We Include. You Belong.

Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims 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 National Church Institutions (NCIs) are national administrative bodies that work together to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England. Their activities are hugely varied, ranging from management of a multi-billion-pound investment fund, to a grant-giving charity, a housing service for retired clergy and the administration of four multi-employer pension schemes.

The National Safeguarding Team provides professional safeguarding advice to the Church of England on matters of national policy as part of its wider transformation plan, which includes the development and implementation of national policy, training, quality assurance and audit, and work with survivors. The National Safeguarding Team also leads complex casework and supports dioceses in their safeguarding of children and adults.

An investigation by the Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse conducted in 2019 has highlighted areas for improvement in the Church of England Safeguarding Structure and Practices. This investigation reviewed the extent to which the Church of England and the Church in Wales failed to protect children from sexual abuse in the past. It also examined the effectiveness of current safeguarding arrangements. A public hearing on these specific areas was held in 2019. The report, published in 2020, also drew on the previous two case studies on the Anglican Church, which related to the Diocese of Chichester and Peter Ball. In addition to recommendations made in the case studies, IICSA made eight recommendations in this report, covering areas such as clergy discipline, information-sharing and support for victims and survivors.

This role will support the consultation process for the Safeguarding Code of Practice on Managing Safeguarding Concerns and Allegations and associated documentation. The Code will replace current practice guidance and will provide the Church with a revised and robust risk assessment and management process, as well as guidance on reporting to statutory services and coordinating Church responses to safeguarding concerns and allegations. Ensuring the Managing Safeguarding Concerns and Allegations Code receives a thorough and robust consultation process which includes the views from Diocese and Cathedrals, as well as victims and survivors and other key stakeholders is essential.

The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we would particularly welcome applicants from UK Minority Ethnic Backgrounds and other under-represented groups.

This post is offered on a fixed term contract expected to last until the end of March 2024.

The working hours are 14 per week (over 2 days) to be discussed further at interview. The salary will be prorated for the hours worked giving an annual salary of £17,743 per year (for 14 hours per week).

The closing date for applications is 30 November 2023 (midnight).

The main responsibilities for this role are:

This role will work in partnership with the Policy and Development Lead to ensure structured stakeholder engagement. Under the direction of the Policy and Development Lead the Stakeholder Engagement Manager will inform, communicate, consult and engage with the key programme stakeholders, including diocesan and cathedral safeguarding representatives and NCI staff to:

• Build knowledge of the Safeguarding Code, to enable stakeholders to engage constructively in the consultation process;
• Build capacity and knowledge of each key stakeholders, to ensure effective communication outcomes by clearly defining lines of communication;
• Lead on stakeholder communication for requests for information or points of policy clarification;
• Support the Policy and Development Lead to run consultation groups and information sharing workshops;
• Develop FAQs by keeping the information up to date on a regular basis;
• Assist in producing communications to support stakeholder awareness and engagement with the consultation process;
• Issues management - anticipating and responding to stakeholder needs – mobilising project/programme and broader-Church leaders where appropriate;
• Act as a liaison between the key stakeholders and the Development Team to pass on feedback, raise risks and aid with issue resolution and risk mitigation;
• Act as the Church wide interface of the consultation – including direct engagement, key point of contact etc.;
• Engage stakeholders at the most direct level, where relevant, to gain access to necessary information and answer specific queries;
• Strengthen engagement capabilities and identify the gaps and weaknesses;
• Effectively manage the expectations of stakeholders, by providing clarity around different aspects of the consultation and the policy development process;
• Working closely with the Policy and Development Administrator to maintain and update records;
• Report progress and raise stakeholder engagement risks to appropriate boards;
• Conduct thematic analysis on any information gathered through consultation and stakeholder engagement, and ensure that any identified themes are appropriately reflected in the revised Code;
• Produce templates, infographics, workshop materials and other resources that help disseminate the content of the Code to key stakeholders.

The ideal candidate must have:

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experienced strategic manager, with a successful track record in developing external relationships, delivery of business plans and experience of working across a mobile team;
• Experience and track record in delivering transformation projects in similar role in a dynamic, high profile organisation or industry;
• Excellent leadership skills that can be deployed in a complex environment;
• Demonstrated organisational skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage time and plan work to meet deadlines;
• A strong relationship builder who can adapt their style and gain buy-in to deliver results;
• Ability to work as an effective member of a team as well as the ability to exercise independence and judgement where required;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with an ability to convey complex information in smart, creative formats to affect real change;
• Ability to interact with the diverse range of stakeholders and respond positively when resolving issues;
• Ability to be rational, objective and unbiased when making decisions and taking action;
• Able to prioritise and respond to dynamic situations and act as a coach and role model to colleagues around to inspire them to perform at their best;
• An inspiring team member, able to build and contribute to high performing teams, that will deliver impactful outcomes for the wider community;
• Good knowledge of the Church of England structure.

Desirable, but not essential

• Experience of policy or legislation development.

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Requirements:

• This role will require a Basic DBS check.

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 at Careers | The Church of England

NCI values

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

We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. 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.