Vocations and Development Adviser

This role offers a unique opportunity to engage with the mission and ministry of the Church of England in a wide range of contexts across the country. Through regular engagement with dioceses, cathedrals and other ministry settings, the postholder will build relationships across the breadth of the Church while contributing to the discernment, development and support of future senior leaders.

The role combines significant responsibility for supporting senior appointments processes with a particular focus on vocational discernment, leadership development and the pastoral accompaniment of those discerning God's call to senior leadership within the Church. The postholder will support individuals as they seek to recognise and respond faithfully to that call.

The postholder will provide professional advice and support to bishops, appointment bodies and candidates, helping to identify and develop future senior leaders whilst contributing to the continuous improvement of discernment and appointments practice across the Church. The postholder will work with a high degree of autonomy, exercising sound judgement in complex and sensitive situations, building trusted relationships with senior clergy and stakeholders across the Church, and helping to shape and deliver appointments, discernment and development activity.

The balance of responsibilities within this role will vary over time according to the demands of the senior appointments programme. The successful delivery of appointments processes is the team's primary responsibility and, during periods of peak activity, this will necessarily take precedence over other areas of work.

As a result, the proportion of time devoted to appointments, vocational discernment, development activity and wider projects will fluctuate. The postholder will therefore need to be comfortable working flexibly, adapting priorities as required and moving confidently between operational delivery and longer-term developmental work.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact stephen.knott@churchofengland.org Interviews will take place in London on Thursday 5th November. For shortlisted candidates, there will be some activities to complete in the week of 26th October. Please note the role is expected to commence in early February 2027.

The closing date is 17th October at 23:55. Working alongside the Appointments and Vocations Adviser and other members of the team, and supporting the Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments, you will: Senior Appointments Proactively and professionally engage with diocesan stakeholders on the planning and delivery of appointment processes and associated consultations within dioceses and cathedrals.

Draft high-quality consultation reports and other documentation that sensitively and accurately articulate the opportunities, challenges and context of a diocese, cathedral or appointment. Support the work of appointment panels, professionally and confidently guiding and advising them in their discernment whilst ensuring compliance with agreed policies, procedures and best practice.

Draft and coordinate high-quality role profiles, adverts, candidate briefing packs and other appointment documentation. Coordinate and prepare for, advise on and participate in all stages of appointment processes. Journey alongside candidates throughout appointment and discernment processes, providing pastoral support as they reflect on vocation, calling and future ministry.

Provide constructive and developmental feedback to candidates and advise on areas for ongoing ministerial development. Build trusted relationships with diocesan bishops and other senior leaders, advising on succession planning, talent identification, vocational discernment and the development of future senior leaders.

Contribute to the continuous review and improvement of appointments policies, frameworks and processes. Vocational discernment and development Advise, guide, prepare and pastorally accompany individuals discerning God's call to senior leadership in the Church. Support the identification and development of a diverse and sustainable pipeline of leaders for the Church's future, ensuring that considerations of belonging, inclusion and equity are embedded within discernment, development and appointments processes.

Advise bishops and others on clergy who may have a vocation to senior leadership roles, helping to identify strengths, development needs and appropriate next steps. Provide coaching, development opportunities and skills training for those engaging with senior appointment discernment processes, including applications, written submissions, interviews and assessment activities.

Design and deliver courses, webinars, seminars, training sessions and other development activity as appropriate. Build and sustain effective relationships with colleagues across the Ministry Development Team, dioceses and other Church institutions, supporting the effective identification, development and appointment of those called to senior leadership within the Church.

Contribute to leadership development programmes and networks by sharing expertise on senior appointments, discernment processes, vocational pathways, and opportunities for ministry and leadership within the Church. Build and maintain networks across the Church to identify, share and implement good practice in leadership discernment and development, and to facilitate effective signposting and support.

Contribute to the implementation, review and development of the AAAV Vision and Strategy, particularly in relation to leadership development and the diversity of the senior ministry pipeline. Safeguarding, policy and projects Ensure that safeguarding considerations and a healthy safeguarding culture are appropriately embedded within appointments, discernment and development activity.

Act in accordance with safeguarding policies and procedures and escalate concerns appropriately. Use best practice in leadership development, coaching, organisational development and HR to contribute to projects related to the work of the team. Contribute significantly to the development, implementation and review of policies, strategies, frameworks and systems relating to senior appointments, vocation and leadership development.

Undertake research and analysis and draft high-quality reports, guidance, briefing papers and other materials. Contribute to governance, communications and oversight activity connected with the work of the team. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the team remains at the forefront of best practice in appointments, discernment and leadership development.

Contribute flexibly to the wider work of the team as required. 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.

Essential Knowledge and experience Significant experience of a number of relevant areas, including leadership development, vocational discernment, talent identification, recruitment, appointments, organisational development or a related professional discipline. Experience of accompanying and developing individuals through coaching, mentoring, vocational discernment, assessment or other developmental processes.

Experience of advising senior leaders on complex, sensitive or confidential matters. Experience of designing and delivering development interventions, training, coaching, facilitation or learning opportunities. Experience of contributing to the development and implementation of policies, frameworks, systems or organisational improvements.

Experience of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries and building effective professional networks. Experience of identifying, encouraging and supporting individuals from groups currently under-represented in leadership roles. Experience of managing a varied workload and delivering high-quality work in a complex and fast-moving environment.

Skills and abilities Ability to hold high-quality vocational and developmental conversations, helping individuals discern God's call and consider future ministry and leadership responsibilities. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish credibility and build trusted relationships with bishops, senior clergy and other stakeholders.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft high-quality reports, consultation reports, briefing papers and correspondence. Strong facilitation, coaching and influencing skills. Confidence in facilitating discussions, training events, webinars and development activity with both individuals and groups.

Ability to exercise sound judgement, discretion and pastoral sensitivity in complex and sensitive situations. Ability to navigate differing perspectives, priorities and theological viewpoints with confidence and professionalism. Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines without compromising quality.

Ability to work both strategically and operationally, moving comfortably between longer-term development work and immediate operational priorities. Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering work of a consistently high standard. Ability to work independently whilst contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.

Personal attributes Strong emotional intelligence, self-awareness and resilience. A pastoral, encouraging and developmental approach to working with others, particularly those discerning vocation and considering future ministry. Collaborative, relational and generous in working with colleagues and stakeholders. Adaptable and comfortable working in an environment where priorities may shift in response to the demands of the appointments programme.

Curious, reflective and committed to continuous learning and improvement. A demonstrable commitment to belonging, inclusion and the flourishing of under-represented groups. A strong understanding of, and enthusiasm for supporting, the mission and ministry of the Church of England, with particular empathy for accompanying clergy and other leaders as they discern vocation, respond to God's call and develop in ministry.

Comfortable working across the breadth of Church traditions, theological perspectives and ministry contexts. Able to maintain appropriate confidentiality and handle sensitive personal information with discretion and integrity. Desirable Professional qualification in coaching, leadership development, organisational development, human resources or a related discipline.

A good theological understanding of Christian vocation, discernment and leadership within the Church of England. Familiarity with the structures, governance and senior appointments processes of the Church of England. Experience of working within a church, faith-based or values-led organisation. Experience of succession planning, leadership pipeline development or talent management.

Experience of using assessment tools, psychometrics or leadership-development methodologies. Circumstances This is a demanding and impactful role that will require occasional evening working and frequent travel across the dioceses of the Church of England. The postholder should enjoy engaging with the mission and ministry of the Church in a variety of contexts, from urban to rural, across parish, diocesan, cathedral and national church settings.

The balance of responsibilities within the role will vary according to the demands of the senior appointments programme. The postholder must be comfortable adapting priorities and working flexibly in response to changing needs. Much of the role involves accompanying clergy as they seek to discern God's call on their lives and ministries, supporting those navigating significant ministerial decisions, and advising bishops and appointment bodies on matters of vocation and leadership.

The successful candidate will therefore need to be comfortable engaging thoughtfully, empathetically and pastorally with the theological, vocational and ecclesial dimensions of the Church's life and ministry. The Church's culture and appointments processes are closely rooted in its theological heritage. The postholder will need to be interested in, sensitive to and sufficiently resilient to engage thoughtfully with the language, concepts and contexts that arise from this.