Job Description

Job Title: Senior Administrator

Rate of Pay:£19,565 per annum

Hours: 35 hours p/w

Contract Type: Fixed Term (18 months contract with the expectation of extension)

Responsible to: Area Dean (assisted by Mission Partnership Clergy & Fit for Mission Deanery Lead)

Location: St Paul’s Office, Blackley, Manchester.

The North Manchester Deanery is a group of Anglican churches which are part of the Manchester Diocese. Earlier this year the Deanery was selected to be a Pilot Deanery for the Fit for Mission project. This project is primarily about finding innovative ways for churches to work together in mission and managing our resources well to enable the flourishing of all our churches and communities.

The Victoria Avenue Mission Partnership (VAMP) is a group of Anglican churches in North Manchester situated close to Victoria Avenue in Blackley. These are:

  • St Peter’s Church – Blackley Village
  • St Paul’s Church – Blackley
  • St Andrew’s Church – Crab Village and Higher Blackley
  • St Mary’s Church – Moston
  • St Chad’s Church – New Moston

These churches are currently served by two full time members of clergy (with responsibility for St Peter’s, St Paul’s and St Andrew’s) and three part-time members of clergy as well as a number of lay leaders (ordinands, ALMs, wardens and readers) and two retired members of clergy. There is also a hope to appoint another full-time member of clergy in the near future (with responsibility for St Mary’s and St Chad’s).

We are seeking to appoint a senior administrator to work in a split role. Half of the role specifically relates to the administration, coordination and communication for the Fit for Mission project across North Manchester. The second half of the role relates to the administration for VAMP (the mission partnership described above) to oversee and ensure the smooth running of the administration of all activities and processes. The applicant will also be the first point of contact for enquiries from the congregations and the communities they serve.

The successful applicant will be an effective administrator with excellent organisation skills. They will be able to work unsupervised and will be able to work well with competing deadlines. Whilst having a Christian faith is not essential to the role, the successful applicant will be sympathetic to the Christian faith and will work within the values and ethos of the Mission Partnership and wider Deanery. Due to the nature and context of the role, it will be highly likely that the post holder will come into contact with people who are vulnerable or are in distress it is therefore essential that the post holder is able to deal with any enquiries sensitively and with compassion.

Key Working Relationships

  • Area Dean
  • Ministry team and congregations of the VAMP churches
  • Incumbents and other deanery staff and officers
  • Church Wardens and PCCs across the deanery
  • Local community partners (agencies and individuals)
  • Relevant diocesan staff including the Project Manager and Mission Action Planning Officer
  • Other relevant networks

Main tasks, duties and responsibilities

1)Communications

a)Maintain a broad general knowledge and understanding of the Fit for Mission project, aims and objectives of the deanery plan, church and mission partnership activities, individuals, and current events, so that the office can support the Church in its missionand the wider Deanery in its project.

b)Manage all mission partnershipand deanery correspondence, including post, telephone and e-mail;

c)Assist in the production of the weekly newsletters for the mission partnership

d)Co-ordinate occasional deanery, parish and mission partnership mailings, both paper and electronic;

e)Administering the database of personal information on Church Suite;

f)Act as first point of contact for all enquiries whether by phone, post, e-mail etc; ensuring they are dealt with politely and professionally and followed up by appropriate action;

2)Administrative Support for Worship, Projects, Events & Occasional Offices

a)Provide administrative assistance to the clergy, staff and worship teams within the mission partnership.

b)Assist in the production of published literature

c)Assist in the co-ordination the maintenance of rotas for worship – liaising with staff and volunteers

d)Provide administrative support to the Rector and clergy team for all matters relating to meetings, banns certificates, baptisms, funerals and weddings including dealing with enquiries, communication with undertakers, bookings, and expenses, etc.

e)Co-ordinate production of documents forall meetings including

  1. Identifying contributions required,
  2. Calling for copy and following up
  3. Compiling and editing final documents – minutes, agenda etc.
  4. Provide occasional cover for clerking of meetings

3)Office Management and General Administrative Services

  1. Administer the church diary via Church Suite and the Deanery diary
  2. Arrange appointments and set up meetings when requested;
  3. Oversee the return of statutory documents, including returns, registers, certificates and applications and ensuring that church records are kept up to date
  4. Coordinate the ordering of supplies for church ministry including stationery, communion supplies, coffee/tea etc;
  5. Oversee the maintenance of equipment in the Parish Office and comply with any maintenance and service contracts held by the parish;
  6. Oversee the purchase of office equipment;
  7. Review and implement procedures to ensure clear, efficient and effective office operation;

4)Project Support & Fundraising

a)Have an understanding overall vision and strategic objectives of the deanery, mission partnership and individual parishes

b)Support the team in new project implementation

c)Understand the finance requirements for each of the mission projects and assist in the identification of funding stream and completion of bids

This list of responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive and is subject to review in consultation with the Rector and Deanery Synod.

Person Specification

Requirement / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications
GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English (or equivalent qualifications or experience) /
Administration or customer service qualification (or equivalent recent experience) /
Experience
Experience of working or volunteering in a church or voluntary sector setting /
Recent experience of working in a busy office environment /
Assisting with writing of funding applications /
Evidence of ability tolead projects and to work with minimal supervision /
Knowledge
Maintaining confidentiality and data protection /
Good working knowledge of all Microsoft Office products /
Experience of the maintenance of client records /
Understanding of the working of the Church of England and its structures /
Maintaining efficient administrative systems /
Understanding of the needs of enquirers and deal tactfully and sensitively with concerns /
Understanding of how to access streams of funding and how to write bids /
Skills
Basic IT skills /
Excellent interpersonal skills /
Team Player /
Prioritise own workload /
Willingness to learn new skills /

Appointment to this post is subject to successful interview, references and DBS check. Please submit an up to date CV along with a personal statement responding to the requirements within the person specification. Send to: -

Rev Eddie Roberts, 14 Hill Lane, Blackley, ManchesterM9 6PE, E: