Job Title: Diocesan Advisory Committee Secretary Mission and Pastoral Committee Secretary.
Department: Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches
and Mission and Pastoral
Responsible to: The Diocesan Secretary’s Executive Assistant
1.0 Main purpose of job
1.1 To provide professional guidance and administrative support to the Mission and Pastoral Committees, the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches.
1.2 To build and sustain effective and positive relationships with principals and stakeholders involved in the structures and processes.
1.3 To provide guidance, advice and support to parishes, archdeacons and others on the care of church buildings, church contents (including furnishings, fittings, instruments, monuments and memorials), and churchyards (Faculty Jurisdiction) and on aims and procedure of processes of change in pastoral reorganisation (Mission and Pastoral Measure).
2.0 Principal Duties
2.1 Diocesan Advisory Committee
2.1.1 To provide administrative support for servicing the monthly meetings of the Committee and site visits.
2.1.2 To ensure, in consultation with the Chairman, the preparation of minutes of meetings of the Committee and of reports following site visits.
2.1.3 To collate applications from parishes and to work with the diocesan Registry on paperwork relating to the granting of faculties.
2.1.4 To guide and advise the chairman and members of the DAC concerning measures, etc. relating to their responsibilities.
2.1.5 To liaise with the diocesan Registrar, archdeacons, solicitors, parishes and other outside bodies with an interest in church buildings and their environs.
2.1.6 To carry forward the Committee's decisions and to monitor the implementation thereof.
2.1.7 To visit churches and attend meetings with parochial representatives, to provide support and answer questions, to be a source of procedural advice and to offer guidance on sources of technical advice.
2.1.8 To comment on proposals for parishes at an early stage of formation.
2.1.9 To arrange the Architects Study Day, open days and other events arranged by the department from time to time.
2.1.10 To draft new or updated Advice Notes for agreement by the Committee.
2.1.11 To liaise with the Communications Department to ensure that information from outside bodies such as the Church Buildings Council is disseminated to all parishes.
2.1.12 To keep the DAC Chairman briefed on important and relevant matters that may occur between meetings of the committee.
2.1.13 To attend the annual CBC conference, together with the DAC Chairman, to represent the Diocese.
2.2 Pastoral Committees
2.2.1 To provide administrative support for servicing the meetings of the Mission and Pastoral sub committees and for site visits when required.
2.2.2 To draft and publish pastoral proposals for consultation, publish draft schemes (provided by the Church Commissioners), monitor progress and advise the committees accordingly.
2.2.3 To provide reports, brief and advise the chairman and committee members about cases.
2.2.4 To visit PCCs as necessary to provide support and answer questions and to be a source of procedural advice
2.2.5 To liaise with archdeacons, rural deans, central bodies and other departments in Church House on the progress of pastoral proposals as they may affect their work and to be the first port of call to clergy, churchwardens and PCCs on matters relating to parish assets, organisation and structures
2.2.6 To manage, monitor and provide information from the MapInfo system for use by parishes, committees and individual enquirers and to produce and distribute boundary maps as requested by parishes.
2.2.7 To contribute to the workforce planning for the clergy by developing proposals in relation to parish boundaries and implementing changes as agreed by the Committee
2.3 Closed Churches
2.3.1 To work with others, most importantly the Diocesan Property Team, to find suitable alternative uses for churches no longer required for worship and for changes to uses already established and in monitoring covenants imposed on uses and to make recommendations accordingly to committee and to the Church Commissioners.
2.3.2 To liaise with the Diocesan Registrar, archdeacons, solicitors, parishes and other outside bodies with an interest in such buildings and their environs.
2.3.3 To prepare regular reports about churches no longer used for public worship for the Mission and Pastoral Committees and for the Finance Committee as required.
2.3.4 To undertake the role of Diocesan Furnishings Officer with a responsibility to the Diocesan Bishop for the discharge of all statutory duties in connection with the disposal of church furnishings from closed churches.
2.4 Other
2.4.1 To manage and support the Assistant DAC and Mission and Pastoral Secretary and to liaise other staff.
2.4.2 Dealing with website and telephone enquiries.
3.0 General responsibilities
3.1 The post holder will comply with all standards, policies and procedures set by the diocese including, but not limited to, those governing child protection, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality and equal opportunities.
3.2 The post holder is required to:
· support the ethos, aims and objectives of Christianity, the Church of England and the diocese;
· keep up to date with developments in their area of work;
· participate in performance management and appraisal;
· engage in training and continuous professional development activities;
· travel to meetings and site visits within the diocese and occasionally elsewhere.
3.3 The post holder may be required to work outside normal office hours including occasional weekend working, subject to time off in lieu.
3.4 This job description details responsibilities but is not prescriptive and does not direct any particular priorities or amount of time to be spent carrying out the duties. It is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the level and scope of the post. This job description may be subject to amendment, to meet the changing needs of the diocese, following appropriate consultation.
Person specification
Essential
· administrative experience at senior level;
· evidence of clear writing and speaking ability;
· negotiating experience;
· experience of being in an advisory role;
· computer literacy;
· build, manage and maintain constructive and effective relationships with principals and stakeholders in the processes.
Desirable
· educated to degree level or equivalent;
· worked within church environment.
Skills
Essential
· excellent oral and written skills;
· creative problem solving skills;
· good negotiating ability;
· ability to interpret statutes creatively;
· facilitator abilities;
· personnel management.
Personal characteristics
Essential
· personal integrity;
· sense of humour;
· sensitivity to others;
· calm and confident in facing challenging interactions.
Terms & Conditions of Employment
Salary
£35,000
Pension Contributions
The Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) contributes to the Pension Builder
Scheme – Classic (PB Classic) with the Church Workers Pension Scheme operated
by the Church of England Pensions Board. This requires a 6% contribution from the
employee, which is deducted from your net monthly payroll.The Diocese of
Chichester contributes 15.1% of your gross monthly pay towards your pension.
If you are already a member of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme you may opt to
remain in that scheme.
Hours of work
Your normal hours of work are 35 hours per week. Precise hours of work are arranged with your line manager. A minimum half hour and a maximum one hour lunch break must be taken.
Annual Leave
Your holiday entitlement will run from your date of appointment to 31 December and
then from 1 January each year. If your employment starts or finishes part way
through the holiday year, your holiday entitlement during the year shall be calculated
on a pro-rata basis rounded up to the nearest half day. Your holiday entitlement for a
complete year will be 25 days plus 8 bank and public holidays (pro rata for part-time
employees) and two additional days, Maundy Thursday and Christmas Eve. Untaken
holiday entitlement may not be carried forward to the following year.
Notice
Once you have satisfactorily completed your Probationary Period, you or the Chichester Diocesan Fund and Board of Finance are required to give three months’ notice in writing to terminate your employment for any reason other than its expiry or gross misconduct.
Probationary period
There will be a probationary period of six months.
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