Church Buildings Support Officer

The Church of England; Rochester; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

TOIL

Generous holiday entitlement

Contributary pension scheme

Employee Assistance programme and Coun

Counselling service

Job summary

The Church of England with the Diocese of Rochester is seeking a Church Buildings Support Officer to help parishes manage and improve church buildings. You will support grant administration, maintenance planning and project readiness across the diocese.

You will work closely with DAC and diocesan colleagues to strengthen parish capacity, promote stewardship and ensure sustainable buildings for mission and community use. Travel across the diocese is required.

Qualifications

• Experience in buildings, property or estates environments.
• Understanding of church context and challenges of maintaining church buildings.
• Experience managing grant finances including budgeting, monitoring and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Review church building condition reports and prioritise support.
• Develop action plans for repairs, maintenance and improvement projects.
• Identify funding opportunities and prepare grant applications.
• Administer diocesan building-related grant funds and monitor project outcomes.
• Provide guidance on church building stewardship and maintenance planning.
• Build relationships with churchwardens, PCCs and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with DAC, Net Zero, Stewardship, Communications and Archdeacon teams.
• Promote environmental sustainability and accessibility in building projects.
• Maintain records and produce reports for strategic planning.

Skills

Buildings/property experience

Grant finances management

Microsoft Office usage

Report writing

Team collaboration

Independent working

Church context understanding

Budgeting & monitoring

Education

Property/buildings/conservation qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Based at the Diocesan Office, Rochester (with travel across the Diocese)

Full-time - 35 Hours

Grade 5 | Salary starting from £33,927

Fixed Term Contract

Are you passionate about helping churches care for and develop their buildings? Do you have experience in property, buildings, project support or grant administration?

The Diocese of Rochester is seeking a Church Buildings Support Officer to provide proactive, parish-focused support that enables churches to plan, prioritise and deliver maintenance, repair and improvement projects. Working closely with the DAC Secretary, Archdeacons and diocesan colleagues, you will help strengthen parish capacity, promote good stewardship and support the long-term sustainability of church buildings across the Diocese.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible difference to the future of church buildings, supporting parishes as they care for these vital community and worship spaces while responding to changing needs and environmental challenges.

About The Role

You will work directly with parishes to help them manage, maintain and improve their church buildings, ensuring they remain sustainable assets for mission and community use. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Reviewing church building condition reports and helping prioritise support where it is most needed.
• Working with parishes to develop practical action plans for repairs, maintenance and improvement projects.
• Supporting churches to identify funding opportunities and prepare projects for grant applications.
• Administering diocesan building-related grant funds and monitoring project outcomes.
• Providing guidance on church building stewardship, maintenance planning and project readiness.
• Building strong relationships with churchwardens, PCCs, professional advisers and other stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the Diocese, including DAC, Net Zero, Stewardship, Communications and Archdeacon teams.
• Promoting environmental sustainability and accessibility within church building projects.
• Maintaining accurate records and producing reports to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
• Delivering training sessions, guidance and support for parishes on church building matters.

About You

We're looking for someone with:

• Experience gained within a buildings, property or estates environment.
• An understanding of the church context and the challenges associated with maintaining church buildings.
• Experience of managing grant finances, including budgeting, monitoring and reporting.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• The ability to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of a team.
• A sympathetic understanding of the aims and mission of the Church of England.
• The ability to travel throughout the Diocese of Rochester.

It Would Also Be Helpful If You

• Have an interest in how church buildings can be adapted to support mission and community engagement.
• Have experience of report writing.
• Hold a relevant qualification in a property, buildings, conservation or related discipline.
• Have knowledge of church buildings, heritage conservation or the faculty system.

What We Can Offer

• Flexible working, Hybrid working and TOIL
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Contributary pension scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance programme and counselling service

The Diocese is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

All appointments are subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks.

The wider a group's diversity, the smarter, wiser, and more compassionate and creative its decision making becomes. We are committed to achieving diversity throughout our Diocese by seeking UKME/GMH colleagues and those from a wide range of backgrounds, to help us create a culture of inclusion and belonging.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, please contact the HR department at [e-mail]

Closing date for applications: 15 November 2026

Interviews will be held on: 26 November 2026