Vice President of Communications

The Vice President of Communications is a key leadership role that supports the overall mission of the Vincentians of the Eastern Province and the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President of Communications establishes, plans, and administers long-term and short-range communication and marketing goals, while also leading the team and overseeing day-to-day internal and external communications.

• Develop and execute a yearly marketing communications strategy that serves to foster excellent relationships with all CAMM’s key stakeholders – CEO, Vincentian leadership, leaders of Vincentian ministries, CAMM members, current and potential donors, visitors, staff, etc.
• Supervise/direct communications team, including Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for Vincentians of Eastern Province, and Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for the Basilica Shrine of the Miraculous Medal and the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal.
• Develop and execute master brand narrative and key messages for CAMM and ensure their inclusion in all internal and external communication.
• Collaborate actively with CEO, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Vice President of Program Development, Shrine Director, Chief Technology Officer, and select board members to effectively communicate with key constituencies.
• Execute focus group research, monitor trends in religious tourism, education, and giving and implement key learnings into communications strategies.
• Manage and reconcile departmental budget.
• Oversee the development of materials as part of CAMM’s Beyond Sunday religious education and retreat program.
• Evaluate the existing structure of CAMM’s communication team and implement changes as needed in collaboration with the CEO.
• Implement strategy for emerging multimedia projects, including video series, livestreaming, podcasts, etc.
• Oversee/manage all outward-facing CAMM marketing and communications, including but not limited to website, magazine, marketing collateral, donor collateral, and social media channels, to ensure integrity of message, compliance with communication protocol, and inclusion of brand voice.· Execute paid media strategy (print/broadcast advertising, paid Facebook/Instagram content/advertising, out of home advertising, etc.).
• Manage outside vendor partner relationships, such as printers, agencies, photographers, videographers, freelance consultants, etc.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to CAMM leadership and assist in writing key communication on their behalf.
• Update crisis communication protocol and serve as lead advisor on any necessary crisis communication.
• Identify opportunities to advance the objectives of the Shrine and the Vincentians in regional, national, and religious media.
• Develop and cultivate relationships with press/media on behalf of CAMM.
• Develop evaluation metrics/outcomes for marketing and communications and report on them quarterly to CEO.
• Other relevant responsibilities as determined by CEO.

The Vice President of Communications must have an understanding of and a passion for the mission of CAMM with an appreciation for Vincentian values and an understanding of Catholic language. The ability to effectively partner with the CEO to strategically move the organization forward will be critical to the success of the candidate. The Vice President should have experience in integrated communications planning, traditional and digital advertising (print, broadcast, paid social media, paid search, etc.), collateral development/production, marketing research/data analytics, website maintenance/analytics, content development and public relations (media relations, crisis management and thought leadership). The ability to effectively develop and execute a marketing and communication strategy and motivate and manage a team to achieve those goals will be essential to the success of the incoming Vice President of Communications.

• Minimum of eight years of marketing/communications experience, preferably in a religious or not-for-profit setting, with four or more years of progressive leadership responsibilities.
• Knowledge of current marketing and communication platforms and trends.
• Excellent writing skills, including interpersonal/first-person narrative, press releases, website copy, speeches/message points, crisis statements, social media content, newsletter content, etc.
• Excellent public speaking/interpersonal skills.
• Superior communication skills to express, orally and in writing, CAMM’s mission, vision, and goals with clarity, passion, and persuasion.
• Excellent project management, analytical, multi-tasking, and organizational skills.
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
• Strong knowledge of Google Analytics and Facebook Business Manager/Ads Manager.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to operate with excellence on a strategic and tactical level (macro/micro).
• Excellent judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to respond swiftly to crisis/emergency needs outside of traditional working hours.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills and adept at quickly establishing rapport and respect.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, motivate, and develop staff, fostering a culture of accountability, professional development, and high performance.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, plan, and execute multiple, complex projects with experience building and scaling teams and systems.
• Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, communication, journalism, English, or related field; Master’s degree desirable.
• Must be willing and able to travel occasionally.
• Available to attend events after work hours or on weekends as needed.

Founded in 1915, the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal (CAMM) is dedicated to spreading devotion to Mary Immaculate and her Miraculous Medal and supporting the Vincentian Priest and Brothers of the Eastern Province programs that provide assistance to the poorest of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal located in the heart of Philadelphia provides visitors a sanctuary for prayer, meditation, and pilgrimage to God and to Our Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as the opportunity to enjoy the Museum’s historical collection of Marian and religious artwork.

The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal has two central purposes that define their driving mission:

• To render honor to Mary Immaculate and to encourage the use of her Miraculous Medal with prayers and devotions to her, under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
• To support the apostolic works of the Vincentian Priests and Brothers of the Eastern Province on behalf of the charity and service for the poor in our community.

Mary Jo Timlin Hoag was appointed CEO of CAMM in early 2018. Mary Jo came from a successful business career with leadership roles in Aetna, General Motors, GE Healthcare, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Through her experience in operations strategy, program development, employee engagement, change management, and organizational development, she has strategically led CAMM to tremendous growth over the last five years. Under her leadership, the CAMM budget has grown from $3.5 million to over $8 million with the goal of continued growth. Mary Jo and her team have ushered in a new era for CAMM developing innovative programming, increasing marketing and social media presence, and building a long-term strategy for growth and support through fundraising efforts.

Programming such as the Catholic Business Network, Young Adult Holy and Happy Hours, Prayer Ministries, and Holiday Concerts continue to attract new supporters to the Shrine and the mission of CAMM. Recently the innovative Beyond Sunday initiative has begun to offer educational programs and retreats to schools, parishes, and other faith-focused organizations virtually around the world, onsite, or at the Shrine.

In December of 2022, Pope Francis granted Basilica status to the Shrine. This great honor will require a strategic effort to enhance organizational infrastructure to build capacity and meet the needs of a rapidly growing multi-faceted organization.

For additional information about CAMM, please visit https://miraculousmedal.org/.