Church Housing Enabler

Introduction

WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUR NEXT CHURCH HOUSING ENABLER

Are you passionate about tackling the housing crisis and supporting communities through meaningful change?

Join the Housing Project, part of the Faith and Public Life team at the Church of England, which leads national work on ethics, public policy, and engagement with government, civil society, and faith communities.

With £4.25 million allocated over five years, the Housing Project supports dioceses and parishes in delivering affordable and specialist housing on underused Church land.

As Church Housing Enabler, you will play a vital role in helping parishes across England develop affordable and specialist housing on underused Church of England land. You’ll work closely with PCCs (Parochial Church Councils), diocesan staff, and external partners to guide projects from initial vision through to delivery readiness.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support parishes across England in developing housing projects from vision to delivery.
• Guide PCCs through governance, feasibility, planning, funding, and sustainability.
• Build partnerships with diocesan teams, housing associations, and local authorities.
• Facilitate workshops and share practical resources to build local capacity.
• Monitor project progress and share best practices across dioceses.

You’ll be hands-on, enabling local churches to navigate complex development processes confidently and connecting them with the right expertise and resources.

This is a unique opportunity to:

✔ Drive social mission through housing
✔ Work at the intersection of faith, policy, and community development
✔ Enable long-term, sustainable change

• This is an office-based hybrid role, and you are required to come to the primary office location, Lambeth Palace/Church House, for face-to-face meetings.
• We are open to discussing alternative working patterns such as part-time or job-share arrangements.
• A basic DBS check will be required as part of our pre-employment checks.
• Willingness to travel to dioceses and parishes across England and to attend the London office as required for collaborative working. This role requires access to a car and a willingness to use it for work.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience in housing development, community engagement, or project management.
• Strong relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to translate strategic goals into practical support.
• Commitment to the Church’s mission and values.
• An interest in the practical and ethical issues around housing and society. 
• A motivated self-starter who can take responsibility without close supervision. 
• Experience working with PCCs, diocesan teams, or in a faith-based context (Desirable).
• Knowledge of affordable housing models, relevant planning considerations and funding routes (Desirable).

• A salary of £48,557 per annum, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.

• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
• We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case-by-case scenario and if this fits within the department’s needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
• We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
• Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK’s leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus-one guest.
• Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Collaborate
• Act with Integrity