SUMMARY

The Managing Editor & Director of Content is the lead storyteller for the Diocese of Nashville. This position is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive content strategy that evangelizes and shares the stories of the Diocese of Nashville, connecting active and latent Catholics to their local parish, to the broader diocese, to the Church in the United States, and to the Universal Church. This position provides direction for the tailoring of messaging for active Catholics, the general public, and other audiences of the Diocese of Nashville.

This position is responsible for diocesan traditional print media: the Tennessee Register and Catholic Awakenings. The Managing Editor & Director of Content leads a team of journalists to produce content for a range of traditional and digital media with the intent to grow and strengthen the Diocese of Nashville. Diocesan digital media includes streaming radio, podcasts, websites, email, and social media, plus internal communication with Mission Support Office staff, ministry leaders, and pastors and parish teams.

Working closely with the Chief Marketing Officer and the Director of Digital Media, the Managing Editor & Director of Content strives to connect both the faithful and the unformed to the beauty, truth, and goodness of the Roman Catholic Church and the excellent works and beliefs of the faith via top-quality content and creative, engaging storytelling.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

1.   Develop and implement a multi-channel content strategy that supports the goals of the Bishop of Nashville, the diocese, and the Office of Media & Evangelization. Work with the Director of Digital Media to successfully implement the content strategy and assess its ongoing effectiveness and performance to goal.

2.   Oversee editorial direction, design, production, and distribution of all publications.

3.   Ensure that diocesan content and media meet high journalistic standards and ethics, reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church, and reflect the views of the Bishop of Nashville who serves as publisher of diocesan traditional media.

4.   Supervise the work the content team—a group of journalists and graphic artists. Oversee all aspects of assigning, editing, producing, and publishing stories for publication in and dissemination through diocesan traditional media.

5.   Provide day-to-day leadership and messaging expertise for diocesan media channels in support of pastors, parishes, schools, and diocesan corporations while maintaining focus on the diocese's strategic goals.

6.   Forcefully and effectively present the Church’s position and response to issues.

7.   Develop news releases and communication pieces for diocese.

8.   Develops communication plans for key announcements by the Bishop of Nashville and the Diocese of Nashville, including development of messaging for the Bishop of Nashville.

9.   Develop communication plans for key announcements by the Bishop of Nashville and the Diocese of Nashville.

10. Support crisis management planning and response for issues facing the diocese and its entities.

11. Remain abreast of local, state, national, and international news to engage the community on behalf of the Diocese of Nashville and Bishop of Nashville to present Catholic Teaching and stories about the roles that local Catholic entities play in responding to current events.

12. Develop and maintain relationships with pastors, parish staff, diocesan officials, and the general public to aid coverage of events and programs in the Diocese of Nashville.

13. Maintain a diocesan network database of information for parishioners in parishes, churches, and missions, plus chancery staff, and other entities.

14. Support internal communication activities for the benefit of parishes, churches, missions, the chancery, and other entities.

15. Serves as a subject-matter expert for entities within the diocese in need of specialized support.

16. Manages agency, vendor, and creative talent for diocesan, ministry, and corporation projects and initiatives, as needed.

17. Maintain a database of subscribers to diocesan traditional media, specifically the Tennessee Register and Catholic Awakenings.

18. Manage advertising and sponsorship revenue for diocesan traditional media, specifically the Tennessee Register, Catholic Awakenings, and WBOU Nashville Catholic Radio.

19. Oversee department budgets and operate within the structure of church governance.

20. Performs other duties as requested by the Chief Marketing Officer or the Bishop of Nashville.

COMPETENCIES (5-6):

1.   Manages Complexity by making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.

2.   Drives Vision and Purpose by painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.

3.   Ensures accountability by holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.

4.   Builds Networks by effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

5.   Decision Quality by making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.

6.   Customer Focus by building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES – (If yes, what positions)

Supervise the content team, including circulation coordinator, multimedia journalists, creative services manager, plus volunteers, contractors, and interns.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

•     Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field required.

•     Minimum five (5) years of management experience in a media or communications role required, preferably in a news environment.

•     Practicing Roman Catholic with a firm understanding of Catholic teaching and the ability to apply this knowledge to news coverage and storytelling.

•     Prior experience in Catholic communications or media organization preferred.

•     Experience with digital newsroom management, including digital content management and project management systems, preferred.

•     Proven leadership ability to influence, develop, and empower people to achieve objectives with a team approach.

•     Budget management and reporting experience preferred.

OTHER SKILLS

•     Excellent editing and organizational skills.

•     Highly proficient in Associated Press (AP) and Chicago Manual of Style.

•     Ability to uphold style rules and implement standards across a variety of traditional and digital media.

•     Experience with multi-channel content planning and management.

•     Has successfully tailored specific messages/stories to unique targeted audiences.

•     A thorough understanding of traditional and digital communication platforms and their norms.

•     Familiar with photography and videography production practices.

•     Ability to manage publication deadlines.

•     Demonstrates ability to maintain collaborative working relationships and build consensus with stakeholders in a matrixed environment while driving toward measurable outcomes that demonstrate achievement.

•     Analytical and creative thinker who can problem-solve, work independently, and exercise good judgment under pressure.

•     Proficiency in Spanish strongly preferred.

•     Ability to travel within the Diocese of Nashville (approximately 50%). Ability to work flexible hours, including some weekends and evenings.

•     Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Outlook, and Excel, as well as Adobe Creative Cloud.