Project Officer

The Church of England; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The Church of England is seeking a Project Officer on a fixed-term contract until June 2028, based at St James’ House with frequent travel for diocesan meetings. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required, with some work from home by agreement and most staff working from home on Fridays.

You will coordinate leadership training for Larger Single Parishes (LSPs), lead on project workstreams, and support coaching and the delivery of training programmes.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for the delivery of assigned workstreams, projects and initiatives within the Fit for Mission programme.
• Create documentation, reports, guidance and other resources required to support successful delivery.
• Coordinate activity across multiple stakeholders, ensuring actions are progressed and objectives achieved.
• Organise and support meetings, workshops, consultations and events.
• Gather information, undertake reviews and provide recommendations to support decision making and continuous improvement.
• Respond flexibly to emerging project requirements and take on additional responsibilities appropriate to the purpose and grade of the role.
• Source and commission external training providers for clergy and leadership teams (CLTs and LLTs), working closely with the Ministry Learning and Development Lead to shape high-quality provision.
• Ensure training aligns with the priorities set by the LSP Leadership Enabler and the Fit for Mission strategy.
• Coordinate the planning, scheduling, and delivery of training sessions and programmes.
• Gather feedback and monitor the effectiveness of training, adapting provision as required.
• Administer and oversee a process for 1:1 coaching for clergy and leaders.
• Match clergy with appropriate coaches, in consultation with the LSP Leadership Enabler.
• Be a sensitive point of contact, listening to needs and responding with discretion and care.
• Liaise with external coaches to ensure clarity of expectations and smooth delivery.
• Track engagement and outcomes, maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Coordinating the end-to-end delivery of training programmes for LSP clergy and key lay leaders during their change period.
• Liaising with agreed external providers, including contracting, scheduling, and briefing.
• Supporting logistics for training events (venues, materials, communications).
• Administering the LSP clergy coaching scheme, including matching and monitoring.
• Gathering feedback and evaluating impact.
• Maintaining project plans and reporting progress to the LSP Leadership Enabler.

Job description

This post is fixed term until June 2028 and based in St James’ House with frequent meetings in locations across the diocese. Occasional evening and weekend meetings will be required. Some work from home by agreement, with most diocese staff working from home on Fridays.

Purpose of the role:

To support the delivery of the Diocese's Fit for Mission programme through the coordination and delivery of designated workstreams, projects and initiatives.

The postholder will have lead responsibility for coordinating leadership training and coaching provision for Larger Single Parishes (LSPs), whilst also contributing to the delivery of wider programme priorities as they emerge. This may include leading discrete pieces of work, coordinating project activity, improving systems and processes, organising events and consultations, undertaking reviews, producing documentation and resources, and resolving operational issues that support successful programme delivery.

Working closely with the LSP Leadership Enabler and other project stakeholders, the Project Officer will combine strong organisational and project delivery skills with the ability to build relationships, take initiative and respond flexibly to evolving priorities.

Main Responsibilities

Project delivery and workstream leadership

• Take responsibility for the delivery of assigned workstreams, projects and initiatives within the Fit for Mission programme.
• Create documentation, reports, guidance and other resources required to support successful delivery.
• Coordinate activity across multiple stakeholders, ensuring actions are progressed and objectives achieved.
• Organise and support meetings, workshops, consultations and events.
• Gather information, undertake reviews and provide recommendations to support decision making and continuous improvement.
• Respond flexibly to emerging project requirements and take on additional responsibilities appropriate to the purpose and grade of the role.

Training commissioning, sourcing, and delivery

• Source and commission external training providers for clergy and leadership teams (CLTs and LLTs), working closely with the Ministry Learning and Development Lead to shape high-quality provision.
• Ensure training aligns with the priorities set by the LSP Leadership Enabler and the Fit for Mission strategy.
• Coordinate the planning, scheduling, and delivery of training sessions and programmes.
• Gather feedback and monitor the effectiveness of training, adapting provision as required.

Coaching coordination and oversight

• Administer and oversee a process for 1:1 coaching for clergy and leaders.
• Match clergy with appropriate coaches, in consultation with the LSP Leadership Enabler.
• Be a sensitive point of contact, listening to needs and responding with discretion and care.
• Liaise with external coaches to ensure clarity of expectations and smooth delivery.
• Track engagement and outcomes, maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

Anticipated Tasks Include

• Coordinating the end-to-end delivery of training programmes for LSP clergy and key lay leaders during their change period.
• Liaising with agreed external providers, including contracting, scheduling, and briefing.
• Supporting logistics for training events (venues, materials, communications).
• Administering the LSP clergy coaching scheme, including matching and monitoring.
• Gathering feedback and evaluating impact.
• Maintaining project plans and reporting progress to the LSP Leadership Enabler.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION PLEASE SEE ATTACHED RECRUITMENT PACK.