Associate Director of Strategy & Engagement

Position Summary

The Archdiocese of Detroit is seeking a highly organized, strategic, and mission-driven professional to serve as the Associate Director of Strategy & Engagement. This critical role will provide cross-functional leadership across the Office of Development, overseeing project timelines, managing workflows, and driving implementation of initiatives in support of the Archdiocese and Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated expertise in project management, engagement strategy, and communication planning, paired with strong leadership, collaborative instincts, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the mission of the Church through excellence in execution. The role requires a proactive leader who excels at balancing long-term planning with day-to-day execution in a dynamic, faith-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

 Project & Operations Management

• Oversee and maintain a comprehensive calendar for the Office of Development, ensuring alignment across fundraising, stewardship, and engagement initiatives.
• Serve as the primary administrator for project management systems to track progress, meet deadlines, and streamline workflows for the Development team.
• Serve as the primary contact for internal and external departments, ensuring collaboration and efficiency in executing strategic priorities. Lead cross-functional teams, ensuring clear communication and accountability for deliverables.
• Create and implement best practices for engagement event operations, ensuring excellence in execution and a positive experience for all attendees.
• Support monitoring and management of department budgets, with particular focus on events and CSA.
• Provide executive-level support to the Director of Mission Advancement, assisting with meeting preparation, presentations, and cross-departmental initiatives.

 Development Communications, Engagement, and Events

• Support planning and execution of strategic communications for events, fundraising campaigns, donor stewardship, and annual impact reporting, ensuring alignment with goals and mission.
• Collaborate with the internal and external partners to create high-quality materials, including invitations, appeals, gratitude pieces, and impact reports.
• Coordinate outreach across key audiences to ensure personalized, mission-driven engagement.
• Manage timelines and budgets for multichannel campaigns (print, email, web, social media).
• Oversee event logistics (budgeting, vendor management, contracts, marketing, and post-event evaluation).
• Partner with development and curia/seminary staff to create engagement and event strategies that advance the mission and philanthropic goals of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
• Develop programming that fosters engagement, cultivates relationships, and achieves fundraising objectives.
• Build relationships with parishes, schools, and ministries to coordinate engagement experiences and events that align with the Archdiocese’s goals for philanthropy and outreach.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in project management, operations, and/or event planning, preferably in a nonprofit, higher education, or faith-based setting.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal), with experience engaging high-level donors, clergy, and community leaders.
• Proficiency in project management tools, CRM systems, and event planning software is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to manage budgets effectively and achieve financial goals.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Archdiocese and a deep understanding of the role of philanthropy in faith-based organizations.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrate and reflect an understanding of and commitment to the mission and core values of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Sacred Heart Major Seminary, both on campus and to the larger community.
• Strategic thinking and planning, with flexibility and problem-solving under pressure
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment to effectively fulfil a list of diverse projects.
• Strong leadership and team-building abilities
• Seeks out efficiencies and demonstrates good use of available resources.
• Proactively responds to changes in workload prioritization and department needs.
• Relationship-building and stakeholder engagement.
• Customer service and problem-solving expertise, with excellent verbal and written communication skills (in- person, phone, and email).
• Success in effectively learning and utilizing new software and web-based database tools.
• Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality handling highly sensitive material, such as protected PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and financial information.

Work Environment & Schedule

This role is based in the Archdiocesan office and requires some evening and weekend availability for events and special projects.

Physical demands

Position requires the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. May involve some lifting, carrying, pushing/or pulling of objects and materials (5-50 pounds). May involve extended periods of time standing or sitting at a keyboard or workstation. May involve repetitive motion (i.e., typing). May involve walking long distances. May require long periods of time speaking.

Travel required

Donor meetings and parish or school visits primarily within Southeast Michigan.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

n/a

 

 

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

The Archdiocese of Detroit is an equal opportunity employer and does not illegally discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, height, weight, genetic information, or marital or other legally protected status. The Archdiocese of Detroit is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity and encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities.

 

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.