that values innovation, professional growth, and community engagement. Our mission—Living and Learning in our Catholic Faith so that students, centered in Christ, realize their full potential—guides everything we do.
Position: Area Director
CCSD is seeking a visionary and experienced leader to assume the role of Area Director. Duties will commence in August 2026 or as mutually agreed.
The Area Director provides district leadership, school based operational direction, and support to school administrators, teachers, and staff within an assigned portfolio of schools. Reporting to the Superintendents of Learning Services, this role also carries responsibility for district-wide initiatives and committees.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Mentorship: Model and promote CCSD’s Catholic values, supporting a strong academic and faith filled culture in schools. Mentor, supervise, and evaluate principals to ensure they are meeting Leadership Quality Standards.
- Strategic Alignment: Operationalize Board priorities, assurance measures, and accountability frameworks.
- Instructional Excellence: Support and promote initiatives to improve instructional outcomes, student success across designated schools.
- Succession Planning: Identify and mentor emerging leaders at all levels of school administration.
- School Operational Oversight: Support school operations, student discipline (suspensions and expulsions), workplace investigations and compliance with district and provincial standards.
- Collaboration: Work closely with district departments to ensure comprehensive support for students and staff.
- Community Engagement: Build and support strong relationships with parishes, parents, school councils, and community shareholders.
- Professional Development: Promote and support reflective practice and data informed professional development opportunities.
- District Leadership: Supports and oversees district initiatives by chairing committees, participating in district staffing processes, while maintaining effective and ongoing communication with the Superintendent of Learning Services.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will:
- Be an active, practicing Catholic committed to Catholic education.
- Hold a related postgraduate degree and a Leadership Quality Standard Certificate.
- Possess a minimum of 10 years of leadership experience (principal, supervisor, or director level).
- Demonstrate political and social acumen, extreme discretion, and exceptional communication skills.
- Exhibit strong system-level thinking, problem-solving ability, and visionary leadership.
- Have experience leading committees, and working with government departments, or external agencies.
- Be proficient in all areas of school operations, including district staffing and workplace investigations.
- Bring experience across all three divisions (Elementary, Junior High, and High School)—preferred but not required.
- Demonstrates exceptional conflict management skills, maintaining composure and fostering constructive solutions in challenging situations.
Why Join CCSD?
- Work in a district recognized as one of Alberta’s Top Employers.
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit pension plan.
- A five-year term contract with the possibility of extension.
- Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development in a faith-based environment
Application Process
The competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is selected. Applications submitted by January 18, 2026, will receive full consideration.
Please submit the following to Mr. Terry Gunderson:
- A cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Contact information (name, phone number, and email address) for at least three recent educational references.
- A letter from a parish priest
The successful candidate will receive compensation in accordance with CCSD Exempt employee guidelines and will be offered a five-year term contract, with the possibility of extension by mutual agreement.
Submit Applications To:
Rita Marler
Alberta School Boards Association
Email: rmarler@asba.ab.ca
Phone: 1-780-608-9990.
The Calgary Catholic School District is committed to fair and accessible employment practices and considers catholicity, equity, diversity, and inclusivity to be foundational to its institutional success. The Calgary Catholic School District seeks to foster a workplace that reflects the full breadth of the communities it serves.