Director of Ministry

Introduction

Director of Ministry – Role Description

Purpose of the Role 

The Director of Ministry is a senior leadership role within Church of England Birmingham. The postholder will lead the Ministry Development Team and play a central role in shaping the culture, strategy and systems through which leaders are raised, formed, deployed and sustained across the Diocese.
 
 Working closely with the Bishops, Archdeacons, Director of Mission and other senior leaders, the Director will ensure a coherent and strategic approach to the identification, formation, continuing development and flourishing of licensed, commissioned and authorised ministers — lay and ordained. This work will support the diocesan vision of growing churches at the heart of each community by ensuring that Birmingham has the leaders needed for spiritually alive, missionally confident and growing churches.

As a member of the Bishop’s Staff Team, the Director will contribute to diocesan strategy and culture, participate in key strategic forums, and model prayerful, collaborative leadership. They will also play a vital role in building trust across traditions and contexts within the Diocese.

Supported by national funding to develop a diocesan People Planning Strategy, the Director will help embed a culture that expects growth, calls forth vocation, and releases the gifts of God’s people with confidence. Grounded in Scripture and sustained by prayer, the role will help cultivate leaders who are resilient, pastorally wise and equipped to lead churches in mission across Birmingham’s diverse contexts.

The Director of Ministry will ensure that Church of England Birmingham:

• Raises up the right leaders in the right numbers
• Forms them well for the context and priorities of the Diocese
• Deploys them strategically where they are most needed
• Sustains them in lifelong learning, resilience and fruitful ministry

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership of the Ministry Pipeline 

• Provide strategic leadership across the leadership lifecycle: Discern → Form → Deploy → Sustain → Transition.
• Oversee the diocesan leadership pipeline from initial vocation through to retirement.
• Ensure clarity about the profile of leaders needed for the current mission context.
• Lead the implementation of key elements of the diocesan People Planning Strategy, particularly those relating to leader development and deployment capacity
• Meet with and support the contribution of a number of Bishop’s Advisers who promote specific areas of ministry

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and oversee the Ministry Development Team. This includes oversight of:

• Vocations and discernment (lay and ordained)
• Initial Ministerial Education (IME1 and IME2)
• Reader training and development
• Clergy Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD)
• Ministerial Development Review (MDR)
• Self-Supporting Ministry
• Spirituality, wellbeing and ministerial flourishing
• Authorised and commissioned lay ministries 

• Provide clear vision, leadership and accountability for the Ministry Development Team.
• Line manage team members including supervision, performance and development.
• Foster a collaborative, shared purpose and learning within the team 
• Work in close partnership with the Director of Mission to ensure alignment between mission strategy and leadership formation

Formation and Training Pathways

• Oversee development of formation pathways for lay and ordained leaders.
• Ensure theological robustness and contextual relevance.
• Work with Theological Education institutions and diocesan partners.

Ordained Ministry

• Shape a coherent IME1–IME2 pathway aligned with diocesan mission.
 • Strengthen integration of theological formation, contextual training and ministerial identity.
 • Support training incumbents and pathways into incumbency.

Lay Leadership

• Develop an integrated framework for authorised and commissioned lay ministries.
 • Strengthen pathways for Readers, pastoral leaders and emerging ministries.
 • Support and grow lay leaders who release and multiply local church leadership.

Vocations and Leadership Identification

• Provide strategic oversight of vocations 
• Develop a culture of vocation across the Diocese.
• Strengthen processes for identifying and supporting leaders.
• Address barriers to vocations from under-represented communities 

Deployment and Leadership Capacity

• Work with Bishops and Archdeacons on deployment strategy.
• Support transitions between roles and ministries.

Lifelong Learning and Ministerial Flourishing

• Oversee Ministerial Development Review (MDR), Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD), coaching and mentoring along with spiritual direction and wellbeing support.
• Ensure leaders are sustained in long-term ministry whilst resilience, renewal and spiritual depth are cultivated.

Key Outcomes (First 3–5 Years)

A clear vocational pathway from discernment to senior leadership; a strengthened pipeline of primary leaders; a Ministry Development Team aligned around a coherent approach to discernment, training, deployment and development; integrated training frameworks for lay and ordained leaders; improved strategic deployment; MDR and CMD driving lifelong growth; and a deepened diocesan culture of vocation and leadership development.

Person Specification

Essential

• Committed and prayerful Christian with a deep love for the Church.
• Ordained priest of the Church of England with six or more years’ experience in ordained ministry
• Strong theological grounding.
• Significant leadership experience.
• Proven ability to lead and line manage teams.
• Strategic thinker able to work across complex systems.
• Ability to work across different traditions and church contexts 
• Strong communication and relational skills, with the ability to handle confidential and personal information with sensitivity and discretion 
• A demonstrated passion and experience for clergy and lay leadership development
• Able to work flexible hours, including regular evening and weekend commitments
• Works effectively across a wide range of church traditions and ministry styles

Desirable 

• Training/Teacher qualification, or relevant experience 
• Experience of IME1/IME2 leadership and oversight
• Experience of clergy deployment processes.
• Experience in urban or intercultural ministry.
• Postgraduate qualifications in (i) theology and ministry and/or (ii) adult education.

The Director of Ministry will be supported to pursue opportunities to further professional development and spiritual formation through conversation with the Bishop of Aston. 

Terms and Conditions

• Line Manager: The Bishop of Aston
• Location: Diocesan Offices, Birmingham (with hybrid working available)
• Salary: £56,779 per annum, with membership of the Clergy Pension Scheme
• Hours: Full-time
• Holiday: 5 weeks + Bank Holidays + 3 Diocesan Days
• Contract: Permanent (subject to 6-month probation)
• Occupational Requirement: The post has a genuine occupational requirement to be a practicing Christian in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
• The postholder will be licenced by The Bishop of Birmingham

Closing Date for Applications: 27th May 2026

Interview Date: 9th June 2026

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where all can be themselves and bring their unique identity to their ministry and/or work.

We welcome applications from any individuals who feel that they meet the person specification for any post, in particular from those who are currently under-represented in our staff teams such as those from Global Majority Heritage or UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds, those with visible or invisible disabilities and those who identify as LGBTQI+.

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment. All appointments to roles undertaking regulated activity are subject to pre-appointment checks, including references and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check complete with barred list.