Community Engagement Director

Responsibilities

• Increase awareness of Manresa and its mission throughout Southeast Michigan and beyond by identifying opportunities for outreach and engagement.
• Represent Manresa in the community through participation in parish gatherings, community events, conferences, and other public activities.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with departments, ministries, schools, and parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit.
• Expand ecumenical and Christian outreach by building relationships with other denominations and inviting them to experience Manresa's hospitality, prayerful environment, and spiritual offerings.
• Engage new and underrepresented communities by identifying opportunities to introduce individuals from diverse backgrounds to Manresa's mission and programs.
• Recruit and cultivate Manresa Ambassadors, including retreat captains, alumni, volunteers, donors, and parish leaders, who actively introduce others to Manresa.
• Strengthen existing relationships with retreatants and supporters to encourage continued participation, volunteerism, and invitations to others.
• Collaborate with Manresa's internal teams to align outreach initiatives with organizational priorities and support implementation of the 2026 Apostolic Plan.
• Measure outreach effectiveness by establishing practical goals and tracking engagement activities, new relationships, and participation growth.

Requirements

• Excellent Communication Skills with strong interpersonal, verbal, written, and relationship-building abilities.
• Relevant Professional Experience in community engagement, ministry, outreach, communications, nonprofit organizations, hospitality, or related fields preferred.
• Public Speaking & Representation with the confidence and ability to represent Manresa professionally at community gatherings, parish events, and other public activities.
• Independence & Collaboration with the ability to work independently while building productive relationships with Manresa staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Scheduling Flexibility and willingness to participate in occasional evening and weekend community, parish, and Manresa events.
• Catholic & Ecumenical Understanding with familiarity with the Catholic Church and Archdiocese of Detroit is essential, along with a welcoming approach to other Christian denominations and individuals outside traditional church communities.

Preferred

• Understanding of Ignatian Spirituality and appreciation for its foundations, principles, and application to Manresa's mission.
• Initiative & Creativity to proactively identify and pursue new opportunities to introduce individuals and communities to Manresa.
• Cultural Awareness to build respectful relationships with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, generational, and religious backgrounds.
• Relationship Building, Empathy & Hospitality to cultivate authentic, lasting relationships with community and ministry leaders, organizations, schools, churches, retreatants, and potential partners while ensuring everyone feels welcomed, valued, and invited.