Director of Communications
Position Currently Open at Grace United Methodist Church
Job Summary
The Director of Communications is responsible for overseeing, implementing, and achieving overall church-wide and external communications (social media, website, public relations, etc) for Grace United Methodist Church. The ideal candidate will be creative, well organized, and a strategic content developer with a results-oriented growth mindset. This role works closely with church members, staff, and vendors to support the mission and ministry of Grace, and is supervised by the Senior Pastor with support from the Staff Parish Relations Committee. This is a part-time position, working an average of 20 hours per week.
Essential Job Duties:
- Amplify the mission and ministry of Grace United Methodist Church to church members, potential members, and the wider community
- Create design layout and print weekly worship bulletins and inserts
- Develop weekly Beyond the Red Doors emails, ensuring there is a clear process for staff, committee chairs, and church members to make submissions
- Edit and send monthly Chimes newsletter, including digital and print versions, ensuring there is a clear process for staff, committee chairs, and church members to make submissions
- Manage all social media platforms, with the goal of promoting Grace programming, opportunities, and announcements
- Oversee the website, ensuring all content is up-to-date and troubleshooting issues with webmaster
- Create compelling video content from worship and other church events to promote church activities and opportunities
- Track data metrics and performance analytics for content across all digital platforms and use this information to inform future content strategies and approaches
- Design brochures, registration forms, and advertisements for church programs
- Serve as a photographer for important church events
- Consult on communications-related functions in all areas across the congregation, including the worship broadcast team and communications committee
- Create and implement ongoing communications plans and approaches that support our members, new members, visitors, and community in learning about and engaging in the activities of the church
Schedule & Location:
A set schedule for the role will be determined with the hired candidate. The days/times that hours are worked is flexible, though will need to support the weekly activities of the wider congregation. Some availability to be present for worship on Sunday mornings is preferred. It is expected that the Director of Communications will work primarily on-site at Grace United Methodist Church. Flexibility for some hours worked at home may be allowed after a probationary period, determined in consultation with the Senior Pastor.
Qualifications
- At least 2 years of experience working in nonprofit communications, marketing or similar
- Motivated self-starter and team player, with exceptional organizational and project management skills
- Demonstrable experience with the following:
- Managing social media channels and knowledge of social analytics tools
- Graphic design software
- Email software – Grace uses MailChimp
- Website content management systems – Grace uses Aboundant
- Photography and video capture and editing
- Knowledge of marketing concepts, terms, and strategies
- Keen attention to detail when proofreading, copyediting, and fact-checking
- A history of working or volunteering within a church setting is preferred
Core Competencies, Integrity, Personal Strengths and Character of Grace United Methodist Church Staff:
- Attention to Detail: Consistently attends to the many small pieces which must be assembled into an organized whole; resolves unanswered questions needed to address a problem; keeps the larger picture in mind while tending to the smallest of details.
- Decision Making and Problem Solving: Uses sound logic to approach difficult problems and apply effective solutions; can distinguish between symptoms, causes and implied solutions; decides in a timely manner based upon a blend of research, experience, risk-taking and judgment.
- Ethics and Values: Honors the core values and beliefs of the organization in his/her/their choice of behaviors; consistently embodies appropriate behavioral choices in both stressful and non-stressful situations; practices the behaviors he/she/they advocates to others. Supports the inclusive ministries of Grace UMC.
- Integrity and Trust: Is seen as trustworthy by others; practices direct, honest and transparent communication; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; responds to situations with constancy and reliability.
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to lead others. Demonstrates the skills of active listening and openly accepts criticism. Productively engages and resolves interpersonal conflict. Holds others accountable in a spirit of love. Engages people positively, with a demeanor of optimism and abundance. Is graceful about interruptions.
- Self-Development: Sets appropriate personal work objectives, measures own progress, identifies personal gaps in knowledge, understanding and skill; undertakes appropriate activities to develop needed skills; seeks regular feedback on performance; knows personal strengths and weaknesses, is sensitive to changing personal and organizational requirements and changes accordingly.
- Time Management and Project Management: Is able and willing to focus time on tasks that contribute to organizational goals; uses time effectively and efficiently; values time and respects the time of others; concentrates his/her/their efforts on the most important priorities; can appropriately balance priorities. Identifies the key objectives and scope of a proposed project; garners needed resources and project support, develops a realistic and thorough plan for achieving key objectives, keeps team members briefed on progress, implements action plans, communicates progress to affected parties, identifies and resolves barriers and problems.
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and expectations of employment at Grace United Methodist Church. It is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with it.
About Grace United Methodist Church:
Grace United Methodist Church is a vibrant, progressive community in metropolitan Des Moines, IA that gathers for worship, study, and service. Rooted in Christ’s vision for the world and the church, we are a servant people dedicated to spreading love for God and neighbor.
At Grace, everyone is invited to bless our church with their love, presence, and active participation. We are a community that encourages deep thinking and authentic expressions of faith. We prioritize nurturing and supporting our children and youth through dedicated ministries. We actively serve our community through a free medical clinic, mental health clinic, legal services clinic, weekly neighborhood meals, grassroots organizing, and more. We gather together for worship every Sunday, blending progressive faith with tradition in our beautiful sanctuary with inspiring preaching and music.
We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed. Grace United Methodist Church is proud to be a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network.
