POSITION: Communications Director-Redeemer Presbyterian Church Lincoln Square DEPARTMENT: Communications Department REPORTS TO: Director of Discipleship FLSA STATUS: Exempt WORK HOURS: Full-time BAND: 7 DATE: February 19, 2025 WAGE RANGE: $93,000-$97,000 annually
Your purpose starts here! By joining Redeemer Lincoln Square, you’ll help build a great city; bringing personal conversion, community formation, social justice, and cultural renewal to New York City and, through it, the world. We are FOR NYC; and a church that is not for ourselves, but for others, where our community is known, loved and cared for, and that values questions and the people who ask them.
JOB SUMMARY The Communications Director is a key ministerial role responsible for developing and implementing strategic internal and external communications for Redeemer Lincoln Square (LSQ) that advance its vision, mission, strategy, and values.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Plan and manage the editorial calendar for each ministry year's ministry goals and priorities for all distribution channels, including the email calendar for any emails to a subset of or the entire church.
Develop and maintain a content calendar for any and all social media content and work with communications staff to post content.
Maintain LSQ’s worship calendar alongside the Senior Pastor.
Develop and track metrics for communications engagement and effectiveness.
b. Safeguard the voice, tone and brand (including design collateral) of LSQ in adherence with the LSQ Style Guide and aligned with the church’s vision and mission, including, but not limited to the following:
Train new hires and existing staff regarding communications protocols, effective communication strategies and the LSQ Style Guide.
Collaborate with various LSQ departments to review and edit staff-created content and communications plans to ensure implementation of high-impact communication strategies, adherence to communications protocols and the LSQ Style Guide and alignment with the church’s vision and mission. Ensure integrity of LSQ’s brand, voice and tone are maintained and any brand and design assets are utilized properly by external ministry partners.
Build and maintain solid partnerships with various LSQ departments and external ministry partners to better develop, coordinate, direct, and facilitate strategic communications designed to meet ministry goals.
Work with church leadership to take the pulse of overall ministry activity to identify cross-departmental opportunities and align communication efforts across ministries with LSQ’s goals.
As needed, update the LSQ Style Guide and communications protocols to preserve the high caliber of high-impact messaging to LSQ’s target audiences.
c. Communications Expertise and Cultural Competence:
Craft clear and compelling messages that resonate with both Christian and non-Christian audiences. Communicate effectively both in written and visual communications, reflecting messaging that is inclusive, culturally sensitive, respectful and accessible to a broad audience that reflects the demographics of both LSQ’s congregation and of New York City.
d. Develop communications plans for all church-wide events and partnering with ministry departments leading their own events/initiatives to ensure their events/initiatives are communicated strategically and in line with the LSQ brand.
e. Develop and manage systems to track and report on the efficacy of various communications channels to inform LSQ’s ongoing strategies, translating insights into strategic recommendations and actionable initiatives that anticipate future challenges and opportunities.
f. Research and understand key ministry challenges, target audiences and their behavior and environmental factors that impact programs within the church and its various departments. Stay informed of developments in trends and best practices in church marketing and communications to foster ideas and innovation and enhance communication tactics.
g. Proactively monitor and analyze trends, technological advancements, and best practices in church communications, digital marketing, and community engagement.
h. Serve as a catalyst for innovation by exploring and piloting new communications platforms, tools, and methodologies. Work with the communications team and external partners to Implement creative solutions that effectively engage diverse audiences.
Update and maintain all communications platforms, events assets and collateral, photography, print and video to keep them current.
Review, organize, and archive all photos, videos, print, graphic design, audio, raw stories, scripts and all final published material.
Craft drafts for Senior Pastor communications in collaboration with Senior Pastor.
Manage and implement a system of workflow and project management for all communications .
Oversee crisis communications and develop strategies for managing and mitigating reputational risks.
Create and edit Touchpoint communications templates for all departments and ministries and train relevant staff accordingly.
Manage the content creation and timely implementation of all Sunday service communications, including but not limited to the bulletin, liturgy, special worship elements, Sunday announcements and ads, worship slides, posted signage, online registration, and announcements.
Project manage the sourcing and editing of congregant and ministry partner testimonies and corporate prayers with input from the Pastoral Care team.
Collaborate with Operations Coordinator to ensure the Sunday service livestream is produced with excellence.
Develop a paid advertising social media strategy to reach new potential markets.
Oversee the production of any seasonal or annual communications deliverables. This includes, but is not limited to, the Congregational Meeting, and the Annual Report.
Manage and lead the assessment of potential alternative church management software (ChMS and implementation of such new ChMS.
Manage and lead the creation and implementation of a new app for congregants.
Manage and help develop with the Director of Hospitality and Connections a system of follow-up communications for new attendees to facilitate their integration into church life.
b. Develop and implement marketing campaigns in collaboration with senior leadership and consultants for church-wide strategic plan communications with integrated future capital campaigns, initiatives and fundraising.
Qualifications
Must embrace LSQ’s vision and have a gospel-oriented heart for New York City.
Must be aligned with the core theological principles, including the core ministry values of LSQ and the Presbyterian Church of America, including the Westminster Confession.
Must have a four-year undergraduate degree in communications, journalism, advertising or related field or the equivalent training/experience; urban ministry experience preferred; communications experience with church/ministry/non-profit a plus.
At least 5 to 7 years of progressively more responsible experience in a communications role. Proven experience managing communications for an organization, including with strategic plan and capital campaign communications.
Strong ability to create compelling and missional content and adapt content for various audiences and communications deliverables; ability to proofread and edit other people’s writing and produce copy meeting brand standards and messaging for target audiences. Excellent content creation and storytelling skills, including basic graphic design, photography and video production.
Ideal candidate has proven ability to craft compelling messages that resonate simultaneously with both Christian and non-Christian audiences. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through the lens of diverse ethnic backgrounds, ensuring that all messaging is inclusive, culturally sensitive, respectful and accessible to a broad demographic.
Advanced oral and written communication skills using different forms of media; ability to translate complex concepts to individuals at all levels.
Ability to understand complex situations, emergencies, and relationships and to make sound judgments; ability to improve processes, promote excellence, and demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness; ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive work-related issues.
Advanced organizational and planning skills, project planning and management skills; ability to plan and manage cross-functional initiatives; proven ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and multitask with minimal supervision leading to strong execution; proven ability as entrepreneurial self-starter.
Strong ability to work independently or as a member of the team, build relationships within the Redeemer network and its ministry partners, ability to be detailed-oriented and consistently accurate, ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced environment, and ability to quickly learn new systems, processes, and procedures.
Ability to effectively negotiate and collaborate with all independent contractors to ensure successful delivery of work products.
Strong problem-solving skills are required.
Proven experience with analytics tools for communications platforms.
Must be available occasionally on weekends and evenings, as needed.
Must attend Redeemer Lincoln Square and being a member is preferred.
Full-time members of the Redeemer Lincoln Square team, are offered competitive salaries, paid time off, and benefits, to include:
Fully paid Medical Plan Premiums
Shared cost PPO Medical Plan Option
Fully paid Dental insurance premiums, with dental buy-up plan option
fully paid Vision insurance premiums
Redeemer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment policies.
Voluntary accident, life, and AD&D policies for employee, spouse, and children
Redeemer-funded HSA and HRA with elected high-deductible medical coverage
Optional Limited Purpose FSA for dental, vision, and dependent care costs
Transit / commuter benefit
Counseling benefit
The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill set; experience and training; licensure, certifications, and ordination; and other organizational needs.