Our aim is for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.

The Archbishops’ Advisers for Appointments and Vocations team is a key team within the Office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, supporting and advising the Archbishops and the wider Church on the appointments process for senior clergy. The team supports the work of the Crown Nominations Commission in identifying new Diocesan Bishops, those involved in appointing Suffragan Bishops, and the selection panels who nominate new cathedral Deans. The team supports senior clergy in their vocation and discernment, working closely with the Ministry Development team and others to develop a diverse pipeline of candidates for senior roles. The team also helps to ensure that senior clergy are equipped for the Church of England’s missional challenges and for the vital role it plays in the life of the nation.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work in a small, friendly, and professional team supporting a complex, detailed and fast-paced portfolio of senior appointments and associated projects.

As Appointments and Vocations Adviser, you will support the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments in the delivery of the complex programme of senior appointments, providing professional and appropriate policy and HR advice to bishops and appointments panels.

You will accompany individuals in their vocational discernment and development within the context of Christian ministry, promoting continuous improvement and best practice in nomination and selection processes for senior clergy roles, and supporting a range of projects and initiatives related to the work of the team.

We work as a close-knit team in beautiful surroundings, part of the Lambeth Palace community and Office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, supporting each other with care, flexibility and good humour.

The working hours for this post will be 35 hours per week however we are happy to offer flexibility and hybrid working. The working arrangements are expected to include 2 days per week based at Lambeth Palace and the rest of the week to be worked remotely, however flexibility will be needed to attend the office and other locations as required.

To arrange an informal conversation please contact stephen.knott@churchofengland.org

Closing date: 11 June 2023 (midnight).

Interviews: 12 and 13 July 2023. Selected candidates will be invited to complete assessments prior to interview.

The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. This is a priority for the Archbishops. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we particularly welcome applicants from UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.

We also invite interest from those with excellent experience in a number of areas that may not meet every criteria.

We offer a unique environment with opportunities for continuous learning, generous annual leave for work life balance, season ticket loans and a range of benefits including discounted entry to attractions and what we feel is a market leading package when it comes to our pension scheme.

The Role

Supporting the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments in:

Senior appointments.

• Proactively and professionally engaging with diocesan stakeholders on the planning and delivery of consultations within dioceses and cathedrals, drafting high-quality, comprehensive reports that sensitively and appropriately articulate and encapsulate the joys and challenges of the mission and ministry of the Church in a given context.
• Supporting the work of appointment panels, professionally and confidently guiding and advising them in their discernment, following agreed policies and procedures. Drafting high-quality role profiles, adverts, candidate briefing packs and other documentation. Coordinating and preparing for, advising on and participating in, longlisting, shortlisting and interview processes.
• Journeying alongside candidates at all stages in the process, making sure they are fully and pastorally supported in their discernment, providing appropriate feedback and advising on areas of development.

Vocational discernment.

• Advising, guiding, preparing and pastorally accompanying those discerning a calling to senior leadership roles in the Church, supporting the process of identifying, sustaining and developing as diverse a pipeline as possible.
• Advising bishops and others on individuals who may have a calling to senior leadership roles, pastorally supporting clergy in their discernment, identifying and signposting to areas for ongoing development.
• Supporting the engagement with key stakeholders and networks relevant to, and interested in, the senior appointment discernment process.

Policy, frameworks and systems.

• Using knowledge of legislation and best practice in recruitment to contribute to the drafting, development, evolution and communication of policy, frameworks and systems relating to the vocational discernment and senior appointment processes. Ensuring that the team is at the forefront of the implementation and sharing of best practice, collaborating with key stakeholders, both internal and external.

Governance and oversight.

• Deputising for the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments, as required, and supporting all governance frameworks impacting the work of the team. Contributing to the development of team vision and strategy, carrying out research, drafting and keeping updated high-quality reports, policy and other papers. Developing and keeping updated project plans/risk registers.

External communications.

• Having responsibility for appropriately developing and promoting the Department’s external web and social media presence. Monitoring debate relating to the work of the team and drafting responses. Supporting the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments with the development and delivery of the communications strategy.

The Requirements

Essential

Knowledge/Experience:

• Significant experience of, and interest in, selection and resourcing issues for senior leadership roles gained in an organisation of scale with complex structures.
• Significant experience of, and interest in, the use of selection tools and methods (including psychometrics).
• Coaching qualification and/or demonstrable facilitation and coaching experience and skills, with a passion for, and particular track record of, supporting individual career development.
• Evidence of, and interest in, the development and implementation of effective HR, policies, frameworks and systems, particularly in connection with recruitment and selection.
• An affinity with, and hands-on experience of, using technology to support and drive best practice in HR, together with a vision of its potential, and an ability to develop and implement system change.
• Experience of working within, and supporting, governance frameworks.

Key Skills:

• Outstanding oral and written communication, public presentation, facilitation and influencing skills, the ability to produce detailed, high quality written reports and policy papers.
• Successful track record of working well with others, both within the organisation and in external networks, with the ability to develop ideas with other people.
• Ability to work both at a strategic and operational level, being comfortable in both and able to move seamlessly between the two.
• Ability to manage a busy workload, be highly organised with the ability to deliver a number of projects at the same time and meet competing deadlines.
• Exceptional attention to detail and consistency.
• Ability to navigate a complex political landscape with professionalism and confidence.
• Ability to discern, encourage and empower gifts in others, including vocations to senior leadership roles in the Church.
• Ability to give feedback, have vocational conversations and pastorally support clergy discerning a call to senior leadership roles.
• Excellent planning, organisation and administrative skills, including ability to use IT software (e.g. Microsoft Office and SharePoint) and able to be self-supporting in the planning and organisation of their programme of work.

Education:

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent, with evidence of recent and continuous professional development.

Personal Attributes:

• Highly resilient with a high level of self-awareness.
• Delivery and stakeholder focused.
• Ability to work effectively and confidently with an intellectually challenging client group.
• A strong empathy and interest in people and effective organisational culture.
• A strong understanding of, and empathy with, the mission and ethos of the Church of England and senior clergy appointment processes. Ability to show familiarity with, and be comfortable supporting, different contexts of Church life.
• Inspiring, enthusiastic, encouraging and supportive to others, both one-to-one and in groups.
• Highly emotionally intelligent.
• A high degree of discretion in handling confidential personal matters and information.
• Highly engaging, with the ability to build effective relationships with people and able to build credibility with senior clergy and staff.
• A demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Circumstances:

• This is a demanding and impactful role that will require the post holder to occasionally work hours outside those prescribed. It will also require frequent travel around the dioceses of the Church of England and occasional evening working.
• The Church’s culture and the appointments processes are deeply intertwined with its theological heritage. The post holder will need to be interested in, sensitive to and sufficiently resilient to work creatively with the language and concepts that emerge from this.

In the National Church Institutions (NCIs), we support the mission and ministries of the Church of England. We work with parishes, dioceses, schools, chaplaincies and other ministries, and with national and international partners including mission agencies, and other denominations and faith groups.-.

Find out more about working for the National Church Institutions by visiting Careers | The Church of England

NCI values

• We strive for excellence
• We collaborate
• We act with integrity
• We show compassion
• We respect others

We welcome everyone and we accept and value people for who they are and what they contribute, treating others in the way we would wish to be treated ourselves. We actively listen to and include others, encouraging and enabling everyone’s voice to be heard in discussions and decisions. When we disagree, we aim to disagree well with respect and kindness.

We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you. If there is anything we can do to support you in your application please get in touch via email to hr.recruitment@churchofengland.org.

• As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively look to attract, recruit and retain those of you who are disabled.
• We are a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and welcome applications from those of you who have served in our Armed Forces and their families.