Director of Communications

Director of Communications at Athens First UMC

Athens First United Methodist Church has a rich history and commitment to being a downtown location.  We are a thriving United Methodist Congregation located in downtown Athens, two blocks away from the University of Georgia.  

The Director of Communications will lead design, marketing, and communication of various church events and church-wide publications. The Director of Communications is responsible for working closely with the program and administrative staff to provide quality support in the area of communication. They will practice personal disciplines that reflect the Christian faith and the ability to communicate that faith through witness and example. This position is supervised by the Senior Minister and is accountable to the Staff-Parish Relations Committee.  

General Responsibilities include (but not limited to):

Planning and Vision

• Understand Athens First United Methodist Church’s strategic goals and mission, and work collaboratively with program staff.
• Analyze the church’s creative processes and technologies, as related to communications, determining areas needing improvement/development.
• Study the creative marketplace in order to utilize resources for creative communication development.
• Internally communicate creative processes and style guidelines with other staff members and hold staff members accountable to publication deadlines.
• Make decisions in a deadline driven environment in the most efficient way possible.
• Manage and oversee ad hoc projects as they arise, ensuring timely completion and alignment with organizational needs.

Production Process

• Prepare and publish weekly emailed Steeple newsletter.
• Oversee all designs, copywriting and direction for church-wide publications.
• Quality control, including proofing, reviewing and evaluating creative output and project procedures.
• Ongoing development and management of website information and function/design, maintaining clear and relevant communication and direction.
• Ensure that procedures are followed for the website and church calendar.
• Ongoing development and management of social media to ensure effective use.
• Maintain the information on external church message boards and internal monitors.
• Develop and manage external church advertising.
• Meet with program staff to discuss event priorities and promotion strategies.
• Prepare a yearly budget for church communications.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• Strong understanding of “Branding” as it relates to marketing and promotions
• Excellent skills in communications, personal relationships, and writing.
• Strong skills in project management, managing timelines, and managing multiple projects at one time
• Ability to communicate effectively using various social media platforms
• Ability to collaborate effectively and professionally with other church leaders and volunteers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs as well as Adobe Creative Suite and website content management systems.
• Willingness to learn new technology and skills to maintain efficiency and relevance in the area of communications.