Director of Sacred Music and Liturgy

Job Description

Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church seeks a visionary, accomplished, and pastorally sensitive Director of Sacred Music and Liturgy to lead and develop a comprehensive program of Catholic worship, sacred music, and liturgical formation.
The Director is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and quality of the parish's sacred music and liturgical life. This individual will foster a culture of reverent worship, musical excellence, faithful liturgical practice, and active participation by the entire assembly.
Working collaboratively with the pastor, clergy, departmental staff, and parish community, the Director will ensure that music and liturgy function as an integrated ministry at the heart of parish life. The Director will establish clear standards, develop staff and volunteers, oversee departmental resources, and cultivate a sustainable program that reflects the richness of the Catholic Church's liturgical and musical tradition.
The successful candidate will combine strong musical leadership, a thorough understanding of Catholic liturgy, effective personnel management, pastoral sensitivity, and the administrative ability to build a cohesive and forward-looking department.

I. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Vision, Leadership, and Strategic Planning
1. Develop and implement a comprehensive vision for sacred music and liturgy consistent with Catholic teaching, the liturgical norms of the Church, and the pastoral priorities of Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church.
2. Establish annual goals, objectives, priorities, and measurable outcomes for the department.
3. Lead the development of a unified program that maintains consistent standards while respecting the distinct musical and pastoral character of individual Masses.
4. Foster a culture of prayer, collaboration, accountability, professional excellence, and ongoing formation.
5. Advise the pastor on opportunities to strengthen the parish's liturgical and musical life.
6. Evaluate existing programs, identify areas for improvement, and develop long-term strategies for growth.
7. Represent the department in relevant parish planning meetings and pastoral initiatives.

B. Supervision and Development of Departmental Staff
The Director will provide leadership, supervision, and support to the following positions:
• Associate Director of Music
• Associate Director of Liturgy
• Assistant Director of Music (Children)
• Artist-in-Residence and Schola Cantorum Choirmaster

Responsibilities include:
1. Establish clear position descriptions, reporting relationships, and performance expectations.
2. Conduct regular staff meetings and maintain effective communication across the department.
3. Coordinate departmental calendars, responsibilities, and priorities.
4. Conduct periodic performance reviews and provide constructive feedback.
5. Encourage professional development and continuing education.
6. Resolve scheduling conflicts and operational issues.
7. Ensure that individual staff members understand their responsibilities while working toward shared departmental goals.
8. Identify staffing needs and recommend additional personnel or volunteer support when appropriate.

C. Sacred Music Leadership and Oversight
1. Establish parish-wide standards for musical excellence, repertoire selection, preparation, and performance.
2. Direct and oversee the development of music for Sunday Masses, holy days, sacramental celebrations, and other parish liturgies.
3. Ensure that music is appropriate to the liturgical season, readings, ritual action, and pastoral needs of the assembly.
4. Coordinate the overall musical program with the Associate Director of Music and other individual Mass music leaders.
5. Support the development of congregational singing, cantor ministry, choirs, instrumentalists, and other musical ensembles.
6. Encourage the appropriate use of Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, traditional hymnody, contemporary sacred music, and culturally appropriate liturgical music.
7. Ensure that repertoire is theologically sound, liturgically appropriate, and consistent with applicable Church documents.
8. Establish procedures for music planning, rehearsal schedules, music distribution, and preparation deadlines.
9. Oversee the development and maintenance of the parish's music library and related resources.
10. Support the artistic and spiritual contribution of the Artist-in-Residence and Schola Choirmaster.

D. Liturgical Planning and Coordination
1. Work closely with the pastor and clergy to ensure that parish liturgies are reverent, well prepared, and faithful to the Church's liturgical books and norms.
2. Supervise departmental coordination of the liturgical calendar and major celebrations.
3. Collaborate with the Associate Director of Liturgy on minister formation, scheduling, ceremonial preparation, and liturgical planning.
4. Ensure that musical selections support the structure, purpose, and prayer of the liturgy.
5. Coordinate music and liturgical preparation for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, solemnities, and other significant celebrations.
6. Oversee departmental preparation for weddings, funerals, baptisms, confirmations, and other sacramental celebrations as assigned.

E. Administration, Budget, and Resource Management
1. Prepare an annual departmental budget in consultation with the pastor and appropriate parish administrators.
2. Monitor expenditures and manage resources responsibly within approved budgetary limits.
3. Recommend purchases and maintenance of instruments, music, sound equipment, educational materials, and other resources.
4. Oversee music purchases, licensing, subscriptions, and copyright compliance.
5. Develop and maintain departmental calendars, schedules, records, and planning documents.
6. Coordinate contracts, stipends, and payments for musicians and other personnel as authorized.
7. Evaluate staffing and resource needs and make recommendations to parish leadership.
8. Ensure that departmental policies and administrative practices comply with parish procedures.

II. SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director will coordinate the department according to the following division of responsibilities:

Associate Director of Music: Parish-wide musical coordination, repertoire planning, musical standards, rehearsal systems, and coordination of musical personnel, and playing/accompanying/conducting as needed.

Associate Director of Liturgy: Liturgical planning, minister coordination, ceremonial preparation, seasonal celebrations, sacristy management and liturgical formation.

Assistant Director of Music for Children: Children's musical formation, teaching in Little Lions ELC, and development of children's music ministry.

Artist-in-Residence and Schola Choirmaster: Musical leadership for the 12 p.m. Latin Novus Ordo Mass, direction of the schola, development of sacred choral repertoire, and contribution to the parish's artistic and musical life.

The Director is responsible for coordinating these ministries, clarifying overlapping duties, and ensuring that each position has the resources and support needed to fulfill its responsibilities.

III. QUALIFICATIONS
Required Qualifications
1. Practicing Catholic in good standing, committed to the Church's worship and mission.
2. Strong knowledge of Catholic liturgy, the Roman Rite, and applicable liturgical norms.
3. Significant musical experience and demonstrated competence in sacred music.
4. Strong organizational, administrative, and interpersonal skills.
5. Ability to lead, supervise, and develop staff and volunteers.
6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
7. Ability to collaborate effectively with clergy, musicians, parish staff, and volunteers.
8. Commitment to the spiritual and pastoral dimensions of sacred music and liturgy
9. A Master's degree or higher in sacred music, music, liturgy, liturgical music, or a related field.

About the Employer

The mission of Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Parish (as part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama) is to respond to God's call to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Eternal Son of the living God. We are witnesses to the Gospel as we announce the death of the Lord, proclaim His resurrection, and await His coming in glory. At the heart of our Christian Community is celebration: of the Word, of the Eucharist, of the Sacraments. We journey with the Holy Spirit as our guide, with Mary, the Mother of God as our model, and in communion with the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome.