Vocations and Development Adviser (FTC)

TN United Kingdom; London; Hybrid; GBP 67,000; Full time

Job summary

An established institution is seeking a Vocations and Development Adviser to support senior clergy appointments. This role offers a unique opportunity to work within a dedicated team, helping to shape the future of leadership within the Church. You will engage with diverse stakeholders, provide coaching, and contribute to the development of effective HR practices. With a commitment to inclusion and excellence, this position promises a rewarding experience in a supportive environment. Join a mission-driven organization that values your contributions and offers flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

30 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Age-related pension contributions

Access to Occupational Health

Employee Assistance Programme

Civil Service Sports & Social Club access

Structured induction programme

Development opportunities including apprenticeships

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent with HR and coaching qualifications.
• Experience in HR policies, frameworks, and coaching.

Responsibilities

• Support Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments in vocational discernment.
• Engage with diocesan stakeholders on appointment processes.

Skills

Outstanding oral and written communication

Public presentation skills

Facilitation and influencing skills

Project management

Coaching and mentoring

Education

Degree level education

Human resources qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

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Vocations and Development Adviser (FTC), London

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Client:

The Church of England

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

328750982703

Job Views:

12

Posted:

29.04.2025

Expiry Date:

13.06.2025

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Job Description:

The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.

We Include. You Belong.

Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.

Living out our values in all that we do, we:

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Act with Integrity

We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you.

About the Department

The Archbishops’ Advisers for Appointments and Vocations team is a key team within the Office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, supporting and advising the Archbishops and the wider Church on the appointments process for senior clergy. The team supports thework of theCrown Nominations Commission in identifying new Diocesan Bishops, those involved in appointing Suffragan Bishops, and the selection panels who nominate new cathedral Deans. The team supports senior clergy in their vocation and discernment, working closely with the Ministry Development team and others to develop and equip a diverse pipeline of candidates for senior roles. The team also helps to ensure that senior clergy are equipped for the Church of England’s missional challenges and for the vital role it plays in the life of the nation.

What you'll be doing

This role provides an excellent opportunity of working in a small, friendly, committed, professional and busy team supporting a complex, detailed and fast-paced portfolio of senior appointments, vocational discernment and associated projects. We work as a close-knit team in beautiful surroundings, part of the Lambeth Palace community and Office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, supporting each other with care, flexibility and good humour.

Main duties and responsibilities

Working alongside the Appointments and Vocations Adviser and others in the team, you will support the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments in:

Vocational discernment and development

• Supporting the engagement with individuals and key stakeholders and networks relevant to, and interested in, the senior appointment process.
• Providing coaching and skills training to individuals or groups to support them in engaging effectively with senior appointment discernment processes, including, but not limited to, courses, webinars, seminars, training sessions and other activity, creating appropriate frameworks for this work.
• Working proactively and collaboratively with others in the team and outside on discernment and development activity, sharing learning and best practice, contributing to its evolution.
• Build networks within the Church to ensure proper signposting of individuals outside of senior appointment discernment processes.

Senior appointments

• Proactively and professionally engaging with diocesan stakeholders on the planning and delivery of appointment processes and associated consultations within dioceses and cathedrals, drafting high-quality, comprehensive reports that sensitively and appropriately articulate and encapsulate the joys and challenges of the mission and ministry of the Church in a given context.
• Supporting the work of appointment panels, professionally and confidently guiding and advising them in their discernment, whilst following agreed policies and procedures. Drafting high-quality role profiles, adverts, candidate briefing packs and other documentation. Coordinating and preparing for, advising on and participating in, longlisting, shortlisting and interview processes.
• Journeying alongside candidates at all stages in the process, making sure they are fully and pastorally supported in their discernment, working with colleagues to provide appropriate feedback and advising on areas of ministerial development.

Other projects

• Using best practice in HR and development to contribute to other projects related to the work of the team, including, but not limited to, policy, frameworks and systems, governance, oversight and communications. Carrying out research, drafting and keeping updated high-quality reports, policy and other papers. Ensuring that the team is at the forefront of the implementation and sharing of best practice, collaborating with key stakeholders, both internal and external.

About You

The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we would particularly welcome applicants from UK Minoritised Ethnicities (UKME)/Global Majority Heritage (GMH) and other under-represented groups.

Education:

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent recent and continuous professional development.
• A human resources and/or coaching qualification commensurate with the scope of the role, with evidence of recent and continuous professional development and demonstrable HR and coaching experience and skills.

Knowledge/Experience:

• Evidence of, and interest in, the development and implementation of effective HR, policies, frameworks and systems, particularly in connection with development, coaching and appointments.
• Commitment to, and a track record of, supporting individual development.
• Experience of, and a passion for, creating tools and other resources to support individuals with their development.
• Significant experience of, and interest in, selection, resourcing and development practice for senior leadership roles gained in an organisation of scale with complex structures.
• Significant experience of, and interest in, the use of selection and development tools and methods (including psychometrics).
• An affinity with, and hands-on experience of, using technology to support and drive best practice in HR and professional development, together with a vision of its potential, and an ability to develop and implement system change.
• Experience of working within, and supporting, governance frameworks.
• Experience of supporting and increasing participation of under-represented groups, including those from UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage backgrounds, or with a disability.

Key Skills:

• Outstanding oral and written communication, public presentation, facilitation and influencing skills, the ability to produce detailed, high quality written reports and policy papers.
• Successful track record of working well with others, both within an organisation and in external networks, with the ability to develop ideas with other people.
• Ability to work both at a strategic and operational level, being comfortable in both and able to move seamlessly between the two.
• Ability to manage a busy workload, be highly organised with the ability to deliver a number of projects at the same time and meet competing deadlines.
• Exceptional attention to detail and consistency.
• Ability to navigate a complex political landscape with professionalism and confidence.
• Ability to discern, encourage and empower gifts in others, including vocations to senior leadership roles in the Church, and associated development activity.
• Excellent planning, organisation and administrative skills, including ability to use IT software ( Microsoft Office and SharePoint) and able to be self-supporting in the planning and organisation of their programme of work.

Personal Attributes:

• Highly resilient with a high level of self-awareness.
• Delivery and stakeholder focused.
• Ability to work effectively and confidently with an intellectually challenging client group.
• A strong empathy and interest in people and effective organisational development and culture.
• A strong understanding of, and empathy with, the mission and ethos of the Church of England and the development and appointments process for senior clergy. Ability to show familiarity with, and be comfortable supporting, different contexts of Church life across the breadth of theological and church traditions.
• Inspiring, enthusiastic, encouraging and supportive to others, both one-to-one and in groups.
• Highly emotionally intelligent.
• A high degree of discretion in handling confidential personal matters and information.
• Highly engaging, with the ability to build effective relationships with people and able to build credibility with senior clergy and staff.
• A demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Circumstances:

• This is a demanding and impactful role that will require the post holder to occasionally work hours outside those prescribed. It will also require frequent travel around the dioceses of the Church of England and occasional evening working.
• The Church’s culture and the appointments processes are deeply intertwined with its theological heritage. The postholder will need to be interested in, sensitive to and sufficiently resilient to work creatively with the language and concepts that emerge from this.
• A human resources (ideally CIPD Level 7) and coaching qualification (ideally ILM Level 7), or equivalent.

All staff working at Lambeth Palace share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture with regard to children and vulnerable adults, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

This role will require a basic DBS.

What we offer

Our benefits include:

• A salary of £66,186 per annum plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of salary
• 30 days annual leave
• Flexible working hours and location, with an expectation of just 1-2 days per week in our office in Westminster.
• Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunity to the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies

We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.

This role will be offered on a Fixed Term basis of 2 years.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 30 June 2024.