The Diocese of London comprises of 402 parishes within some 450 church buildings located north of the River Thames and within the M25 motorway. The Diocese conducts its financial affairs through different corporate bodies. The main body is the London Diocesan Fund (LDF).

The Diocesan Synod, in step with National Synod, passed a motion in 2020 to commit to becoming a Net Zero Carbon Diocese by 2030 (NZC2030). This is a commitment that the Bishop of London, Episcopal Bishops & Senior leaders all see as a priority in terms of our mission and ministry of the Diocese, and as an outworking of the Fifth Mark of Mission. Our NZC2030 goal runs through departments within the LDF and incorporates partner organisations (e.g., London Diocesan Board of Schools, St Mellitus Training College and St Pauls’ Cathedral).

We now seek a new role short term, to engage with parishes, to scope out what further support might be needed to help them take steps towards our Net Zero Carbon goal, and to use this to inform some capacity fundraising bids we wish to make to achieve this goal.

This role facilitates the work of the Net Carbon Zero Plan Co-ordinator with the writing of the diocesan strategy and the preparation of a major grant bid to the Commissioners to realise a Net Carbon Zero Feasibility Study for Parish churches and buildings. The role will support and facilitate major partnerships both within the aligned Anglican bodies (cathedral, board of schools, and other dioceses with the GLA), as well as local authorities and others. Duties may include delivery of public engagement activities within parishes for congregations as well as the broader community.

The officer will be encouraged to feed into process and broader strategy and will support with procurement of consultancy services to deliver this pre-project work phase. Strategic work will include identifying suitable pilot projects, helping to set a prioritised strategy, and be part of facilitating change. To support and directly disseminate findings of project work at key milestones.

The officer will be a champion for this cause but see this work within the round of other priorities. They are expected to work in an open manner, as a facilitator and enable, comfort with sharing knowledge and encouraging others to engage with this critical work.

Feed into National Church Net Zero Carbon Capacity Bid, and other fundraising bids. Offer advice on resources and capacity required to support our parishes and partners in their NZC journey.

• Data collection, and assessment for church and parish buildings
• Identify intensity of usage of each place.
• Collect statistics about non missional opening times.
• Collect data from existing parish Energy Audits (e.g. Cloudesley-funded data from Islington, Square Mile Churches, etc.),
• Carbon emission data from Energy Footprint tool.
• Assessing currently held data above to recommend and identify parishes suitable for pilots.
• Engaging with our top 20% CO2 emitting churches and support for their NZC plans.
• Liaising with Parish Property, Archdeacons, Area teams, and parishes to identify “quick wins”.
• Increase uptake for Parish Energy Footprint Tool by engagement and support.
• With others, create a costed plan of potential Energy Audits pilots (up to 40).

Role Requirements

This role requires a high degree of proficiency across the domains.

• Networking and relationship building ensuring internal data/reporting mechanisms are utilised effectively.
• Understanding church traditions and Church of England structures.
• Multi-agency team working.
• Understanding of Local Authority Planning processes and buildings with Statutory Designations (listings).

Apply for a Basic disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service for this role.

Ensure all Diocesan Safeguarding Policies and procedures are adhered to within this work.

Due to the varied nature of the work, including some evening working, the hours can be worked flexibly, in negotiation with the line manager.

Travel will be required (and reasonably reimbursed) due to the geographical location of parishes.

Degree or equivalent

• Training around carbon reduction/ sustainability

Experience

• Experience and enjoyment of working successfully in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Able to confidently work with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Understanding of and confidence working with numerical, technical, and financial data.
• Understanding of how and where capacity funding may be sought.
• Understanding of Local Authority planning processes.
• Understanding about Buildings with Statutory Designation (Listing).
• Experience of working in the environment / carbon reduction / sustainability sector.
• Knowledgeable and passionate about environmental issues / climate change.

Technical

• Excellent written and verbal communication, understanding appropriate communications styles for each audience.
• Experience in data management and analysis.
• Able to communicate technical information to a range of audiences, both technical and non-technical.
• Confident and competent working with IT systems, particularly Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Rational and logical when making decisions · Experience in carbon data management

General

• Welcome & receive incoming enquiries and telephone calls, dealing promptly and courteously with enquires.
• Ensure all health and safety instructions are followed and that care is taken to ensure safety for self and colleagues, reporting concerns immediately.
• Sensitive to the different cultures, traditions and activities within the Church, and work in a way which is consistent with the Five Guiding Principles in the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests; maintain a consistent approach to clergy and non-clergy matters.
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practices within the Church of England’s legal context.

Personal

• Committed to and confident in the aims and ethos of the Diocese of London and of the mission and ministry of the Church of England.
• Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative.
• Collaborative and positive · Ability to work well under pressure.
• Excellent time-management skills.
• Practising communicant member of the C of E or of a a member body of Churches Together.
• An understanding of other Christian denominations and other faiths.

The LDF exists to support the mission of the Church of England in London. The principal activity of the London Diocesan Fund is to operationally and practically serve and support the parishes and people within the Diocese of London, enabling the vision that every Londoner will encounter the love of God in Jesus Christ.