Saint John Neumann Catholic Church __________________________________________________________________________________
4030 Pilot Knob Road Eagan, MN 55122
(651) 454-2079 FAX (651) 454-0860 www.sjn.org POSITION DESCRIPTION
Date: May 14, 2023 Position Title: Music Director FLSA: Exempt – Creative Professional Reports To: Director of Mission Direct Reports: Choir Director (s), Cantors, Musicians, Music Librarian Receives Work Direction From: Pastor, Director of Mission Provides Work Direction To: Choirs Resource Person To: Liturgy Coordinator 40+ hours per week with benefits Purpose of Position: The Music Director at St. John Neumann is expected to facilitate an encounter with our Eucharistic Lord for our parish community through beautiful music. The Music Director will implement a process of liturgical formation and musical training for music ministers. Plan, rehearse, and schedule music at Masses and special events in accordance with the liturgical requirements of the Catholic Church. General Responsibilities *Employment in and by the Church is substantially different from secular employment. Church employees must conduct themselves in a manner which is consistent with and supportive of the mission and purpose of the Church. Their public behavior must not violate the faith, morals or laws of the Church or the Archdiocese, such that it can embarrass the church or give rise to scandal. It is required that this employee be an active, participating Roman Catholic. Representative Responsibilities *To be present and ready to work as needed to meet responsibilities. Includes recognizing when situations require more effort, satisfying responsibilities in a timely manner, especially communication and providing an example of punctuality and attendance, and generally ensuring all is ready and taken care of. Music Responsibilities Plan, rehearse, and schedule music for assigned parish Masses including funerals and weddings. Conduct choirs at scheduled Masses. Schedule music ministers, directors, accompanists, instrumentalists and cantors for assigned Masses. Supervise, communicate and schedule other music groups, i.e. Children’s Choir, Handbell Choir. Develop and implement musical formation and training for volunteer music ministers and cantors including auditioning the various music ministers. Provide musical accompaniment for Parish activities, including the Parish Retreat, Reconciliation services, Stations of the Cross, Evening of Emmanuel, etc. Provide resources to Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Sacraments, Faith Formation, RCIA.
Prepare instrumental parts for parish liturgical musicians using the Finale or Sibelius or a similar music notation program. Oversee music concert requests and supervise setups and performances. Maintain music library, files, recordings, reference materials. Prepare worship aids and music booklets for seasons and special liturgies. Replace music, order music supplies, and renew copyrights as needed. Participate in seasonal planning with the Pastor and the Liturgy Committee. Recruit music ministers. Support, evaluate and appreciate volunteer music ministers. Prepare and monitor the music budget. Maintain music resources: choral music, accompaniment books, instrumental music, instruments, church sound system, CD’s/tapes, etc. Schedule tuning and repair of acoustic pianos and other instruments and equipment. Provide musical formation of the congregation to encourage full participation. Direct and or accompany other music groups as needed. Additional Responsibilities Maintain professional competence through regular music practice. Respect and follow Roman Catholic Doctrine and religious practices. Participate in parish staff prayer and meetings. Collaborate with other staff to meet the goals and objectives of the parish. Stay in contact with the Archdiocesan Office of Worship/Music, ALM (Association of Liturgical Ministers) and NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians). Network with parishes throughout the diocese and encourage the involvement of ministers in diocesan events. Remain current in music through reading and ongoing educational opportunities. Other Responsibilities includes responsibilities identified by the employee and approved and/or assigned by the supervisor. The responsibilities listed above are representative responsibilities intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by staff assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications required of this position. More detailed listings of duties and tasks may be found in other supplemental documents. The responsibilities marked with an “*” are essential functions of the position. I reviewed this job description and agree that it is representative of the responsibilities of my position. I understand that, as the organization’s needs change, my job description will change. Employee’s signature_____________________________________ Date_________________ I have reviewed this job description and agree that it is an accurate representation of the responsibilities performed in this position. Supervisor’s signature_____________________________________ Date_________________
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in music or related field, masters preferred Demonstrated music skills 3+ years of music experience in a Catholic Church Demonstrated competency in choral conducting and a thorough knowledge of vocal pedagogy Demonstrated keyboard competency and competency of accompanying a vocalist or choir is preferred Demonstrated knowledge of role of music in Catholic liturgy Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of The General Instruction of the Roman Missal Work effectively and collegially with others Learn and implement new policies and procedures Understanding of Archdiocesan policies Desire to participate in and continue creating a strong faith community Familiarity with a broad range of church music styles Work without supervision Take direction from supervisor Provide excellence in staff, volunteer and public relations by responding to requests in a timely manner, performing job duties in a respectful and courteous manner Pass Archdiocesan background checks and complete VIRTUS Mental Demands: Maintain professional composure under changing demands Provide good musical direction Maintain vocal and instrument competencies e.g. singing, instrument Perform in front of large groups Demonstrate enthusiasm and self-motivation Maintain a personal life style with Catholic values Continue education, participate in workshops, and continue professional development Positively collaborate with staff members in meeting goals & objectives Interact with coworkers in a respectful way by communicating directly and by following proper channels of communication Organize and prioritize workload to ensure established deadlines are met Utilize good people and listening skills Take direction from supervisor Be self-directed and work without supervision Learn and implement new policies and procedures Make recommendations for improvement Recognize and maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality Demonstrate proficiency in operating all main church electronic sound equipment Physical Demands: Work 40+ hours per week and extended hours during important liturgical seasons Work evenings and weekends Go up and down steps Stand for long periods of time Move throughout the building easily and quickly Speak, see, hear and respond to staff, parishioners and volunteers Lift and carry up to 20 pounds using proper lifting and carrying techniques
I was on the interview team for this parish when they hired a music director a year ago (he is now moving out of state). The parish uses a wide range of musical styles ranging from Latin chant to charismatic music. Printed worship aids are used in the pews, so the music director is not limited to a specific musical style or publisher. The church does not have an organ.
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