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RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direction of the Bishop, the Executive Director of Communications provides strategic and operational management for the communications functions of the Diocese. Duties and responsibilities include:
- Advances the Communications Strategic Plan for the Diocese of Cleveland
- Creates an intentional and comprehensive communication and public affairs strategy and agenda, implementing messaging that includes but is not limited to teachings of the Catholic Church that result in a higher level of understanding and evangelization by Catholics and other audiences,
- Creates, promote and distribute Catholic content using the most advanced technologies and communication methodologies that best serve the Church.
- Creates, promote and deliver targeted messages and content through strategic communication campaigns for the various secretariats, departments, programs and fund development initiatives of the Diocese. Collaborates most robustly and frequently with the Office for Evangelization.
- Works with the Bishop, Vicar General, and Vicar for Evangelization to create a communications culture rooted in the pastoral mission and vision of the Church within the diocese using innovative technology and collaboration with stakeholders.
- Strengthens the awareness of the Church’s teachings, beliefs and messages and strengthen the impact they have on Catholics in general and civic leaders in particular through an intentional, focused, comprehensive, and unified communications strategy.
- Reviews and revises the protocols, procedures, cultural norms and communication systems to support a comprehensive diocesan communications strategy.
- Creates a centralized office providing communications resource services, such as pastoral leadership communications, spokesperson and message development, crisis communications management, media relations consultation, information policy development, and required reporting.
- Provides proactive analysis of issues in the public forum that could build interest in the Bishop’s strategic goals and plans and creating engagement strategies around these issues and opportunities.
- Coordinates diocesan media relations with appropriate media channels and news and information outlets.
- Oversees a public relations and information delivery strategy that creates targeted messages on issues of high value to the bishop and delivered through a variety of media channels to include e-newsletters, press releases, promotional campaigns, news stories, issue analysis, op/ed and blog pieces, etc.
- Develops systems that effectively and efficiently “push” content (news, information, resources) to church leaders and the Catholic community members.
- Effectively and accurately processes input and feedback from the demographically diverse people of the diocese to identify trends, emerging issues and the needs.
- Authors briefing papers, backgrounders and other message-related content that is based on issue and audience research so that the bishop can get the right message on the right issue to the right people in a timely manner.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Must be a practicing Catholic in full communion with the Church, with demonstrated knowledge of the Catholic Church, its teachings and traditions. Commitment to the values, mission, ministry and evangelization charge of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public affairs, marketing, or related field. Master’s degree or post-Bachelor’s level formal education and training preferred.
- Ten to fifteen years of successful senior-level communications, journalism, public relations, public affairs or communications experience utilizing multiple platforms and digital tools.
- Mastery of the impact and effectiveness of the various available technologies to strategically serve the Bishop, parishes, schools, Diocesan ministries and other institutions related to the Diocese.
- Sophisticated discernment in applying discretion and approximate security measures in the handling of sensitive, confidential and critical information.
- Experience in working in and/or with news media, elected officials, foundation executives, and community leaders.
- Demonstrated success in leadership and communication management best practices, to include successful print and speech communications, branding of messages, stories and images.
Skills Required
- Proficient in issue analysis and message development. Ability to proactively and rapidly conduct research and analysis to identify trends, emerging issues, and needs of the audience to effectively hear from and communicate to demographically diverse populations within the diocese. Ability to apply such research and analysis outcomes with the Bishop’s Diocesan strategic goals and build engagement actions around the issues.
- Advanced knowledge of current and emerging digital and media strategies and tools utilized within push technology. Skilled in evaluating communications technologies toward engaging key stakeholders and building relationships.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.
- Ability to proactively research and analyze current and breaking events and issues that may be aligned with the Bishop’s and diocese’s strategic goals and the ability to build engagement strategies around such issues.
- Skilled in evaluating communications tools to engage key stakeholders (to include internal staff) and lay faithful through welcoming, collaborative and inclusive relationships.