Director of Advancement & Communications

Job Summary

The Director of Advancement & Communications for St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish develops and implements the long-term marketing and communications vision for the parish and school’s identity and brand, while also overseeing advancement initiatives that enhance fundraising levels and expand sources of revenue in fulfillment of the parish mission. 

Job Responsibilities

• Promote the parish and school’s mission by planning, developing, and implementing all marketing and communications strategies.
• Develop and manage school and parish communications, including website content, social media, printed materials, and e-communication platforms; keep all content current
• Supervise production of the weekly bulletin, including all parish and school activities, ensuring information in the bulletin is current and matches the web and social media.
• Coordinate and enforce the proper and consistent application of the parish and school’s identity, such as logo, tagline, fonts, etc., for use on letterhead, brochures, invitations, etc.
• Work collaboratively with the heads of various parish organizations in safeguarding and promoting the parish brand, ensuring, with the help of the stewardship committee, fidelity to the parish mission
• Assist parish organizations in designing graphics and promoting events
• Work actively with the Pastor, Finance Manager, School Principal, Parish Council, and Finance Committee, as well as parishioners, parents, and alumni regarding development and stewardship matters; including overseeing parish and school fundraising programs and activities
• Develop programs and direct special events (viz. Parish Auction) for increasing operating and restricted revenue and constituent engagement; the refinement and growth of existing programs
• Work collaboratively with the finance manager to ensure the reporting of all advancement income and the application of restricted gifts to their intended use, as well as the timely thanking of all donors
• Create programs and events of donor care for the school and parish to encourage community and partnership.
• Attend Archdiocesan meetings to network and gain professional knowledge.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Pastor and Associates.
• Develop and direct school alumni program including, but not limited to:
  • Establish and maintain an alumni database (e.g. gift tracking, relationship data, contact records, and additional attributes if available) and coordinate an Alumni Development Committee from various class years and seek to re-engage alumni with the School.
  • Develop donor cultivation events and relationship building opportunities
  • Correspond with alumni as appropriate; create a donor care program to insure that all donors are thanked promptly, creatively and, when appropriate, publicly
  • Serve as an alumni advocate: to champion the voice of the alumni constituency, to honor the history of the institution, to inform the current population of that history 

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the following: communications, marketing, digital media, business administration, and/or related educational fields
• Three (3) to Five (5) years of experience in communications and marketing work, preferably in a leadership position
• Ability to work fulltime, and occasional weekends and evenings for St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish
• Experience with web content and e-communication programs
• Experience with fundraising, brand development, and public relations concepts preferred 

Skills & Attitudes Required for Success in Job  

• Active and practicing member of the Catholic faith
• Top-tier communication skills, both verbally and written
• Serve as a strong spokesperson for the parish and the school
• Personable, outgoing, energetic, welcoming, and professional
• Able to manage and honor confidential information
• Able to work collaboratively with school and parish leadership and constituent groups
• Self-starter with strong project management skills and the ability to prioritize and balance several projects at one time.
• Strong attention to details and ability to submit attractive, error-free published materials in a timely fashion.
• Must be able to work independently, outlining an annual calendar for solicitations, communications, donor cultivation, sponsorship activities, and special events, and then be able to implement that calendar.
• Able to change course as necessary, respond to opportunity, and stay focused on priorities 

Relationships Requirements 

• Ability to work well with, lead, and direct volunteers; able to collaborate with the leadership of the St. Margaret Mary Alacoque community in advancing the parish mission.
• Meet regularly with Pastor and Finance Manager to identify financial goals and progress in attaining such