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Position Title: Pastoral Associate for Parish Life

Position Type

Full Time

Description

Our Parish Family:

Through the Partners in the Gospel initiative, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle has integrated parishes and resources into groupings of parish families that are now in the process of becoming new canonical parishes. Saint Michael Parish (Olympia) and Saint Edward Parish (Shelton) constitute a dynamic and growth-oriented parish family.  St. Michael Parish and St. Michael Parish School comprises a truly vibrant multicultural Catholic community that serves approximately 2,800 families, representing 7,000 individual mass attendees per weekend and approximately 440 school students enrolled in pre-k through 8th grade. The past decade has witnessed unprecedented growth in parish life engagement, ministry participation, and school enrollment. St Edward Parish is a diverse parish, inclusive of many ethnic cultures including multilingual staff, Mass offerings in Spanish and serving approximately 1200 families per weekend.

Position Overview:

The Pastoral Associate for Parish Life serves as a senior staff leader responsible for assisting the pastor in advancing the parish mission: “To place God first in all things: proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and grow in holiness through prayer, sacraments, and service. We Make Disciples.”

Ingrained in an intimate relationship with Jesus and his Church, the Pastoral Associate for Parish Life reports directly to the pastor and provides leadership and oversight for the parish's efforts related to mission advancement, vision implementation, values integration, hospitality, communications, outreach, evangelization, discipleship, stewardship, volunteer engagement, parish events, and community development. The position establishes the culture, priorities, and strategic direction of the Office for Parish Life and ensures that all parish life initiatives contribute to the mission and long-term vitality of the parish.

The Pastoral Associate for Parish Life oversees parish engagement, hospitality, communications support, volunteer development, stewardship initiatives, major parish events, outreach efforts, and parish personnel administration. The role is responsible for creating pathways through which parishioners encounter Christ, embrace the parish mission and vision, deepen their discipleship, grow in stewardship, and become active participants in the life and mission of the Church.

Essential Responsibilities

Mission, Vision, and Leadership

• Promote and advance the parish mission in all parish life initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Pastor and parish leadership in developing and implementing parish vision and strategic priorities including parish mission, vision, priorities, staffing, and ministry development.

• Work with the Pastoral Associate for Parish Ministry to align parish life initiatives with faith formation, sacramental preparation, pastoral care, and ministry leadership and to cultivate and implement a common vision of discipleship.
• Work with the Pastoral Associate for Parish Family Finances regarding budgets, stewardship efforts, and financial accountability.
• Work with the Pastoral Associate for Parish Family Resources regarding facilities, technology, campus readiness, and operational support.
• Collaborate with the School Principal on parish-school initiatives, family engagement, communications, and events.
• Support strategic planning and continuous improvement efforts across parish ministries and operations.
• Ensure that parish values are consistently reflected in programs, communications, events, and staff culture.
• Provide leadership that fosters hospitality, accountability, evangelization, discipleship, stewardship, and community engagement.
• Develop systems and structures that help parishioners grow from initial encounter toward active discipleship and leadership.

Outreach and Evangelization

• Develop parish outreach strategies that welcome newcomers, inactive Catholics, and those exploring the faith.
• Coordinate evangelization initiatives that invite individuals into deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church.
• Ensure that outreach activities align with parish mission, vision, and values.
• Establish pathways that move individuals from outreach encounters into discipleship, ministry involvement, stewardship, and community life.

Discipleship and Stewardship Development

• Lead the parish's overall strategy for stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
• Coordinate annual stewardship initiatives, parish appeals, recurring giving efforts, volunteer recruitment, and engagement opportunities.
• Encourage parishioners to recognize and share their gifts in service to the Church and community.
• Support leadership development among parish volunteers and ministry leaders.
• Promote a culture of generosity, participation, and responsibility for the mission of the parish.

Community Development and Parish Events

• Oversee planning, promotion, execution, and evaluation of major parish events.
• Coordinate parish-wide events including the Parish Picnic, Family Fun Night, Parish Gala, and other community-building initiatives.
• Develop opportunities that strengthen relationships among parishioners and build a strong sense of belonging.
• Coordinate volunteers, registrations, hospitality, communications, and event logistics.
• Facilitate the inculturation of the faith and its authentic expression within the cultural diversity of our parish.

Personnel Administration and Staff Development

• Provide leadership for parish personnel administration.
• Coordinate hiring processes, onboarding, orientation, and employee record management.
• Assist supervisors with employee coaching, development, evaluations, and performance improvement plans.
• Ensure consistent implementation of parish personnel policies and procedures.
• Support employee formation, professional development, and organizational health.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding personnel matters and employee records.
• Foster a workplace culture rooted in professionalism, collaboration, accountability, and mission alignment.

Administration and Office Leadership

• Direct the daily operations of the Office for Parish Life.
• Supervise assigned staff and provide regular coaching, support, evaluation, and professional development.
• Ensure effective systems for parishioner engagement, hospitality, volunteer management, communications, and event coordination.
• Maintain organized records and administrative processes supporting parish life initiatives.
• Develop and implement annual goals, objectives, and performance measures for the Office for Parish Life.
• Promote collaboration among staff, ministries, volunteers, and parish organizations.

Directly Supervises

• Parish Life Administrative Assistant
• Parish Life Receptionist
• Parish Life Media Coordinator
• Parish Life Bulletin Publisher
• Parish Life Events Minister
• Pastoral Assistant for Outreach
• Childcare Team

Communications and Parish Engagement

• Coordinate communications that promote parish mission, vision, values, events, outreach opportunities, stewardship initiatives, and ministry involvement.
• Oversee bulletin production, media support, event promotion, and communications systems housed within the Office for Parish Life.
• Ensure parish communications are welcoming, consistent, timely, and mission-focused.
• Create clear pathways through which parishioners can become involved in parish life.
• Support parish hospitality efforts that foster belonging and engagement.

Volunteer Development and Leadership Formation

• Develop systems for identifying, inviting, training, and supporting volunteers.
• Assist parish ministries in recruiting and developing volunteer leaders.
• Promote lay leadership formation and volunteer effectiveness.
• Encourage collaboration among ministries and parish organizations.
• Ensure volunteers receive appropriate support, communication, and recognition.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in theology, pastoral ministry, nonprofit leadership, business administration, communications, organizational leadership, human resources, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in parish ministry, nonprofit leadership, stewardship, communications, personnel administration, or organizational management.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and volunteers and ability to manage sensitive matters appropriately.
• Strong pastoral, organizational, leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Model Christian discipleship through active practice of Catholic faith, practices servant leadership, collaboration, and pastoral charity.

Preferred Attributes

• Master's degree in theology, pastoral ministry, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• Experience in a Catholic parish, Catholic school, diocese, or mission-driven nonprofit organization.
• Experience in personnel administration, strategic planning, stewardship development, and volunteer management.
• Ability to articulate and implement parish mission, vision, and values.
• Ability to lead teams and foster a healthy organizational culture.
• Ability to organize multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong strategic planning and project management abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with clergy, staff, volunteers, and parishioners.
• Commitment to evangelization, discipleship, stewardship, and parish vitality.

Any offered salary is determined based on internal equity, internal salary ranges, market data, applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications.

Benefits: Eligible positions receive a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and disability, long term disability, pension, 403(b), HSA, FSA, and generous sick leave, vacation and holidays.