Chief Operating Officer

Church of England; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Liverpool Cathedral invites applications for a Chief Operating Officer to provide senior leadership across its mission, finance, operations and governance. You will work closely with the Dean and Cathedral Chapter to translate ambitions into practical plans, ensuring financial resilience, risk management and a positive organisational culture.

You will lead multi-disciplinary teams, build strong partnerships with the Diocese and external partners, and develop sustainable strategies for growth,

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in a complex organisation.
• Experience in mission-led, public-benefit, cultural, heritage, faith or values-driven settings.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into practical delivery plans and lead organisational change.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and organisational development across cathedral life.
• Provide warm, visible leadership and build a high-performing senior team.
• Oversee governance, risk, compliance and assurance.
• Champion safeguarding and culture across Cathedral life.
• Provide executive oversight of operations, security and business continuity.
• Drive financial sustainability, budgeting and stewardship in partnership with the CFO.
• Develop external relationships and partnerships to support mission and priorities.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategy execution

Governance

Financial planning

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Safeguarding

Job description

About Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Cathedral is first and foremost a place of Christian worship, prayer, welcome and mission. It is also Britain’s largest cathedral, a major visitor destination, a centre for music and culture, and an important civic institution.

More than 700,000 people cross our threshold each year. Our work brings together worship, heritage, education, community engagement, hospitality and commercial activity, all supporting the Cathedral’s mission and purpose.

We want the Cathedral to flourish spiritually, culturally, socially and financially. We are appointing a dedicated Chief Operating Officer to provide the additional leadership capacity needed to support our mission, ministry and long-term future.

About the role

As the Cathedral’s senior lay executive, the Chief Operating Officer will provide leadership and coordination across its operational life, working in close partnership with the Dean and within the governance framework of Cathedral Chapter.

You will bring together strategy, people, finance, operations, governance and commercial delivery, translating the Cathedral’s ambitions into clear plans and sustainable results.

This is an important period of organisational development and change. You will help ensure that our structures, resources and ways of working support our mission and priorities, while strengthening operational effectiveness, financial resilience and a positive, healthy organisational culture.

Our close partnership with the Diocese will continue. You will work with the Diocesan Secretary and colleagues across both organisations to ensure that shared services remain effective and responsive to changing needs.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and organisational development
Support the Dean and Senior Executive Team in implementing the Cathedral’s agreed vision and strategic priorities. Lead the development and delivery of the business plan, establish effective planning and review arrangements, and lead organisational change thoughtfully and collaboratively.

Leadership, people and culture
Provide warm, visible and accessible leadership. Develop an effective senior team, empower managers and foster collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement. Work with HR colleagues to support staff development, wellbeing, inclusion and effective workforce planning.

Governance, risk and compliance
Support Chapter with clear advice, information and assurance. Maintain effective governance, reporting and delegated authorities, and ensure appropriate arrangements for legal and regulatory compliance, risk management, audit and policy.

Safeguarding
Champion a positive safeguarding culture throughout Cathedral life. Work closely with the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer, Safeguarding Team, Diocese and Chapter to ensure effective governance, assurance and compliance, and appropriate escalation of concerns.

Operations
Provide executive oversight of safe, effective and well-planned Cathedral operations. Improve systems and processes, monitor performance and ensure robust arrangements for security, business continuity and emergency planning.

Financial sustainability and commercial development
Work with the Chief Finance Officer and senior colleagues on long-term financial sustainability, financial planning and sound stewardship. Work collaboratively with the Director of Enterprise and Enterprise Board to ensure commercial activity supports worship, mission, visitor experience and wider Cathedral priorities. Support income diversification and the conditions for successful fundraising.

Fabric and estate management
Work with the Clerk of Works, Cathedral Architect and specialist advisers to oversee estate and fabric governance, maintenance, conservation and capital planning, including statutory responsibilities and environmental sustainability.

Cathedral and Diocese partnership
Maintain constructive relationships with diocesan colleagues and ensure shared-service arrangements have clear priorities, responsibilities and expectations.

External relationships
Develop effective relationships with church, civic, heritage, regulatory and funding partners, supporting partnerships that further the Cathedral’s mission and strategic priorities.

About you

You will bring significant senior leadership experience across a range of functions within a complex organisation, including experience in a mission-led, public-benefit, cultural, heritage, faith or similarly values-driven setting.

You will have experience of:

• Leading organisational development and change, bringing people with you.
• Translating strategic priorities into practical delivery plans.
• Developing senior teams and empowering others.
• Financial planning, budget management and performance monitoring.
• Strong governance and accountability arrangements.
• Safeguarding, risk management, compliance and assurance.
• Leading multidisciplinary teams through specialist colleagues.
• Improving organisational systems and building effective partnerships.

You will understand charity governance, organisational development, financial sustainability and the responsibilities involved in caring for significant buildings and heritage assets.

An excellent communicator and listener, you will combine strategic thinking with practical delivery. You will be warm, approachable, collaborative and calm, able to navigate competing priorities, exercise sound judgement and make difficult decisions when necessary.

Commitment to the Cathedral’s Christian mission and values, safeguarding, integrity and inclusion is essential.

Experience of shared services, commercial activity, income diversification, fundraising, heritage estates, capital project governance and working with volunteers is desirable.