Director of Music Ministry

Job Description

Director of Music Ministry (Part-Time)
Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel Parish
Cedar Knolls, NJ
Schedule: 17-23 hours/week (variable based on liturgical calendar)
Classification: Part-time, Exempt
Salary: $36,000 - $45,000 annually
Work Location: In-person

About Our Parish
We are a vibrant Catholic parish on an intentional path of renewal rooted in the New Evangelization. Our mission is to invite, welcome, and engage all people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Music, worship, and praise are essential to that mission. We are blessed with a congregation that not only welcomes but actively embraces opportunities to participate in sung prayer, particularly during our liturgical celebrations. We seek a Music Director who will nurture and strengthen this culture of worship through excellence in sacred music and pastoral leadership.

Position Summary
The Music Director serves as the primary leader of the parish's traditional liturgical music ministry (sacred, choral, and organ-based repertoire). This role provides artistic, liturgical, pastoral, and administrative leadership to support vibrant, reverent worship.
The Music Director collaborates closely with clergy, staff, and volunteers to foster congregational participation, lead choirs and musicians, and ensure that all music aligns with the liturgical norms and pastoral vision of the parish.

Reporting Relationship: Reports directly to the Pastor and collaborates with parish staff and ministry leaders.

Key Responsibilities
Liturgical Music Leadership
• Lead and accompany music for:
o Saturday Vigil Mass (5:00 PM)
o Sunday Mass (9:30 AM & 11:30 AM)
• Plan and coordinate music for all liturgies in collaboration with clergy, including Holy Days of Obligation and major liturgical celebrations.
• Select music aligned with Catholic liturgical norms and parish vision
• Prepare worship aids and music resources as needed
• Foster active congregational participation in sung prayer
• Coordinate and engage additional musicians for special liturgies and events
• Arrange, contract, and schedule musicians for selected liturgies and parish celebrations.
• Demonstrate a respectful, reverent, and pastorally sensitive understanding of the Roman Catholic liturgy and its musical tradition.

Choir & Ensemble Leadership
• Serve as primary director and leader of the Adult Choir ministry.
• Direct Adult Choir (11:30 AM Mass)
• Accompany and support Children's Choir (9:30 AM Family Mass)
• Select or approve all music and repertoire for the Children's Choir and provide guidance to Children's Choir leadership.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor cantors and volunteer musicians
• Lead rehearsals and develop musicianship across ensembles
• Recruit, hire, schedule, and coordinate instrumentalists and guest musicians as needed.
• Schedule substitute musicians as needed. The Music Director of Contemporary Worship shall be offered the right of first refusal for substitute opportunities when qualified and available.
• Coordinate guest musicians and substitutes as needed.
• Collaborate with the Music Director of Contemporary Worship to ensure a unified parish music ministry while respecting the distinct roles and responsibilities of each ministry.

Administrative & Operational Responsibilities
• Develop and manage the annual music ministry budget
• Maintain music library, instruments, and equipment
• Conduct regular inventories of music ministry resources, including choral music, worship materials, instruments, and equipment.
• Ensure proper care, tuning, and maintenance of parish instruments
• Oversee music licensing compliance
• Manage schedules, communications, and ministry records
• Coordinate contracts and compensation for guest musicians

Additional Ministry Support
• Provide music for parish events, prayer services, and special liturgies
• Play for weddings and funerals as available (additional compensation provided)
• Support the broader evangelizing mission of the parish through sacred music

Qualifications
Required
• Experience as a Music Director, accompanist, or similar role in a Catholic parish or comparable setting
• Proficiency in piano accompaniment
• Strong knowledge of Catholic liturgy and sacred music repertoire
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with clergy, staff, and volunteers
• Commitment to fostering both musical excellence and pastoral sensitivity

Preferred
• Bachelor's degree in Music or related field
• Organ and piano proficiency
• Experience directing choirs and mentoring musicians

Success Profile
The ideal candidate will:
• Possess a deep appreciation for the Catholic faith and liturgical tradition
• Inspire and engage musicians of varying skill levels
• Balance artistic excellence with pastoral leadership
• Be highly organized, adaptable, and collaborative
• Thrive in a mission-driven parish environment

Compensation & Benefits
• Competitive salary: $35,000 - $45,000 annually
• Flexible scheduling aligned with liturgical calendar
• Paid time off
• Bonus opportunities
• Additional compensation for weddings and funerals

Application Process
Please submit:
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Optional: links to recordings, performances, or portfolio
Email: commsupport@ndcarmel.com
Applications accepted until position is filled

Additional Requirements
• Virtus Certification (Protecting God's Children) required upon hire

About the Employer

Formed by the Word, fed at the Table, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, we
invite, welcome and guide each other into a relationship with Christ,
to go out and make missionary disciples.