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Director of Communities & Partnerships

Vacancy Reference cofe/TP/4186/1307

This Vacancy has been closed.

Number of Positions:
1
Contract Type:
Office Holder
Salary/Stipend:
circa £46, 000
Working Hours:
Full Time
Location:
Canterbury
Closing Date:
01/04/2019
Vacancy Category:
Canterbury
Business Unit:
Executive
Organizational Unit:
Diocesan Employed Posts

Overview

Introduction to Communities and Partnerships

In 2010, Canterbury Diocese created five frameworks, one of which was Communities and Partnerships.  This Framework was formed to address issues within the social justice issues portfolio. In addition, and uniquely to any other diocese, the Diocesan Advisory Committee and the then English Heritage Support Officer were incorporated as part of the new incarnation. This has been a fruitful inclusion as often the starting place when engaging with parishes is what the future missional opportunities for church buildings (churches, parish halls, schools) could be.

 

The Framework’s portfolio

Within the initial Framework portfolio were some areas of work carried over from “Church in Society” which included the rural issues, environment, fair trade, disability, visitor ministry, HIV Aids, Ecumenical, Kent Workplace Chaplaincy, and Critical Incidents Chaplaincy. The portfolio has grown and been influenced  by a number of factors since 2013 which is the introduction and growth of food banks, the introduction of the Church's work with Credit Unions and subsequent Community Hubs, the development of an environment strategy for the diocese, and the work on refugees.   Also, the growth of new projects such as the Green Pilgrimage partnership, Kent God’s Acre, and the wider Church partnerships that the Diocese has developed.

Introduction

This post is open to lay and ordained

Aims and Objectives:

  • To lead and develop the work of Communities and Partnerships Framework, its specialists and constituent groups
  • Promote the social justice and rural agenda within the Diocese, its parishes and communities as integral part of Christian mission and ministry
  • To formulate and foster partnerships with faith and secular organisations including local authorities, national and international organisations who have a common agenda with us
  • To engage with creative and imaginative social action and share of good practice across the Diocese
  • To ensure the Bishop and Senior staff are kept abreast of emerging issues and opportunities
  • The keep abreast of the ecumenical dimension of this agenda for example through the Kent Faith Leaders and Kent Workplace Mission

Main Responsibilities

Main Duties:

  • To develop and deliver strategically the work of the Framework by addressing the social justice and rural needs and projects in the Diocese with parishes and their constituent communities in line with the Diocesan Strategy
  • To develop and review the annual Framework programme and identify delivery of projects, and to set achievable targets
  • To assess needs within the social action and rural agenda and how these can be addressed, usually in liaison with other partnership organisation who may have interest and experience to share  
  • To be discern and be responsive to an evolving agenda, address impact of government policy where appropriate and its effects on local communities and their activities
  • Through the Framework programme to identify skills and staffing to ensure work is completed. To keep this under review in liaison with the Framework Advisory Council and Project Officer Boards/Reference groups
  • Line management of the Framework officers
  • Ensure representation on Boards, Project Boards/reference groups
  • To set and manage the annual Framework budget (£250,000) and project budgets (c. £200,000) with Diocesan Director of Finance, and Framework Chairs
  • Regularly review budget, income and staffing levels.  Many projects are delivered in financial partnerships which come and go.  There will be a need to monitor and explore funding for posts
  • Through record keeping and reporting the Director liaises with external bodies on delivery of projects, and ensures their sustainability and where appropriate their longevity
  • To work with Diocesan, statutory, secular, regional and national bodies on the implementation of activities to address national policies or directives.
  • To liaise and contribute to local, regional and national debate through evidence of work undertaken within the Diocese, statistical information and case studies
  • To present to the Episcopal Steam Team of the Diocese as requested on social justice and rural issues

The Ideal Candidate

  • Theological training and study
  • Post graduate qualification/s
  • Proven ability to deliver effective project outcomes
  • High level of social skills.
  • Managing and oversight of members of staff
  • Experience of managing budgets
  • Experience of working with parishes, deaneries, those from other sectors from both voluntary and statutory organisations
  • A working knowledge of the Church of England and its mission
  • An openness to work with ecumenical partners, and those of other faiths.
  • To be able to forge and develop projects
  • Excellent organisational skills to manage and prioritise a variety of competing demands
  • Designing and delivering resource events on specific and emerging themes (eg justice forums, consultations, conferences)
  • Excellent IT skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a positive, flexible attitude
  • Financial knowledge of accounts and budgeting
  • Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to develop professional and credible relationships in all aspects of the position that result in stable, consistent, reliable internal and external information flow
  • Ability to work within a restricted budget
  • Ability to work to deadlines, project planning and adjustments if targets are not met
  • Negotiation skills
  • Ability to analyse and problem solve
  • Use of social media
  • Travel within the diocese
  • Weekend and evening working
  • Driving licence or other means of transport is needed
  • Subject to Enhanced DBS check

Full details of the Job and Person Specification are attached.

About us

“I have come that you may have life in all its fullness..” (John’s Gospel 10:10)

The Communities and Partnerships Framework often is perceived as resourcing solely the third Diocesan priority which is the build sustainable communities and partnerships, though ineluctably the Framework does facilitate churches and communities to re-imagine the ministry and mission that they might offer, which then impacts on growth in spirituality and numbers.

The methodology is built upon the practice of the Framework officers through –

Context – in all of the C&P portfolio the context of any piece of work will add variables in how it, particularly communities are organised both socially and structurally in terms of key networks and partnerships.  Therefore in all of our work we look first at what might be termed the DNA of a response to allow and respond to the contextual variables which are vital to the success of any intervention and or, implementation.

Social Investment (Conversations) – The critical ingredient to a successful partnership is trust.  In order to build trust there needs to be social investment in getting to know the partner organisations well, to be well-briefed, to find out areas of commonality, and where our individual weaknesses will be strengthened through our mutual partnership (s). This is evinced through the various committees, project boards, organisations where the Diocese is represented by the Framework.  The benefits of good social investment are a well-developed project or response to an issue, and sometimes bring considerable financial reward.

Research -  in all of the C&P portfolio we begin with researching who are the experts in any field, what work has been modelled in Kent and nationally, what resources are available, what external funds and grants are available,  and who might be the key partnerships, and stakeholders that need to be part of any developmental work.

Resources – the Diocese has a network of buildings (including schools, parish halls, and places of worship) and people which are often the resources that people want when an approach is made by other organisations.  Also, the Framework works internally and externally to secure grants and funding to facilitate the

Advocacy – particularly with regard to social justice issues, it is not about the immediate compassionate response. If as the Church we are truly about transformation and kingdom values, we need to be able to provide evidence and briefings which will effect political change of unjust systems.

Transformation - to identify what are the ways in which any work will bring long term amelioration and positive transformation to an issue or project. Also, to be alert as to the time-frame will it be short, medium or long term to facilitate independence rather than dependence.

Resilience and independence – Through the portfolio how does the work of Communities and Partnerships enable all participants to grow and develop both as individuals and as communities. 

  • To apply please complete the Employee Application form attached.  For further details about the Diocese please see our website www.canterburydiocese.org

Interviews to be held on 8th April 2019

Attached documents: