Children and Families’ Pastor

New Wine; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Holiday entitlement

Training & development opportunities

Flexible working pattern

Job summary

Highfield Church in Portswood, Southampton, is seeking a Children and Families' Pastor to lead the Highfield Kids ministry and empower volunteers. The role focuses on creating environments where children encounter Jesus, and on growing a welcoming church family for under-11s.

You’ll work with a team to plan Sunday and midweek activities, coordinate safeguarding, and partner with the School and community activities. A genuine faith alignment with the church is expected.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in a church setting and guiding their faith journey.
• Ability to build and lead teams of volunteers and families.
• Commitment to safeguarding and creating safe environments for kids.

Responsibilities

• Lead Highfield Kids ministry on Sundays and during the week with engaging programs.
• Develop activities to help children meet, know, and serve Jesus.
• Work with volunteer leaders, helpers and parents to foster a welcoming community.
• Ensure safeguarding practices are robust and well administered.

Skills

Children ministry experience

Team leadership

Volunteer management

Safeguarding

Discipleship focus

Job description

Are you passionate aboutigniting and growing faith in children?

Do you have a genuine love for Jesus and a desire tolead by example?

Are you gifted at building teams andempowering volunteers?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you as the Children and Families' Pastor at Highfield Church.

We are a thriving evangelical and charismatic Anglican Church passionate about both the Word and the Spirit. Our aim is to encounter God, grow together, and seek His kingdom.As the Children and Families' Pastor, you will play a vital role in exciting our children and families about following Jesus.

Here's what the role entails:

Encountering God -Create environments where children can meet Jesus and experience His presence. Facilitate opportunities for families to encounter God together.

Growing Together -Foster a sense of community and belonging among children and families, especially through Highfield Kids on Sundays.

Seeking the Kingdom -Empower children to serve and share Jesus with others. Pioneer opportunities to grow relationships with children and families throughout the week through our contacts with the School, at Tiddlywinks and in Open House.

Leading our Highfield Kids ministry on Sunday and throughout the week, you will develop engaging programs and activities to help children meet Jesus, know Jesus, and serve and share Jesus. You will work with volunteer leaders, helpers and parents to create a vibrant andwelcoming Highfield Kids community.Our Kids’ ministry has 30-35 under-11s regularly present on a Sunday (65 in total engaged).You will be supported by a church community that values the missing generations, is committed to their growth, and values its partnership with our School.

If you have a heart for children, a passion for Jesus, and a desire to see families transformed by His love, we invite you to join our team. Together, let's inspire the next generation to become devoted disciples of Jesus and active participants in His kingdom.

For you to be right for the role we have, we need you to:

• Be passionate about children meeting Jesus, encountering the Holy Spirit in their worship and prayer time and supporting them in their discipleship
• Have experience ofworking with children and ministering to them
• Be willing to engage personally in our church discipleship process of encountering God, growing together andseeking the kingdom, in turn modelling it to others
• Be warm and approachable
• Be an encourager and motivator - particularly of children, parents and volunteers
• Be able to organise and administer a complex area of responsibility, including ensuring excellent safeguarding practice
• A sense of humour and fun and a delight in action songs and games

For us to be right for you, your personal Christian faith should be consistent with those of Highfield Church – we want you to be happy and settled within our large, friendly staff team and church community.

Ideally we are looking for an individual with experience, and this would have a salary of £31,000 per annum. However if you are earlier in your ministry journey and seeking your first full time ministry role, a starting salary of £28,000 per annum will be offered.We also offer a 9% contributory pension scheme, great holiday allowance and relevant training and development opportunities. This role is 40 hours per week, on a flexible working pattern - it will include varied daytime, evening and Sunday hours. We are also open to applications from those who would be interested in working part-time or term time, possibly as part of a job share. Please ensure you indicate your preference/availability within the additional information section of the application form.

Are we for you? Are you for us? Is this God bringing us together?

This role is only open to individuals with the current right to work in the UK.

The closing date for applications is 25 November 2026

Interviews will be around 5 / 6 December 2026

Highfield Church, also known as Christ Church, Portswood; an Anglican church in the Diocese of Winchester .