Roles & Responsibilities:
- Act as the primary strategist for communications and communications marketing efforts for the PCTT.
- Work with The Moderator and General Secretary and Communications Unit to identify priorities and set direction for communications efforts on behalf of the PCTT
- To advise the Communications Unit on social media and website strategy development and implementation, assist with content
- Collaborate with all Boards and Committees as needed to produce the best possible communications strategies, content and communications support to our missional priorities
- Work closely with PCTT to network and capitalize on global resources, including grants, training, etc.
- Provide media training to all PCTT executive members (including those of Boards and Committees) to enhance their ability to manage and relate to local and national media.
- Take the lead in crisis communications situations, working with the Moderator and appropriate designates to relate and manage the media.
- Develop and coordinate an in-house communications system, procedures and policies
- Develop, implement and monitor budgets, as well as the production of financial reports
- Maintain the public relations function of the organization.
- Establish and maintain active relationships with secular, denominational and interfaith media
- Market communications projects to further the priorities of the Pastoral Regions and local churches
- Oversee the circulation function and database support for marketing communications in the PCTT, including media lists, advertising contacts, clergy and laity lists for uploading to the website directories, etc.
- Develop and/or oversee the preparation and distribution of news releases to secular, denominational and interfaith media to promote conference events and activities, publicize special announcements from the Moderator, Boards and Committees, and help the PCTT achieve its priorities.
- Report to the Communications Committee regularly.
Special Skills
- Plan and facilitate press conferences when appropriate
- Produce all PCTT communications activities (Internal and External) of the PCTT
- Implementation of plans and strategies carried out by communications team/ Synod’s office
- Create an environment of creativity, innovation and problem solving.
- Provide innovative consultation on the best communications practices as it relates to;
- Expertise on best modes of delivery
- Expertise on content development
- Experience in multi-versioning material for different delivery platforms, including print
- Set high standards of production practices and quality
- Identify communications contacts in local churches and provide support and networking opportunities.
- Provide support to Pastoral Regions and churches in communications skills building and training
- Create content suitable for the social media and the PCTT website
- Create graphics in support of the Boards and Committees special projects
- Maintain and uphold brand standards for the PCTT
- Represent communications in various settings to provide counsel and advice on the development of program, processes and events
- Develop and implement the production preparation for mission and outreach programmes and educational sessions
- Design and produce social media campaigns as needed for specific events
- Be accountable and responsive to customer service needs, including providing advice to individual groups and or congregations on the use of communications in all of its various forms, including planning for communications
- Work effectively with peer staff
- Understand web content manager and provide leadership
- Cover events and/or travel to locations to cover stories related to the PCTT
- Provide training opportunities to direct reports to enhance their spiritual formation and skill sets needed to do their work.
- Collaborate on proofing and quality assurance, adhere to legal standards
- Know how to use the Adobe software suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc.)
- Edit published materials to ensure that they conform to a high standard of grammar and presentation
- Edit marketing materials and newsletters produced by other departments to ensure brand standards, grammar and style guidelines are maintained
- Any other duties as assigned by the Communications Committee
Qualifications:
The Communications Officer must exhibit evidence of developed vocational identity through:
- Minimum of five (5) years in journalism, public relations, mass media field required
- Bachelor’s degree in Communication or related field required
Experience:
(Criteria to be deemed suitable by the current serving members of Synodical Council)
Contractual Term Limit: Four (4) years
Religion: Presbyterian (Minimum of 10 years Communicant membership)
