The Social Media Specialist supports the mission of the Diocese of San José by developing digital communications that proclaim the Gospel, promote diocesan initiatives, and draw the unchurched and the searching into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church. The digital world is not a tool to be used but a lived environment, where millions already spend their days, and where the Church is called to be present with mercy, beauty, and joy. This role collaborates with diocesan offices, parishes, and ministries to communicate the beauty of the Catholic faith in a compelling, faithful, and accessible way across digital platforms.
This is a ministry role rooted in the Diocese’s Pastoral Plan, Renewed in Christ, Together in Mission, which calls for digital-first engagement as a pastoral priority, and responds directly to the March 2026 Synod of Bishops’ Final Report on the Mission in the Digital Environment, which directs dioceses to ensure that “digital ministry is integrated into diocesan life.”
This role serves as the primary manager of the diocesan social media accounts (@dioceseofsanjose, @DSJyouth, @DSJyoungadults, @sanjosevocations, and Diocesan LinkedIn), with responsibility for building and sustaining a bilingual (English/Spanish) content presence that reflects the vibrancy of parish life across all 53 parishes and missions and 24 schools of the Diocese. The Specialist will also build, mentor, and manage a network of parish-based youth and young adult content creators, training them to document and share the everyday lives of Catholic teens and young adults throughout Silicon Valley.
The ideal candidate understands both the craft of digital storytelling and the mission of the Church. They are fluent in the platforms, tools, and analytics of digital culture and clear-eyed that none of it is an end in itself. Above all, they are an authentic witness, motivated by the desire to bring people into encounter with Jesus Christ. The measure of our work is not reach or engagement but a single question: does our digital presence lead to a Eucharistic encounter? The Church grows not by pressure but by attraction; the screen is never the destination, only the road that leads there.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (other duties may be assigned)
Main Accounts Content Creation and Strategy:
- Executes the diocesan-wide social media strategy that supports evangelization, catechesis, and community engagement.
- Develop, write, design, and schedule daily bilingual (English/Spanish) content across all diocesan social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn; launch and grow a TikTok presence.
- Maintain and execute a content calendar under the direction of the Communications Director, aligned with the liturgical calendar, diocesan events, and the Pastoral Plan.
- Produce original short-form video, Reels, graphics, and stories that reflect the beauty, joy, and truth of the Catholic faith and the life of our parish communities.
- Maintain consistent diocesan brand voice and visual identity across all accounts and all content sources, including content submitted by parish contributors and volunteer creators
- Build and manage an active parish content pipeline — recruiting parish contacts, establishing a submission workflow, and curating stories, photos, and testimonies from across the Diocese to ensure the feed reflects the vibrancy of parish ministry, not solely diocesan announcements.
- Independently capture social-first photography and short video at diocesan events when appropriate; coordinate with the diocesan photographer and videographer on broader event coverage and use of their assets for social content.
Secondary Accounts:
- Manage @DSJyouth and @DSJyoungadults on Instagram with year-round, active posting strategies, moving both accounts from event-only or sporadic activity to consistent, engaged presences.
- Develop content in collaboration with the Associate Director of Youth Ministry and the Associate Director of Young Adults, ensuring that parish and school ministry (retreats, service, prayer, and community activities) is the primary focus of both accounts.
- Build, recruit, vet, train, and mentor a network of parish-based youth and young adult content creators who document and share the lives of Catholic teens and young adults across the Diocese.
- Ensure all youth content complies with the Diocese’s Safe Environment policies, including parental consent requirements, two-adult supervision standards, and USCCB digital guidelines.
- Manage @sanjosevocations on Facebook and Instagram in collaboration with the Vocations Office, maintaining a consistent posting rhythm that highlights the joy and witness of vocational life in the Diocese.
Community Engagement and Analytics:
- Monitor and respond to comments, messages, and mentions across all platforms in a timely, mission-aligned manner, including responses in Spanish for bilingual audiences.
- Track platform analytics — reach, engagement, follower growth, and link clicks — and produce at minimum a quarterly analytics report for the Communications Director.
- Use data to refine content strategy, test formats, and optimize performance across platforms.
- Monitor trends in Catholic digital evangelization and social media best practices; surface opportunities and flag risks to the Communications Director.
Collaboration and Administration:
- Collaborate with the Communications Director, the videographer, the magazine editor, and other diocesan offices to align social media with broader communications campaigns.
- Work with the Associate Directors of Youth Ministry and Young Adults, Pastoral Planning, and other ministry offices to ensure content reflects the full breadth of diocesan mission.
- Attend and provide social media coverage at diocesan events, including occasional travel within Santa Clara County; some evenings and weekends required.
- Help form a culture of missionary discipleship in digital communications.
THIS POSITION SUPERVISES:
- No direct reports.
- Mentors and coordinates a diocesan network of parish-based volunteer youth and young adult content creators.
QUALIFICATIONS TO PERFORM THE JOB SUCCESSFULLY:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability or physical demands required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Education and/or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Theology, or a related field.
- Minimum 2–3 years of professional experience in social media management or digital content creation Demonstrated ability to grow and engage online communities
- Demonstrated proficiency in content creation across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok/Reels, and LinkedIn.
- Experience building and managing content calendars aligned with organizational priorities.
- Experience with analytics platforms; ability to translate data into strategic recommendations.
- Experience in working with youth and other content creators.
- Final candidates will be required to submit a portfolio or links to social media work.
Language Skills:
- Strong English writing and digital storytelling skills in English that engages a variety of audiences and formats.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish — written and spoken — strongly preferred; ability to produce professional bilingual social media content.
Technical Skills:
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, Access and Power Point.
- Proficiency with Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite for graphic and content design.
- Proficiency with Meta Business Suite for publishing, scheduling, and analytics.
- Proficiency with at least one social media scheduling platform (Later, Hootsuite, Buffer, or equivalent).
- Ability to analyze platform analytics and experience producing regular metrics reports.
- Basic photo and video capture and editing skills for social content
Reasoning Ability:
- Ability to manage multiple content streams and deadlines calmly and independently.
- Strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a collaborative spirit.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with diverse communities across age, language, and cultural background.
- Positive, service-oriented attitude with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to exercise sound pastoral and editorial judgment in sensitive communications situations.
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods, use hands in repetitive motion tasks, handle objects and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand or move about and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Physical Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work primarily in an office (wheelchair accessible). The noise level is usually quiet. The employee will also be required to attend on and off-site meetings with varying environments.
Working Conditions: The employee must be physically present in the office much of the time and travel to parish and school sites as required. He/she must be able to work cooperatively with other members of the staff, with clients and be able to multi-task. Extended hours and/or travel are sometimes required.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be a practicing Catholic
- Understanding of the teachings, values, structure, and mission of the Catholic Church.
- Commitment to representing the Diocese with integrity, joy, and fidelity to Catholic teaching in all public communications.
Compensation Range: $37.40–$43.60 per hour, commensurate with qualifications, skills, and experience.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will be accepted until the position is filled.
