Communications Coordinator

Job Description

The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land is a peaceful and prayerful sacred space of pilgrimage and service rooted in the Catholic faith and the Franciscan tradition, located in the Brookland "Little Rome" neighborhood of Washington, DC. The Monastery and its partner nonprofit, the Commissariat for the Holy Land, serve as the U.S. fundraising and outreach arm of the Franciscan mission in the Holy Land. Through charitable support and public education, they help sustain Christian communities, maintain holy sites, and provide humanitarian, educational, and pastoral assistance throughout the region.

The Monastery is seeking a full-time, in-person, on-site Communications Coordinator to execute outreach, branding, and engagement efforts. This role is responsible for creating and distributing content, managing communication channels, and helping build awareness of mission, programs, and impact. The Coordinator will report to the Guardian of the Monastery and work closely with the Development Director to provide communications support for fundraising efforts. The Coordinator will meet the job requirements through a combination of direct execution and management of external contractors.

The Monastery offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, a 403(b) plan, as well as the potential for meaningful, long-term work. Besides the peaceful, beautiful gardens and church, the Monastery also offers free parking.

Key Responsibilities

Content Creation & Management
• Develop and execute communications plan.
• Ensure consistency in messaging and visual identity.
• Assist in storytelling efforts, including impact stories and donor highlights.
• Manage/update the organization's website, including overseeing a rebuild of the website.
• Oversee social media accounts (planning, content development, posting, engagement, analytics).
• Manage marketing campaigns, including all aspects of email/direct mail, such as mailing lists and audience segmentation.
• Produce, or supervise production of, video and audio content for use on-air and online.
• Oversee design, creation and fulfillment and usage of print materials.
• Maintain communications assets, archives, and shared content systems.
• Graphic design as needed for website, print, and social media.
• Write and edit content for newsletters, blogs, press releases, and reports.

Event & Campaign Support
• Coordinate communications and promotions for fundraising campaigns and events.
• Capture content (photos, videos, quotes, summaries) during events.
• Write and plan direct mail and email appeals with help from Development Director.

Data & Reporting
• Track metrics (social media engagement, email open rates, website traffic).
• Prepare reports to evaluate effectiveness of communication strategies.

Vendor Management
• Manage communications consultants and external vendors; source and contract additional vendor support as needed.

Media & Public Relations
• Seek, secure and execute promotional and partnership opportunities to raise visibility for the Monastery and the Christians in the Holy Land.
• Draft press materials and media pitches.
• Maintain media contact lists; support outreach to journalists and community partners.

Required Qualifications, Skills, & Competencies
• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in communications, preferably in a nonprofit setting.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling abilities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with social media platforms and scheduling tools.
• Strong graphic design skills, e.g. Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and similar platforms.
• Photography and videography experience.
• Experience with email marketing platforms, e.g., Constant Contact; Mailchimp.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Experience managing external vendors.
• Employees must conduct themselves with integrity and act in a manner consistent with the official teachings, doctrines, laws and policies of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Employees must complete VIRTUS Training, including background check and fingerprinting.

Preferred Qualifications
• Background in ministry, religious studies, or nonprofit communications with exposure to mission culture, Franciscan culture, the Holy Land helpful.
• Familiarity with strategic use of AI for content creation and donor engagement desired.
• Experience with donor communications or fundraising campaigns desired.
• Experience with Blackbaud / Raiser's Edge a strong plus.
• Italian language proficiency a plus.
Work Schedule
• Full-time on site. Occasional evening or weekend availability for meetings and events.

Salary Range
• Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Statement
• The organization is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace consistent with its religious mission and applicable laws.

APPLICATION PROCESS: To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and at least two references to HR@myfranciscan.com.

Please visit www.myfranciscan.org to learn more about the Franciscan Monastery and the work of the Holy Land Friars.

About the Employer

The Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C. is a national shrine that sustains the 800-year mission of the Franciscan Friars in the Holy Land by serving as a "Little Jerusalem" in America. It serves America's Holy Land pilgrims through education, fundraising, recruiting vocations, promoting pilgrimages and providing pastoral ministry locally to religious, lay Catholics and to all of good will.
The Franciscan Monastery is home to a thriving Holy Land Franciscan community; self sustaining and capable of fulfilling its mission on behalf of the Holy Land, its Friars and the Church Universal.