Head of Vocations and Ordinands

The Church of England; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A major religious organization is seeking a Head of Vocations and Ordinands in Birmingham. This full-time role involves leading vocational discernment, developing training pathways, and supporting underrepresented communities in ministry. The ideal candidate will have a strong theological background and experience in leadership development. With a salary of £47,500 and the ability for hybrid working, this position plays a vital role in shaping the future of ministry in a diverse community.

Benefits

5 weeks holiday

Discretionary days

Bank holidays

Qualifications

• Deep personal faith rooted in Scripture, prayer, and sacrament.
• Experience in leadership development and vocational discernment.
• Ability to work creatively across diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead on vocational discernment and formation for church candidates.
• Develop pathways to widen participation for underrepresented groups.
• Collaborate with bishops and theological training institutions.
• Provide spiritual and pastoral care for candidates.

Skills

Leadership development

Interpersonal skills

Cultural intelligence

Mentoring

Education

Strong theological understanding

Experience in vocational discernment

Job description

Head of Vocations and Ordinands

Play a key role shaping the future of licensed ministry in a vibrant, diverse city and region, advancing Christ’s mission and bringing His hope to every community

About Us

Birmingham is the UK’s second city – energetic, diverse, and constantly evolving. It has the youngest urban population in Europe and a rich mix of cultures, faiths, and communities. The Church of England Birmingham (CofEB) spans nearly 300 square miles, covering Birmingham and parts of Solihull, Sandwell, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. It’s a region full of challenge and change - and God is at work in the midst of it all.

At the heart of CofEB are 187 Church of England places of worship serving a population of million. These churches reflect a wide range of traditions and ethnicities, united by a shared commitment to being vibrant, welcoming, and outward-facing communities of faith.

This is a time of new possibility in our diocese as we reshape ministry for a changing world. Our vision is clear : Growing Churches at the Heart of Every Community . To help realise that vision, we are seeking a Head of Vocations and Ordinands who will bring wisdom, energy, and imagination to the task before them.

About the Role

You will work across a rich and varied landscape of church tradition, with a passion for widening participation and cultivating vocations that reflect the full diversity of our region. You’ll develop accelerated pathways for those with leadership potential and strengthen routes into ministry for underrepresented communities, including through the Elizabeth and Peter Streams.

This is a key strategic role – working closely with bishops, parish leaders, vocations advisers and ADDOs, theological institutions, and the Ministry Division – to resource and help shape the future of ordained and lay ministry across the diocese, enabling the vibrant, faithful, and hope-filled Church we long to see.

Key Areas of Responsibility

1. Lead on Vocational Discernment & Formation

• Support candidates into appropriate formation pathways, ensuring formation is rooted in Scripture, open-hearted in spirit, and hopeful for the future of the Church.
• Facilitate a culture within the diocese where all our ministers are equipped to recognise, celebrate and nurture a wide variety of vocations to ministry.
• Supporting and advising those responsible for the selection and training of those presenting for Licensed Lay Ministry.
• Ensure that the vocations offer resources and adapts to our emerging strategy for the future of the Church of England in Birmingham, ensuring we have confident missional leaders for each and every context.
• Ensure effective transition and pastoral continuity for candidates as they move from discernment and IME1 into curacy (IME2), maintaining strong links between diocesan support, training pathways, and parish contexts.

2. Innovative Pathways & Widening Participation

• Actively engage with underrepresented groups to ensure leadership reflects the diversity of our region.

3. Collaboration & Partnership

• Work closely with bishops, vocations advisers / ADDOs and the wider Ministry Team to ensure excellent candidate experience and discernment outcomes.
• Be a key part of our People Planning workstream, identifying how we identify, equip and deploy leadership for our worshipping communities.
• Liaise with theological training institutions, local training pathways and the Church of England Ministry Division to support candidates through to their transition to curacy.
• Ensure compliance with national discernment and formation processes, maintaining accurate candidate records and reporting to Ministry Division

4. Pastoral & Spiritual Accompaniment

• Provide spiritual and pastoral care for candidates, modelling a life of prayer and trust in the Holy Spirit.
• Foster a culture of ongoing formation, theological reflection, and Christlike leadership.
• Ensure discernment and formation processes are conducted in ways that promote safeguarding and candidate wellbeing.

Person Specification

Essential

• A deep personal faith rooted in Scripture, prayer and sacrament.
• Experience of developing innovative pathways for training or formation.
• Strong theological understanding with an ability to work creatively across traditions.
• Knowledge of current trends and challenges in ministry and mission within the Church of England and the expectations upon ministers.
• Experience in vocational discernment, mentoring, or leadership formation.
• Proven experience in leadership development, preferably in both parish and wider diocesan or institutional contexts.
• Cultural intelligence and a proven ability to work across diverse communities.
• Experience of working with national Church bodies or theological colleges.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organisational skills.
• A track record of working collaboratively across teams and contexts.
• Confidence and wisdom to challenge and encourage candidates appropriately.
• The ability to deliver ‘unexpected news’ well and ensure appropriate pastoral follow-up.
• A passion for growing and sending leaders for the sake of the Gospel and the renewal of the Church.

Desirable

• Experience of developing innovative pathways for training or formation.
• Strong theological understanding with an ability to work creatively across traditions.
• Knowledge of current trends and challenges in ministry and mission within the Church of England and the expectations upon ministers.
• Experience in vocational discernment, mentoring, or leadership formation.
• Proven experience in leadership development, preferably in both parish and wider diocesan or institutional contexts.
• Experience of working with national Church bodies or theological colleges.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organisational skills.
• A track record of working collaboratively across teams and contexts.
• Confidence and wisdom to challenge and encourage candidates appropriately.
• The ability to deliver ‘unexpected news’ well and ensure appropriate pastoral follow-up.
• A passion for growing and sending leaders for the sake of the Gospel and the renewal of the Church.

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 £ 47,500
• Holiday of 5 weeks per year, 3 discretionary days, and bank holidays
• Location : Diocesan Office in Central Birmingham (with opportunity for hybrid working)
• The post is subject to enhanced DBS check with Barred List check, satisfactory references (including commendation from present bishop) and completion of relevant Safeguarding Training
• The role may require weekend and evening availability with an accompanying Time Off In Lieu policy
• It is envisaged that the role will be line managed by the Director of Ministry and will form part of the wider Ministry Team, working collaboratively with the Mission Team as a key member of the diocesan mission and ministry family. The role will also have oversight from the Suffragan Bishop of Aston, who acts as Sponsoring Bishop for those proceeding to national discernment panels. The employer is the Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance (BDBF).

Could this be you?

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the Bishop of Aston, The Rt Revd Esther Prior for further conversation via her EA on 0121 426 0436 or

Closing Date 21st January 2026.

Interviews to be held in Birmingham on 11th February 2026.