Head of Communications

The Church Of England Birmingham; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The Church of England Birmingham is seeking a full-time Communications Leader to enhance internal and external communications through strategic messaging and creative media. This role involves leading a dynamic team, developing an innovative communications strategy, and ensuring effective engagement with the community. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in communications within a faith context, with strong skills in storytelling and digital media management. This position offers an annual salary of £45,000, inclusive of benefits and the opportunity to work in a vibrant and diverse environment.

Benefits

5 weeks of holiday and discretionary days

Time Off In Lieu policy

Opportunity for hybrid working

Qualifications

• Proven experience in communications, PR, or media, ideally in faith-based organizations.
• Knowledge of Church of England structures and ethos.
• Ability to communicate Christian themes clearly.

Responsibilities

• Lead the communication strategy aligning with the diocese's mission.
• Develop engaging communication channels for clergy and churches.
• Implement crisis communications protocols and oversee response efforts.

Skills

Strong written communication

Visual storytelling

Crisis communications

Digital accessibility

Relationship building

Creative content generation

Education

Qualification in communications, journalism or marketing

Tools

Websites management

Social media

Job description

The Diocese of Birmingham, or The Church of England Birmingham (CofEB) is an area that is young, culturally diverse, creative, dynamic and constantly changing. In the midst of the political, economic, social and environmental changes, God is at work, inside and outside the church.

We cover an area of nearly 300 square miles and includes parishes in the West Midlands including Birmingham and parts of Solihull, Sandwell, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Here there are over 190 CofE worshipping communities with an average weekly attendance of 17,000 from a population of 1.5 million. Under our shared vision of ‘Growing churches at the heart of each community,’ our churches aim to be diverse, welcoming, sustainable and vibrant; having a positive impact on their communities by demonstrating the love of God

Purpose of the Role

To lead in implementing a strategic, Christ-centred communications approach that strengthens internal communications with clergy and churches, increases the diocese’s visibility, and reaches the wider community through compelling storytelling and creative media engagement; this will start by reviewing our current communication channels and working with stakeholders to asses the effectiveness and future of these channels and explore new opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Communications Leadership

• Develop and deliver the diocesan communications strategy in line with the vision, values, and mission of the diocese.
• Lead regular reviews of the strategy to ensure ongoing effectiveness and responsiveness to emerging needs.

2. Internal Communications

• Create engaging channels to keep leaders and churches informed and inspired, including newsletters, briefings, and social platforms.
• Develop an accessible online resource hub for church leaders.

3. External Communications & Visibility

• Review the diocesan website and social media platforms and explore options for making these fit for communicating our message.
• Develop content strategies that reflect diocesan life, events, and the gospel in creative and relevant ways.
• Establish partnerships with local media, podcast/radio outlets, and digital influencers.

4. Crisis Communications

• Implement and oversee a proactive crisis communications protocol.
• Serve as (or support) the diocesan spokesperson during emergencies or reputational challenges.
• Prepare reactive and holding statements and ensure timely and sensitive responses to media enquiries.
• Encourage and equip churches to adopt digital tools and platforms for outreach.
• Lead campaigns that highlight stories of faith, transformation, and diocesan impact.

6. Capacity Building

• Design and deliver communications training for clergy and church teams.
• Mentor and support deanery or parish-based communications volunteers or officers.

7. Monitoring & Evaluation

• Track engagement, reach, and effectiveness using digital analytics and community feedback.
• Report regularly to diocesan leadership with recommendations for improvement.

The draft Communications Strategy which is under development can be viewed here.

Person Specification

Proven experience in communications, PR, or media(ideally in a faith-based, non-profit, or public sector setting)

Knowledge of Church of England structures and ethos

Strong written, verbal, and visual storytelling skills

Theological literacy and ability to communicate Christian themes clearly

Skilled in managing websites, social media, and digital tools

Experience of crisis communications and media handling

Creative thinker with ability to generate engaging content and campaigns

Photography, video editing or graphic design experience

Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills

Understanding of digital accessibility and inclusion

Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities

A keen understanding of the Christian Faith and alignment with the vision, mission, and values of the CofE including a passion for communicating the gospel.

Qualification in communications, journalism, or marketing

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where all can be themselves and bring their unique identity to their ministry and/or work.We welcome applications from any individuals who feel that they meet the person specification for any post, in particular from those who are currently under-represented in our staff teams such as those from Global Majority Heritage or UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds, those with visible or invisible disabilities and those who identify as LGBTQI+.

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

Terms and Conditions

• The role is full-time with an annual salary of £45,000
• Holiday of 5 weeks per year, 3 discretionary days, and bank holidays
• Location: Diocesan Office in Central Birmingham or other locations (with opportunity for hybrid working with a minimum of 40% of the working week based “on-site”)
• The post is subject to satisfactory references and completion of Safeguarding Training
• The role may require weekend and evening availability with an accompanying Time Off In Lieu policy
• The role will be line managed by the Diocesan Secretary and have oversight from the Suffragan Bishop of Aston. The employer is BDBF (Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance)

CLOSING DATE: 14 July 2025

INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD IN CENTRAL BIRMINGHAM ON 29 July 2025

To apply for the role, please click here.