Strategic Operations Lead — Support Services & Sustainability

Church of England; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Church of England is seeking a senior leader to establish and sustain Support Services across Large Single Parishes. You will provide strategic direction, hands-on operational leadership, and ensure systems, processes and ways of working are effective and sustainable.

You will build relationships with church leaders and local teams, oversee managers, coordinate outsourced work, and guide the programme to progress across dioceses, ensuring consistency, compliance and delivery of priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction, operational leadership, prioritisation, and oversight for the work of the Support Services function.
• Coordinate Support Services activity, ensuring the operational systems and specialist Fit for Mission Officer’s input work effectively together
• Line manage Operations Development Project Officer, providing support, clarity, and development
• Line manage Churchwardens Support Officer and other relevant roles as required
• Manage outsourced work and contractor relationships
• Ensure delivery across all LSPs remains on track and aligned to programme priorities
• Lead engagement with church leaders and local teams to understand local operational and administrative needs, identify gaps and risks, and facilitate decisions on Support Services models
• Enable the change team to move from discussion to clear, practical, agreed approaches
• Act as the primary relationship lead for Support Services Managers and support them to build confidence and capability in managing their teams and leading effective administrative and operational services
• Provide support and constructive challenge to help managers address difficulties and develop their leadership
• Support the most complex or sensitive situations and escalate as required
• Maintain oversight of whether Support Services are functioning across key operational areas and moving towards sustainability
• Provide assurance to the Senior Project Manager on progress and readiness for close out
• Supporting programme reporting and escalation
• Leading on continuous improvement of the approach
• FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION PLEASE SEE ATTACHED RECRUITMENT PACK.

Job description

Church of England is seeking a senior leader to establish and sustain Support Services across Large Single Parishes. You will provide strategic direction, hands-on operational leadership, and ensure systems, processes and ways of working are effective and sustainable.

You will build relationships with church leaders and local teams, oversee managers, coordinate outsourced work, and guide the programme to progress across dioceses, ensuring consistency, compliance and delivery of priorities.