The Diocese of Manchester is the Church of England in Bolton, Bury, Leigh, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, and parts of Rossendale, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. To find out more about the unique make-up of the diocese and its diverse activities, please visit our website: www.manchester.anglican.org

The Bishop of Manchester is seeking a well-organised, adaptable and professional individual to join his staff team.

The Bishop's PA is a key person in the life of the Diocese of Manchester in general, and at Bishopscourt in particular. The post holder manages the Bishop's Office and ensures that work for, and conducted in the name of the Bishop of Manchester is done to a high standard, properly resourced and in a manner conducive to the Bishop's style of working.

The successful candidate will be an experienced PA with the ability to handle a varied and changing workload within an office environment where no two days are the same. They will be a skilled organiser and communicator who is comfortable with dealing with a diverse range of people, including clergy, laity and members of the community. The post holder will need absolute discretion in dealing with confidential, personal information and be able to work in a pastorally sensitive way.

Please see the job description/person specification for full details of the role. For more information please contact jobs@manchester.anglican.org.

Interviews will take place on Monday 20^th February at Bishopscourt, Bury New Road, M7 4LE.

Job description - Key Tasks

• Provide and co-ordinate the organisational, secretarial and administrative support that the Bishop needs to fulfil his ministry.
• Take a pro-active approach to ensure that the Bishop’s diary is properly managed, according to the priorities agreed with the Bishop.
• Ensure that the Bishop has all necessary paperwork and other material in advance of meetings and engagements.
• Ensure that visitors to Bishopscourt are given an appropriate and warm reception.
• Deal with incoming calls, emails, and correspondence, taking action within agreed guidelines, and drafting responses in the Bishop’s name where appropriate.
• Maintain a comprehensive filing system that enables ready access to correspondence, information concerning people, organisations and groups and ensure that files are maintained in compliance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act.
• Maintain an effective and accessible system for storing electronic data, conducting regular audits of database input.
• Manage the Bishop’s working expenses and discretionary funds and (in collaboration with the Church Commissioners’ staff), manage the Bishop’s budget using good judgement.
• Manage and administer financial procedures including budgeting, making payments and account returns to National Church.
• Ensure good administration processes are followed, keeping under review current systems and practices, suggesting and implementing changes and improvement where appropriate.
• Ensure meetings at Bishopscourt are properly resourced, including note taking when required.
• When requested, assist the Bishop in arrangements for social functions and events.
• Make arrangements for the Bishop’s travel.
• Ensure that Bishopscourt is appropriately resourced and secure; contribute to building management e.g. ensure contractors complete maintenance tasks as ordered.

The role of a Diocesan Bishop is extremely diverse and the PA appointed will need to be responsive to the demands of the Bishop’s ministry, and complement it.

Person Specification

Essential

Experience

• Experience of working as a PA at a senior level.
• Experience of managing a diverse workload, with and without input from others.

Knowledge and skills

• Excellent administration management skills to create and maintain good working practices.
• Well-developed communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally and with tact and diplomacy with a diverse audience.
• Confident in dealings with senior leaders in the wider community and at national level.
• Complete discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to develop and improve process and build in audit systems.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines.
• High level of IT literacy, fully conversant with Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.
• An appreciation of the diverse communities in the Diocese.
• Sympathy with the aims and values of the Church of England.

Qualifications

• A high standard of general education or equivalent.

Work related Circumstances

• Willing to attend evening and weekend meetings and events with notice.
• Willingness to travel to meetings (car not essential).

Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester

​It’s an amazing privilege for me to be the bishop of the diocese in which I was born and brought up, and to be able to offer something back to the community that gave me my faith, my core values and many of the skills that have helped me through my life.

Manchester is an exciting place to live: with thriving and vibrant communities and with a proud history of innovation. There are also many challenges: almost half of our parishes fall within the most deprived 10% in England, and they will be amongst the hardest hit by the pandemic.

It is this mix of challenge and opportunity that makes Manchester such an exciting place to live and work. It is also why I am so passionate about leading the Church of England on the path of growing, nurturing and serving its population.