The Bishop of Sheffield exercises the primary apostolic ministry for the Diocese of Sheffield, leading in mission, presiding over its sacramental life, offering Bible teaching and pastoral care.

Bishop Pete seeks to live out his calling prayerfully, joyfully and collaboratively, looking to God to renew, release and rejuvenate the Diocese of Sheffield by 2025.

The staff at Bishopscroft play a significant role in the fulfilment of this vision.

The Bishop of Sheffield is looking for a professional and experienced Administrative Assistant, to assist the Bishop’s Senior PA and Bishop’s Chaplain with the efficient operations in the office at Bishopscroft.

The successful applicant will have excellent administrative and interpersonal skills, a calm and positive approach and the ability to handle confidential information appropriately. An understanding and interest in the Bishop of Sheffield’s ministry would also be desirable.

*Please find the Information Pack and Job Description attached below.

For an informal chat, please contact: Wendy Whitfield, Senior PA to Bishop of Sheffield at pa@bishopofsheffield.org.uk

This post is offered as a part time contract working24½ hours/week which will include 3½ hours/week supporting the ministry of the Bishop of Sheffield in his House of Lords work. Some flexibility will be required.

The salary of £20,910​ per year will be prorated for the hours worked giving a salary of£14,637 per year for 24.5 hours per week.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 14 April 2023 at 12 noon.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 19 April 2023.

The Setting

• The Administrative Assistant, with the Senior PA to the Bishop and the Bishop’s Chaplain are based in a shared office at Bishopscroft, where the Bishop also has his study.
• The Administrative Assistant will work in particularly close collaboration with the Bishop’s Senior PA, who provides oversight in managing the Bishop’s office, his correspondence, accounts and diary.
• The Administrative Assistant will provide administrative support to the Bishop’s Chaplain.

The Tasks – Bishop’s Office

• Assisting the Bishop’s Senior PA and Bishop’s Chaplain to provide efficient operations in the office.
• Handling telephone calls with confidence, diplomacy and tact and ensuring all callers are directed to relevant personnel.
• Audio and copy typing letters, sermons, speeches, reports and other materials for the Bishop and the Bishop's Chaplain to meet agreed deadlines and standards of accuracy and presentation.
• Photocopying and scanning documents as required by the Bishop or other members of the team.
• Providing hospitality to Visitors and dealing with enquiries.
• Filing and keeping the office systems up to date, archiving as appropriate.
• Ensuring all clergy filing (‘blue files’) and Parish filing is up-to-date.
• Ensuring the inventory of files is kept up-to-date.
• Sending and receiving emails using Microsoft Outlook and The Church of England’s CMS database.
• Providing administrative support to the Bishop’s Chaplain.
• Replying to correspondence as requested/delegated, or as dictated/drafted.
• Handling incoming and outgoing mail to ensure correct and timely distribution and dispatch.
• Organising travel arrangements for the Bishop as requested by the Bishop's Senior PA.
• Sending out invitations and mailings for clergy conferences, deanery evenings and other circulations as requested.
• Sourcing and ordering the Christmas card in liaison with the Bishop, updating the Christmas card list, timely production of labels and posting.
• Monitoring stationery and other supplies and re-ordering as necessary.
• Providing administrative support to the Bishop's wife as and when required.
• Standing in for the Bishop's Senior PA as required.
• Assisting with shopping and simple hospitality (in office hours).
• Supporting with social events, ie Bishop’s Garden Party.
• Completion of the house inventory.
• Carrying out other duties as and when required.

The Tasks – In supporting the ministry of the Bishop in the House of Lords

• Scrutinising the rolling three-week forward summary of upcoming business to assist the Bishop in making effective interventions.
• Monitoring regional news to enable the Bishop to table questions.
• Securing video footage of the Bishop’s interventions and seeking to place these with regional media outlets (press, radio, television).
• In liaison with the Bishop’s Senior PA, diarising meetings with other parliamentarians (eg local MPs and peers).

Person Specification: The Administrative Assistant to the Bishop of Sheffield will:

• Be confident in use of Microsoft office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Have a working knowledge and previous experience of maintaining a database within an office environment.
• Have excellent word processing skills from manuscript and audio.
• Have good numeracy skills.
• Deliver well-presented work with a meticulous eye for detail.
• Have an ability to show initiative and work with minimal or no supervision.
• Have excellent communication skills both oral and written, including a competent and friendly telephone manner.
• Have good interpersonal skills with the ability to deal with people from all walks of life with courtesy.
• Have a cheerful approach to enquirers, guests and colleagues.
• Have an ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and handle sensitive issues with discretion.
• Be well organised, methodical and have the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Have an ability to work calmly under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Have an ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Have an ability to respond to changing demands and last minute requests.
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills and develop new areas of knowledge.
• Attend training courses as appropriate.
• Be flexible in working outside normal office hours, to cope with seasonal peaks of workload when necessary (which would normally be compensated by time off in lieu).
• Be flexible, recognising that each day could look very different as the Bishop’s Office deals with a wide variety of tasks, issues and people.

The Diocese of Sheffield was formed in 1914 and is in the Northern Province of York. It has a population of approximately 1.3 million people, 89 stipendiary incumbents, 59 Mission Areas and 211 churches. There are also a number of ordained chaplains working across hospitals, prisons, sports and police sectors. It spreads over Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster and the subsidiary towns and villages of those areas, covering most of South Yorkshire (approximately half of Barnsley) and small parts of North Yorkshire, the East Riding and North Lincolnshire. It is separated into two Archdeaconries: Sheffield and Rotherham; and Doncaster.

For further information about the Diocese see: www.sheffield.anglican.org