Job Description

Post: / Strategic Programme Manager
The Aim of the Diocese: / To resource and encourage confident Christian communities which express joyful hope in the Gospel for the sake of the world which they serve
Key Purpose of the Post: / To promote the overall diocesan vision and oversee the implementation of the Diocesan Strategy and programme managetheagreed project priorities
Location: / The Old Deanery
Reporting to: / The Diocesan Secretary
Accountable to: / The Bishop of Bath and Wells
Hours of work: / Full Time
Key Relationships: / Bishop’s Staff
Staff of the diocesan office
Rural Deans and Lay Chairs
Clergy and lay leaders

Context and purpose

As a diocese we are seeking to live out our calling as followers of Christ and to discern together what God is calling us to be and to become. Our newdiocesan vision and strategy needs to be central to the way we work and determinethe priorities and the agenda for the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The Diocesan Strategy has three priorities: to put mission and evangelism at the heart of all that we do; to resource ministry for mission; to identify and develop the gifts of all our people. These overarching priorities are being worked out in a number of different initiatives.

Prayer is central to strategy and we have undertaken a period of prayer, conversation and planning in order to renew our own spiritual lives, to bring about spiritual and numerical growth within our parishes and a fresh engagement with the communities that they serve. We are developing a number of key strategic initiatives and are making some significant investments to support our vision.

Our priorities emerged from extensive consultation across the diocese and were agreed by Diocesan Synod in March 2016. We seek a Strategic Programme Manager to implement the strategy which will requireextensive engagement with parishes, deaneries, schools and chaplaincies. Effective planning, monitoring, evaluation, engagement and communication are therefore vital requirements of this role. We also recognise that we are initiating a significant culture change for our diocese and so clear and supportive change management will be required.

This is a new post which has been created to support the Bishop and the senior leadership team in the diocese in delivering the strategy. This is a great opportunity for someone with the relevant experience to be involved in taking a diocese through a period of significant change and to support the delivery of our strategy, which wepray will bring people of all ages to a living faith in Christ anddeepen and strengthen our mission and ministry for future years.

Key Responsibilities of the Role

The essence of this new role is to promote and sustain the vision, serving the churches, communities and chaplaincies of the diocese by living out the values and spirit of the Christian faith. The person will programme manage the implementation of the vision for a diocese of 465 parishes, alongside numerous sector based ministries and a declared adult membership of 22,000 all serving a population of 930,000 people.

The role holder will be a member of Bishop’s Staff and will work closely with colleagues to ensure that we successfully deliver our strategy and ensure that we focus our resources on essential strategic activities. A strategy is a way of life. It is the means by which our resources can be deployed more effectively to achieve our vision. It enables us to become more intentional, more resolute, more focused, more determined and more missional in what we do.

The role holder will liaise across the diocese, especially with the archdeacons, rural deans, lay chairs and team leaders from the diocesan central team. They will be expected to act as a ‘catalyst’ for new thinking and to help the diocese in the task of re-imagining ministry to facilitate growth, discipleship and evangelism.

Strategy Implementation

  • Supporting Bishop’s Staff inthe development of a programme of plans and goals to further the strategic priorities which can be implementedto progress and deliver our Vision; providing guidance and support to ensure that they start well and make progress
  • Proactively managing the strategic plan to ensure that it is flexible and able to respond and react to new opportunities
  • Working in partnership with the archdeacons, rural deans and lay chairs to facilitate collaborative working across the 19 deaneries and three archdeaconries to ensure that plans are integrated and implemented
  • Developing networks which provide support and exchange of good practice.

Culture, Context and Communication

  • Developing a culture which develops and strengthens relationships, enables change and facilitates growth
  • Leading an ongoing programme of engagement across the diocese, through providing guidance and support to Bishop’s Council, Diocesan Synod, deaneries and parishes
  • Working closely with diocesan communications staff in order to ensure that the vision and strategy are embedded across the Diocese andpeople are prayerfully aware and supportive of the strategy
  • Supporting the bishops and senior staff in the communication and implementation of the vision
  • Supporting the rural deans and lay chairs in the development, communication and implementation of deanery plans

Financial and Resource Allocation

  • Supporting and advising on the allocation of resources including the deployment of people in order to deliver our strategic goals
  • Supporting the production of funding applications to the Church Commissioners and other bodies for grant funding

Reporting and Measurement

  • Analysing key data to monitor the delivery of a growth strategy and to give key insights and recommendations for change
  • Embedding a reporting framework across the diocese to enable monitoring of progress and challenging of momentum. This will include highlighting areas for celebration and areas of concern/risk on a regular basis to the Bishop’s Staff and suggesting where action is needed to progress issues
  • Developing performance and impact measurement tools to develop understanding, provide motivation and follow up
  • Carrying out other duties that are commensurate with the role which the Bishop may require

The employer for this role will be the Bath and Wells Diocesan Board of Finance which exists to support the work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

Person Specification

Key Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience /
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent
  • Experience of strategic planning and organisational change
  • Experience in managing and leading programmes on a large scale across diverse groups of people
  • Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with colleagues, as groups and on an individual basis
  • A communicant member of the Church of England or one of its ecumenical partners
/
  • Knowledge and understanding of the structure of the Church of England
  • Understanding of the key issues facing the Church of England

Skills & Abilities /
  • Ability to think strategically and pragmatically
  • Proven ability to produce tangible plans and results on time and to budget
  • Ability to build relationships and trust and lead by example
  • Proven ability to work with and influence senior leaders
  • Strong organisational skills developed in programme management roles
  • Administratively able with good and effective working knowledge of IT
  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – both oral and written
  • Ability to tailor words and pictures to different audiences
/
  • Skills in marketing
  • Demonstrable ability to form effective working relationships with a diverse range of people and organisations
  • Able to tailor the application of different disciplines – project management, engagement programmes - to the decentralised church culture

Work related personal qualities /
  • A passionfor the gospel and the wellbeing, growth and impact of the church
  • Able to build on ideas and gain consensus
  • Willing and persistent to challenge the status quo
  • Able to inspire and influence change at all levels - generating momentum and making things happen
  • Ability to travel around the diocese

We are seeking a person who shares our values and, whilst not necessarily an Anglican, is a practising Christian. As a result, this post is subject to an occupational requirement that the holder be a practising Christian under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.

Main Terms and Conditions

Term of Contract / This is a fixed term contract for an initial 3 yearsas part of a time limited project and will be reviewed during the third year.
Hours of Work / Core office hours are 9am until 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 5pm on Fridays with a lunch break taken as appropriate.
However, the nature of the role is such that the appointee will be expected to work such hours as are necessary for the effective performance of the job including attendance at some evening and weekend meetings.
Salary / £47,000 - £52,000 per annum
Location / The Old Deanery, Wells; although travel around the diocese will be required.
Pension / Pension Scheme administered by the Church of England Pensions Board. The employer will contribute 10% of the employee’s pensionable salary and the employee may choose to make an additional voluntary contribution of any proportion of their pensionable salary. Where the appointee is ordained, access will be provided to the Clergy Pension Scheme administered by the Church of England Pensions Board.
Holiday / 25 days per calendar year plus bank holidays pro rata. The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December. Additional discretionary days are given at Christmas and Easter.
Expenses / All reasonable working expenses will be met at the agreed Diocesan rates.
Probation / This post will be subject to a six month probationary period.
Notice Period / The appointment may be terminated by either party by three months’ notice

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