Director of Sacred Music

Diocese of Camden; Camden (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A Catholic Diocese in Camden is seeking a Director of Sacred Music to oversee music for major diocesan liturgies and provide formation for parish musicians. The role requires artistic expertise and pastoral leadership to enrich the spiritual experience of the diocese through music. Candidates should possess a Master’s degree in music and have strong collaboration skills. This full-time position demands a commitment to the Catholic Church's teachings and the ability to adapt to the needs of a diverse community.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with diverse groups.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
• Proficient knowledge in the selection of hymnody for liturgical year.
• Contribute to a positive working environment through words and actions, and maintain a positive and professional demeanor
• Demonstrate integrity, a striving for excellence in work
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities, with the capacity to multitask, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• A reputation for honesty, reliability, and professionalism in all interactions
• Ability to effectively work with diocesan staff, parish leaders, and volunteers
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast‑paced environment with competing demands
• Willingness to adapt to irregular hours, including evenings or weekends, for diocesan events
• Proficient knowledge of the liturgical documents of the Church, including the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sancrosanctum Concilium and the instruction on Music in the Liturgy, Musicam Sacram
• Proficient knowledge in the structure of Masses and liturgies
• Proficient knowledge in the selection of hymnody for the Sundays, Feasts and Solemnities of the Church’s liturgical year
• Possess leadership qualities and have confidence in leading a music program
• Ability to foster a sense of reverence and prayer
• Ability to mentor, and to encourage people of all ages to embrace sacred music
• Willingness to attend diocesan meetings as required
• A strong desire and passion in working with volunteers
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office products
• Experience with publishing and layout a plus

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute music for major diocesan events.
• Serve as principal conductor for diocesan choirs.
• Provide formation for parish musicians and clergy.
• Audition, hire, contract, and rehearse musicians for diocesan liturgies
• Coordinate with the Bishop’s Master of Ceremonies to prepare worship aids and digital content
• Conduct and accompany weekly diocesan choir rehearsals and prepare for liturgies
• Develop strategies to grow the diocesan choir
• Develop and maintain choral programs and ensembles across age groups
• Maintain the diocesan choral library
• Prepare the annual sacred music budget in collaboration with leadership
• Provide formation for parish musicians and clergy, sharing sacred music teachings
• Offer regional workshops and retreats
• Consult parishes on hiring musicians and acoustics
• Promote liturgical music education through articles and events
• Coordinate instrument inventory and a diocesan concert series
• Create opportunities for the faithful to experience liturgical prayer through music
• Participate in diocesan committees and collaborations as an ambassador for sacred music
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational abilities

Knowledge of liturgical documents

Leadership qualities

Proficient in Microsoft Office

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Education

Master’s Degree in Organ Performance

Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting

Master’s Degree in Sacred Music

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Director of Sacred Music is a full-time, professional position with two essential roles, to provide music for major diocesan liturgies in collaboration with the Bishop’s Principal Master of Ceremonies and to provide formation for parish musicians. The roles are related: the Director will model excellence in liturgical music at diocesan liturgies to demonstrate a beauty that evangelizes. The “lighthouse” for this beauty is the teaching of the Second Vatican Council in Sacrosanctum Concilium. This position requires artistic expertise, pastoral leadership, and administrative detail to enhance the spiritual life of the Diocese through music.

Essential Job Functions

• Plan, prepare, and execute music for all major diocesan events, including but not limited to ordinations, convocations, retreats, Chrism Mass, Rite of Election, and liturgies presided over by the bishop, ensuring music reflects Church teachings on liturgy
• Effectively communicate and collaborate with diocesan offices for all diocesan events
• Serve as principal conductor for diocesan choirs and ensembles, including the Gospel Choir, and collaborate with the Priest Director of the Schola Cantorum, the diocesan audition-based vocal ensemble
• Audition, hire, contract, and rehearse musicians for diocesan liturgies, including cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists
• Coordinate with the Bishop’s Principal Master of Ceremonies to prepare worship aids, programs, and digital content for liturgies, including the tracking and reporting of all copyright information
• Conduct and accompany weekly diocesan choir rehearsals and prepare the choir for diocesan liturgies deemed appropriate for the diocesan choir
• Develop strategies to grow the diocesan choir
• Develop and maintain choral programs, including recruitment, auditions, and formation for adult, youth, and children's choirs, as well as diocesan ensembles
• Maintain the diocesan choral library
• Prepare the annual sacred music budget, including projections for expenses such as music purchases, instrument maintenance, personnel costs, events, and professional development, in collaboration with the Bishop’s Principal Master of Ceremonies

Formation for Parish Musicians

• Provide formation for parish musicians, clergy, and volunteers, sharing the Church’s teachings on sacred music and showing musicians and parishes how to implement it at the most practical levels
• Provide regular, regional workshops and retreats throughout the diocese to encourage adoption of the Bishop’s vision for a sacred music that evangelizes
• Act as a consultant to parishes on hiring musicians, organ consultations, music space renovations, acoustics, and sound systems
• Promote liturgical music education through articles, communications, and events, such as annual concerts or formation programs
• Comprise a list of well‑maintained instruments throughout the diocese and coordinate a concert series throughout the year, incorporating catechesis about the organ’s use in the sacred liturgy and the purpose of sacred music
• Develop and maintain opportunities for the diocesan faithful to experience liturgical prayer and sacred music throughout the church year
• Participate in diocesan committees, staff meetings, and collaborations with external organizations, serving as an ambassador for sacred music
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Should strive to personally know, love, and serve Jesus Christ through active participation in the life of the Catholic Church
• Must publicly profess and strive to follow Catholic teachings as proclaimed by the Magisterium of the Church
• Should have strong interpersonal skills, collaborating effectively and joyfully with people from diverse backgrounds
• Contribute to a positive working environment through words and actions, and maintain a positive and professional demeanor
• Demonstrate integrity, a striving for excellence in work
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities, with the capacity to multitask, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• A reputation for honesty, reliability, and professionalism in all interactions
• Ability to effectively work with diocesan staff, parish leaders, and volunteers
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast‑paced environment with competing demands
• Willingness to adapt to irregular hours, including evenings or weekends, for diocesan events
• Proficient knowledge of the liturgical documents of the Church, including the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sancrosanctum Concilium and the instruction on Music in the Liturgy, Musicam Sacram
• Proficient knowledge in the structure of Masses and liturgies
• Proficient knowledge in the selection of hymnody for the Sundays, Feasts and Solemnities of the Church’s liturgical year
• Possess leadership qualities and have confidence in leading a music program
• Ability to foster a sense of reverence and prayer
• Ability to mentor, and to encourage people of all ages to embrace sacred music
• Willingness to attend diocesan meetings as required
• A strong desire and passion in working with volunteers
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office products
• Experience with publishing and layout a plus

Required Education & Experience

• Master’s Degree in Organ Performance
• Master’s Degree in Choral conducting, with advanced proficiency and training in organ performance
• Master’s Degree in Sacred Music, with advanced proficiency in organ performance and choral conducting
• Previous and current experience with organ performance and sacred music will be considered
• Experience in working in a church/chancery environment