Creative and Communications Director

Creative and Communications Director

Mission Statement: To help people know and follow Jesus step by step.

Vision Statement: We imagine a creative team of Christ followers who utilize creativity and thoughtful communication with excellence, who belong in community with authenticity and who love in outreach with intentionality, so that those far from God may be brought closer to Him.

Job Purpose: To serve the vision of Life Church Buffalo by implementing, overseeing, and executing creative, clear, excellent, and thoughtful communication across ministries and communication platforms.

Schedule: This is a full-time, salaried position comprised of two roles. Different seasons and events often times require more of our attention, which may require more of our time. Attend one weekend experience each week.

Job Description: The Communications Director will create, organize, plan and implement effective communications messages and strategies for/with church and community audiences. The individual will support Life Church Buffalo and ministry leaders in conveying their vision and communications priorities to appropriate audiences through social media, graphic design, and engaging video content. The Creative Director is responsible to the church, under the direction of the Co-Lead Pastor for overseeing all digital strategies, design elements, and video post-production elements of Life Church Buffalo. Primary responsibilities include development of church creative elements across all platforms along with determining future platforms. The Creative Director also provides administrative management and direction to the creative, web, and video post-production volunteer teams.

Reports to:
Co-Lead Pastor

Compensation:
$40,000 - $50,000/year + Benefits (Salary)

Essential Communications Job Functions:

• Oversee all the aspects of Life Church Buffalo communication, including print materials, digital elements, email, website, social media, and service/event promotion.
• Develop and implement a church-wide communication plan that reflects Life Church Buffalo’s
vision/mission.
• Lead in the area of communication by setting the strategy, creative vision, project management standards, and measures for communication initiatives and branding.
• Strengthen various ministries by developing communication plans specific to their audiences.
• Cultivate, lead and manage a Communication Team (writing, editing, photography, videography, design, social media, etc.) of volunteers to help implement our communications strategy.
• Write, edit, and design content for regular communication vehicles, including, website content,
church e-mails, bulletin, and social media.
• Keep social media and our website updated and engaging.
• Work with the Creative Pastor on special projects including but not limited to testimony videos,
special events, and any other creative elements needed.

Essential Creative Job Functions:

The Creative Director initiates ideas and strategies for the growth and development of Life Church Buffalo digital presence, creative direction and video post-production:
• Develop and manage a creative team
• Serve as the primary driver of web site and social media initiatives by proactively pursuing
opportunities and applications for the Life Church Buffalo digital strategies.
• Develop and submit written plans to support the church’s digital/social media initiatives.
• With the Co-Lead Pastor, determine the philosophy and strategy for church web sites and oversee ongoing design and maintenance.
• Provide sufficient data, metrics, analysis, and other information necessary to assess the growth and effectiveness of the church’s digital strategies.
• Determine visual direction for key Life Church branding elements such as, but not limited to,
corporate logos, sermon artwork and marketing campaigns
• Oversee video post-production elements that will support worship, marketing, the web and key learning initiatives.
• The Creative Director is responsible for oversight of digital content management and web
development of projects requested by the ministries of Life Church Buffalo:

o Initial consult with Ministry Leaders designed specifically to do one or more of the
following:
? Clearly define the actual scope of the project by helping answer tough questions.
(e.g. – “What exactly do you want vs. what do you need”).
? Prompt for and collect key details (point person, approver, key deadlines).
? Manage expectations of deliverables based on current climate (resources, client responsibilities, etc.).
? When appropriate, offer other team-preferred alternatives that more closely
meet Communications’ standards as determined by team leadership.

o The Creative Director should serve as both an advocate for the ministry leader and a
safeguard for the Communications Ministry to produce a product that meets the
standards of both.

o Work with Project Manager to strategically break the project into manageable pieces,
combine with other projects, and determine possible target dates.

o Help evaluate and maintain overall system of digital project-related processes and
workflow as needed.
? Evaluate and recommend project management processes as needed.
? Evaluate and recommend improvements to our Comm. Req. forms and process.

o Drive follow/up or post-project debriefs and evaluations.
? Work with Communications team leadership to evaluate and recommend Communications department projects’ best practices.
? Define and document learned processes for implementation when projects repeat.

o Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES may include but are not limited to the following:

• Worship Content: Works with Lead Pastors to determine thematic elements of
  sermon series.
• Online Worship: Manages the online viewership of Life Church Buffalo's online worship service
  
  Spiritual Development/ Ethics:
  • Meets qualifications for biblical leadership (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1).
  • Exhibits the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5).
  • He or she and their spouse have a commitment to prayer, the Word, and to each other.
  • Exhibits a heart of compassion. Is trustworthy and a humble servant leader.
  • Maintains a healthy balance between ministry and family.
  • Strong theological orientation.

Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, graphic design, or similar-related field
preferred.
• 3-5 year’s experience in graphic and video creative design
• Minimum 1 year ministry experience preferred
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut.
• Proficient in graphic design, photography, videography, and video editing.
• Experience in social media content development and platform management.
• Experience in website creation, development, and management.

Necessary Skills and Abilities
• Strong Biblical and sound doctrine foundation.
• Christ-like, teachable spirit, servant attitude.
• A champion of Life Church Buffalo’s vision
• Self-motivated leader capable of creating and executing a long-term vision.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Leader, developer of leaders, team builder and delegator.
• Passion for the Lord, His people, and His house.
• Demonstrates Christlikeness and a commitment to personal spiritual growth
• Utilizes emotional intelligence, is emotionally available to those he/she leads
• Invests in the development of staff or volunteers around him/her

Basic Personal Responsibilities:
• Uphold Biblical priorities in life, in the order outlined below:
• Growing personal relationship with Christ
• Relationship with spouse (if married)
• Relationship with children (if applicable)
• Purpose in life/ministry
• Uphold the Family Ministry Covenant.
• Be loyal to the vision and staff of the church and always protect the unity of the church.
• Demonstrate a Christ-like attitude through all interactions with congregation, staff, and
volunteers.
• Give at least 10% of your income in a biblical tithe toward the mission and vision of the Life
Church Buffalo.