What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communications Director position at Compass Christian Church-Arizona?
The Communications Director at Compass Christian Church provides strategic leadership for all church communications, serving as the steward of the Compass brand and voice. This role exists to clarify who Compass is, tell its story with excellence, and support ministries through thoughtful, well-planned communication strategies that advance the mission of leading people to find and follow Jesus. The Communications Department functions much like an in-house marketing agency—supporting ministry needs while protecting and strengthening a cohesive organizational brand. With a high volume of work (approximately 150 projects per month), this role requires a proactive leader who can bring structure, clarity, and long-range planning to a collaborative and relational environment. The Director will lead a talented team that includes a graphic designer (with UX/UI skills), a video specialist, a part-time ministry assistant, and an events coordinator/planner. They will also work closely with pastors and ministry leaders to help shape ideas early—offering wise guidance, creative alternatives, and a consistent “no, but here’s a better way” posture. This role is ideal for someone who doesn’t simply work for Compass, but becomes part of the church—immersing themselves in its culture, values, and DNA.
A great match for this position would be:
A great candidate is first and foremost a strong culture fit—relational, collaborative, and warm—while also being confident enough to lead. They are skilled at building trust across ministries and are comfortable saying “no, but…”—protecting the brand and the team’s capacity while still championing ministry goals.
They are a strategic thinker and wordsmith who understands brand voice, storytelling, and clarity of message. Rather than being purely reactive, they elevate the department by proactively defining who Compass is, how it communicates, and how stories are told ministry-wide.
This person brings experience as a Communications Director (or similar senior role) at a mid-to-large-sized church and has a proven portfolio of impactful work. Experience in the secular marketing or communications world is a strong plus. They are energized by leading a capable team, refining systems, and planning well in advance—especially for larger initiatives like video production.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary steward of Compass’s brand, voice, and storytelling across all platforms
- Lead and develop the Communications team, fostering a collaborative, healthy, and high-performing culture
- Partner with pastors and ministry leaders to plan communication strategies early, guiding ideas toward the most effective outcomes
- Manage a high-volume project pipeline (approximately 150 projects per month) using established systems and workflows (Asana-based ticketing process)
- Bring greater proactivity and long-range planning to communications, particularly for video and major initiatives
- Refine and further define Compass’s brand DNA—clarifying who Compass is and how it communicates
- Oversee content creation across print, digital, video, web, and weekend environments
- Provide editorial leadership as a wordsmith, ensuring consistency in tone, theology, and messaging
- Oversee website content and structure (with IT managing widgets and plugins)
- Collaborate cross-functionally with IT, ministry leaders, and campus teams to ensure alignment and excellence
Key Qualifications
- Proven experience as a Communications Director or senior communications leader at a mid-to-large-sized church
- Strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in branding, storytelling, and multi-channel campaigns
- Background in marketing, communications, or creative leadership; secular marketing experience is a plus
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage complex workflows, and handle a high volume of projects
- Strong editorial and writing skills; ability to function as the voice of the church
- Experience with project management systems (Asana or similar)
- Strategic mindset with the ability to plan ahead and elevate a department from reactive to proactive
- Relational intelligence and confidence to guide leaders through thoughtful decision-making
- Alignment with Compass Christian Church’s mission, theology, and relational ministry culture