Director of Communications

Director of Communications

The Minnesota Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is seeking a Director of Communications to lead all aspects of conference-wide communication. This individual plays a vital role in promoting and sharing the mission and ministry of the Minnesota Conference. Key responsibilities include managing crisis communications, equipping leaders with effective communication tools, strengthening connections with local congregations, and evaluating the impact of communication efforts. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for storytelling and a strategic approach to communication.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and maintain a consistent brand identity for the Minnesota Annual Conference in all our communication efforts and align all internal and external communications so they reflect our brand, are culturally relevant and missionally focused, and are of high quality. Highlight and support the annual conference mission, vision, and guiding values through multi-channel communications.
• Provide theological framing and storytelling to highlight lives changed through the United Methodist Church in Minnesota, provide ideas and inspiration for local churches, reinforce key practices of vital congregations, call attention to resources and programs available through the connection, celebrate local church successes, and help interpret the mission and ministry of the Minnesota Conference to the church and wider community.
• Partner with staff leaders to provide strategic communications consultations, create communication campaigns around their key ministry priorities, and create branded collateral for use in their work.
• Consult with clergy and church leaders around communications best practices, while also providing training and creating communication resources and on-demand tools and templates to help local church leaders effectively communicate within their congregations and communities. 
• Disseminate important information to Minnesota United Methodists, and market key opportunities in an exciting and engaging way that solicits participation.
• Lead the Minnesota Annual Conference in crisis communications response by managing media requests and ensuring our message is communicated accurately.
• Serve as a key member on conference strategic teams, contributing innovative, cutting-edge approaches to communications and adding insight to broader decision-making and vision alignment.
• Continually evaluate and strategize the kinds of media needed to connect to our external and internal constituencies, keeping us relevant in our communication methods. 
• Prioritize diversity—geographic, theological, church size, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.—in conference communications.
• Supervise and mentor the communications specialist, database manager/conference secretary, and archivist/database specialist.
• Ensure that the annual conference session is our premier event for sharing our message and ministry, and oversee all communications for this event, from hiring/coordinating with AV contractor to producing printed and website materials, slide decks, daily wrap-ups, and follow-up resources for congregations.
• Collaborate with the Episcopal Office, Extended Cabinet, crisis response teams, and other relevant groups to ensure communications strategy is integrated into all levels of ministry planning and implementation.
• Build trust within the organization through responsiveness to questions and requests, and striving for transparency, accuracy, and integrity in all communications.
• Evaluate the reach and effectiveness of communications efforts using both quantitative metrics (e.g., engagement data) and qualitative feedback from clergy, lay leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with the Dakotas Communications Office to effectively share the vision and message of the Bishop of the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area and partner to maximize collective skill set.
• Other duties as assigned.