Director of Communications

Diocese of Santa Rosa • Full-time • Remote (Santa Rosa, CA, US) • $80k - $100k / year • 3m ago

The Director of Communications is responsible for the oversight and coordination of public relations activities, the maintenance of the diocesan website & social media outlets, and the publication of the North Coast Catholic periodical. This position also develops, creates, and distributes print and digital materials to serve the mission of the Diocese of Santa Rosa. The Director of Communications works collaboratively with other departments of the Chancery and all entities of the Diocese to ensure messaging & branding on all platforms are consistent, aligned, and accurate.

Job Title: Director of Communications

Reports to: Vicar General

Employment Status: Exempt

Supervisory Duties: This position does not currently have supervisory responsibility

Time Commitment: Full-time, 35+ hours/week; work hours vary based on program needs

Benefits: Full package

Accountable for

●Regular production and distribution of the NCC

●Increased advertisements and subscribers to NCC

●Accurate and timely information on the website

●Visibility and added followers on social media platforms

Essential Functions

Administration & Reporting

●Manages the Communications budget including:

○ North Coast Catholic periodical

○ Collects parish bulletins to contact potential advertisers

○ www.srdiocese.org Website

○ Social media platforms

●ensures the Chancery is current on any subscriptions necessary to operate platforms;

●Keeps the North Coast Catholic’s non-profit status up to date with the USPS and other appropriate regulatory bodies;

●Reports updates regarding the communication strategic plan at least quarterly to the vicar general;

○Branding

○Online/social media presence for all Diocesan entities

○NCC publication updates - circulation data

○Website migration to any new platform

○Email correspondence on behalf of Diocese

●Facilitates and leads the Communications and Evangelization committee for the Diocese and its regular meetings;

○Coordinates schedules and summary of action items for the Communications and Evangelization committee

○Provides continuity and strategic vision of the Bishop’s office

○Implements special projects of the committee

●Attends ad hoc meetings within the diocese committees related to social media and communications;

●Provides quality control on general public communications and intra-diocesan communication;

●Gathers information about local events in different regions of the diocese;

●Stays current on church news; and

●Performs other duties as assigned.

Website Development & Maintenance

●Regularly updates the website with accurate information;

●Regularly updates website structure and aesthetic to fit the needs of the various stakeholders; and

●Takes initiative on development, coordination, and implementation from one web platform to another.

North Coast Catholic Periodical

●Generates content as needed for the North Coast Catholic including, but not limited to personal interviews with parishes and schools across the Diocese;

●Coordinates with the graphic designer to establish the look and feel of each issue of the NCC;

●Solicits, assists, and receives articles written for each issue by Chancery Office heads, and various leaders in the parishes and Diocese;

●Provides coordination, support, and oversight to ensure a successful release; and

●Interacts with readers and follows-up with subscribers as needed.

Media Relations

●Publicizes diocesan events in appropriate outlets;

●Acts as first line media contact;

●Coordinates and publishes Press Releases per the Bishop and Vicar General’s direction;

●Coordinates press Conferences with local media as appropriate;

●Attends live broadcasts of the local media at parishes, and works with pastor to keep cameras and reporters in appropriate behavior;

●Attends weekly meetings with Communications Directors of California;

●Attends weekly meeting with County Supervisor and faith leaders and pastors;

●Develops relationships with media outlets and other applicable organizations; and

●Responds to challenging situations appropriately and professionally.

Parish Consultation

●Supports parishes in establishing and maintaining a crisis communications plan;

●Maintains regular contact with the parishes and schools of the diocese;

●Helps to develop best practice guidelines for social media usage; and

●Compiles, edits and publishes the Diocesan Directory with the help of the Bishop’s Secretary.

Professional and Spiritual Development

●Because this is a public facing representative of the Diocese and the Bishop, practicing Catholic is preferred;

●Seeks out data on Church engagement;

●Stays up-to-date with current trends and tools in Catholic print and digital media;

●Learns innovative techniques for communicating the Gospel message; and

●Attends professional development related to new technology as appropriate.

Education and Experience

●Past experience in publishing and multi-media production; social media; and web development;

●Degree in theology or related field;

●Journalism, English, or Communications college level coursework; and

●Understanding of the dynamics of Catholic church organizational structure and its Sacramental hierarchy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

●Graphic design skills;

●Possess a working knowledge of Catholic doctrine, morality, and traditions;

●Understand web design and management;

●Works well independently and in collaboration with others;

●Proficient technical skills in both written and verbal communication; and

●Software proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and other common technology for print and digital media.

Essential Physical Functions

●This position requires a flexible presence between office, home office, parish sites, and travel to other locations;

● Sitting at a desk for an extended period of time, squatting, and/or using a step ladder;

● Travel is necessary for this position to meet specific goals;

● Using a mouse and keyboard for an extended period of time;

●Requires ability to sit up to 7 hours per day with intermittent occasional walking, standing, bending and squatting;

●Rarely may be required to lift up to 45 pounds to a height of 4 – 5 feet, or carry 45 pounds up to 20 feet; and

This job description is provided as a general summary of common duties performed by individuals assigned this job title. It is not all-inclusive, nor is it intended to create a contract, written or implied, between employees and the Diocese of Santa Rosa, nor does it in any way alter the employment-at-will relationship that exists between employees and the Diocese of Santa Rosa. As a condition of employment, all agency employees are expected to perform job duties assigned by agency management even when such duties are not included in their job description

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits: