Position Overview
The Communications & Engagement Manager is responsible for developing and executing Christ Church East Bay’s communications and engagement strategy. This hands-on role creates and distributes church communications, recruits and supports Sunday volunteers, oversees the church-wide calendar and event registrations, and manages the Annual All-Church Retreat. Working collaboratively with pastors, staff, and volunteers, the Manager ensures that every communication and interaction helps people take their next step toward deeper connection with Christ and His Church.
Ministry Philosophy
At Christ Church East Bay, we believe that communications are more than the distribution of information—they are opportunities for ministry. We seek to communicate with clarity, warmth, and authenticity, intentionally serving both those exploring Christ Church for the first time and those already engaged in the life of our church. Success in this role is measured not simply by excellent communication, but by helping people take meaningful next steps—from first-time guest to fully engaged participant in the life of Christ Church.
Innovation & Stewardship
We believe that wise stewardship includes thoughtfully embracing tools and technologies that enhance ministry. Staff should utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to improve creativity, streamline administrative work, strengthen communications, and increase ministry effectiveness. AI should be used with discernment, protecting confidential information and ensuring that all final work reflects Christ Church’s voice, values, and standards of excellence.
Key Responsibilities
1. Church-Wide Communications
- Create, coordinate, and distribute church-wide communications across multiple platforms while maintaining consistent branding, messaging, and quality across all communication channels. Ensure timely and informative promotion of church ministries, events, and initiatives. Responsibilities include preparing and distributing communications such as liturgies (as assigned), the Friday Happenings email newsletter, Mailchimp campaigns, Belonging communications, Scripture Reading Plans, pastoral communications, Community Group discussion questions, Belonging Classes, Sunday classes, Annual Meetings, special initiatives, holiday services, prayer and fasting vigils, and other church-wide events and communications, as needed.
- Manage and maintain the church’s digital presence through the website, Instagram, Facebook, and other online platforms, including utilizing and sharing existing YouTube/Vimeo video assets. Coordinate and produce digital and print communication materials, including Planning Center forms and event registrations, bulletin inserts, announcement slides, pre-service announcement videos, banners, signage, and other resources that support the ministries of the church. Collect, manage and use where appropriate and in accordance with photo release guidelines, photos to help illustrate the church’s messaging.
2. Guest Engagement & First Impressions
- Champion the experience of first-time guests and newcomers. Oversee newcomer engagement by collecting contact information, relevant background details, and coordinating timely introductions to Pastors and key ministry leaders for follow-up and connection. Assist Groups and Formation Director with newcomer assimilation.
- Develop, implement, evaluate, and continually improve newcomer engagement systems and processes that create a welcoming experience and provide clear pathways for guests to connect with Christ Church. This includes enhancing the website visitor experience, guest communications, Connect Cards, Welcome Wall, on-site signage, guest follow-up, and opportunities to attend Belonging, join a Community Group, begin serving, and become active participants in the life of the church.
3. Sunday Volunteer Leadership
- Recruit, equip, encourage, and support volunteers serving in Sunday ministry teams, including the Welcome Team, Hospitality Team, Safety Team, Communion Crew, Scripture Readers, Communion Servers, Communion Prep Team, and Events Team. Cultivate a thriving volunteer culture by managing Planning Center engagement and weekly communications, providing Sunday morning leadership and prayer, developing systems that make serving enjoyable and sustainable, and collaborating with the Operations & Missions Manager to ensure accurate scheduling and volunteer data management.
4. Calendar & Event Management
- Maintain the church-wide ministry calendar (Google calendar and internal calendar).
- Coordinate scheduling, communication and promotion for church-wide events.
- Create and manage Planning Center registrations and events, ensuring events are promoted and registration experiences are simple and welcoming.
5. Annual All-Church Retreat
- Serve as project manager for the Annual All-Church Retreat by planning, coordinating, and executing all logistical aspects of the retreat, including project timelines, registration, communications, room assignments, scholarship administration, volunteer and transportation coordination, printed materials, check-in, and follow-up. Serve as the primary liaison with Mount Hermon and lead staff planning meetings to ensure a well-organized and meaningful retreat experience.
6. Continuous Improvement
- Regularly assess the effectiveness of church communications and engagement strategies by monitoring key engagement indicators, including email engagement, website traffic, event and volunteer participation, Belonging attendance, newcomer follow-up, and retreat participation. Use data, feedback, and ministry priorities to recommend improvements, streamline systems and processes, and create clearer pathways for people to connect, belong, and grow within the life of the church.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
The Communications & Engagement Manager will be successful when:
Communications
Church communications are timely, clear, visually engaging, and consistent across all platforms. Ministry leaders receive proactive communication support that helps promote ministry initiatives effectively and advances the mission of Christ Church.
Guest Engagement
Guests consistently experience a warm welcome and receive timely, thoughtful follow-up. An increasing number of newcomers take meaningful next steps by attending Belonging, joining a Community Group, serving, and pursuing membership.
Volunteer Engagement
Sunday ministry teams are healthy, fully staffed, and well supported. Volunteers feel equipped, appreciated, encouraged, and connected to the mission of Christ Church, resulting in a positive and sustainable volunteer culture.
Operational Effectiveness
Church-wide events are communicated in an informative, timely, and engaging manner, and registration processes are simple, efficient, and user-friendly. Communication and engagement systems are regularly evaluated and improved to increase participation, reduce barriers to involvement, and help people connect more deeply with the life of the church.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate demonstrates excellent written communication, strong organizational and project management skills, exceptional attention to detail, graphic design sensibility, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. They possess strong interpersonal skills, experience recruiting and leading volunteers, and proficiency with Planning Center, Mailchimp, Canva (or similar), Google Workspace, and website content management systems.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
The successful candidate is a spiritually mature, service-oriented leader who demonstrates warmth, hospitality, and a genuine passion for helping people connect with Christ and His Church. They are collaborative, adaptable, creative, and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while remaining calm under pressure. They take initiative, follow through on commitments, and are committed to excellence in both ministry and administration.
RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: Director of Operations
Works collaboratively with: Pastoral Staff, Ministry Directors, Administrative Staff, and Volunteer Ministry Leaders
Leads: Sunday Volunteers, and Retreat Volunteers
POSITION DETAILS
Employment Status: Part-Time (20-25 hours per week)
Compensation: $35-$40 per hour, depending on experience
Work Schedule: The schedule is flexible and varies with the rhythms of church ministry. Regular in-person responsibilities include Sunday mornings, Tuesday staff meetings, special services, the Annual All-Church Retreat, seasonal ministry events, and occasional evening meetings.
Scope of Work: Key responsibilities and tasks have been outlined above, but because Christ Church is a small church with a relatively small staff, you may be asked, from time to time, to perform tasks outside of your job description in furtherance of the church’s mission, goals, and needs.