Chief Marketing Officer

This mission-driven, multi-site outdoor ministry offers an executive level opportunity to shape how we tell our story, engage communities, and advance programs across three sites. The hybrid role is based in Arden, North Carolina, with up to two remote workdays per week, and a travel expectation of up to 20 percent. The position carries a salary of USD 75,000 to 80,000 per year and a robust benefits package designed to support health, family, learning, and retirement. You will lead branding, messaging, and marketing across Lutheridge, Lutherock, and Luther Springs, helping churches, families, youth leaders, and partner organizations connect with our mission.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health savings account

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy for a three-site outdoor ministry that broadens reach beyond the traditional ELCA audience.
• Maintain consistent brand identity, messaging, and visual standards across all ministry communications.
• Oversee creation and distribution of print and digital materials for programs, retreats, and special initiatives.
• Manage relationships with vendors, agencies, and creative contractors.
• Coordinate photography, video, and storytelling to highlight ministry impact.
• Collaborate with site and program leadership to promote camps, retreats, conferences, outdoor education programs, and mission opportunities.
• Lead marketing efforts to recruit and retain campers, retreat guests, volunteers, and seasonal staff.
• Ensure materials and communications support ACA standards, guest safety messaging, and clear registration processes.
• Manage online stores.
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer to support fundraising and donor engagement.
• Create and manage development communications including campaign materials, impact stories, newsletters, and donor updates.
• Help communicate the ministry’s mission and impact to churches, donors, and ministry partners.
• Support storytelling that demonstrates the transformational impact of camp and retreat experiences.
• Manage digital communications including websites, social media, email marketing, and online storytelling.
• Oversee website strategy and digital tools that support marketing and guest engagement.
• Coordinate with external vendors to ensure effective Google Ads Grant execution.
• Use analytics and engagement metrics to evaluate marketing effectiveness and inform decisions.
• Maintain a strong digital presence to reach churches, families, youth leaders, partner organizations, and new markets beyond the ELCA.
• Coordinate communications across the three sites for clarity and alignment.
• Support leadership with messaging for major initiatives, strategic priorities, and ministry updates.
• Ensure communications reflect Christian hospitality, safety, care, and inclusion.
• Provide guidance for crisis messaging or major organizational announcements when needed.
• Represent the ministry at Synod, ELCA, camp and outdoor ministry events, and other gatherings as appropriate.
• Build relationships with congregations and ministry partners through effective storytelling and communication.
• Strengthen visibility and partnerships within the broader church and outdoor ministry community.
• Identify networking opportunities and serve as a primary contact for bringing in new retreat groups.
• Participate as a member of the executive leadership team in strategic planning and organizational leadership.
• Develop annual communications goals and budgets aligned with organizational priorities.
• Provide guidance to site leaders and staff on communications best practices.
• Safeguard brand integrity and messaging consistency.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, nonprofit leadership, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years’ progressive experience leading communications or marketing strategy with hands-on execution across multiple channels.
• Proven experience managing digital communications including websites, email marketing, and social media.
• Proficiency with digital tools and productivity platforms such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, Canva, Claude, and related tools.
• Strong writing, storytelling, and messaging abilities.
• Confident presentation skills.
• Ability to lead collaborative projects across multiple teams and locations.
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities.
• High ethical standards with the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Commitment to Christian hospitality and the ministry’s mission.

Technologies

• Microsoft Office
• Adobe Creative Suite
• WordPress
• Canva
• Claude
• Google Ads Grant

Location, Schedule & Travel

• Hybrid work arrangement with primary office at Lutheridge, Arden, NC; up to two remote workdays per week.
• Serves a three-site ministry (Lutheridge, Lutherock, Luther Springs) across the southeastern United States.
• Travel up to 20 percent of the time to support events, partner engagement, and gatherings.
• Full-time, exempt position; primarily weekdays with some evenings and weekends.

Reporting & Collaboration

• Reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• Collaborates with the Chief Development Officer, site Executive Directors, Program Directors, and the executive leadership team.
• Supervises external vendors and creative contractors as needed; this is a solo role with no dedicated internal marketing staff, with the CMO executing across all areas of responsibility.