The Church of England
Head of Ministry Operations
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Role Purpose
The Head of Ministry Operations ensures that the Ministry Team runs effectively and dynamically in support of our diocesan vision of Growing Churches at the Heart of Every Community by:
- Working under the direction of the Director of Ministry and in partnership with other leaders in the team, so that activities are co-ordinated and well-managed in line with our vision and strategies, especially those around vocations, formation, and leadership development.
- Creating systems to enable our strategy and gain efficiencies, that will set the team up well for the future.
- Praying, listening, and acting as part of the Ministry Development team so that we catalyse formation across Church of England Birmingham (CofEB).
- Managing day-to-day activities, infrastructure, and administrative staff ensuring that all operations are effective and efficient and in line with any set guidance.
Context
CofEB has been given a significant opportunity: to strengthen and renew our leadership pipeline through strategic investment supported by £6 million from the National Church. This isn’t simply about filling vacancies. It is about shaping the future leadership of the Church in Birmingham for the next generation that will enable churches to grow at the heart of each community.
Across our diocese we see extraordinary faithfulness, deep commitment, and real signs of hope. Clergy and lay leaders serve with courage and imagination in complex contexts. Churches are engaging creatively in mission, serving communities under pressure, and seeking to reach younger and more diverse populations with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Yet we also need to be honest about the challenges we face. Many of our current systems for identifying, developing, supporting, and deploying leaders need updating and join up. The scale and pace of cultural change, increasing complexity in parish ministry, clergy wellbeing pressures, and the growing leadership demands of mission all require a more flexible, intentional, and integrated approach.
At the same time, the leadership pipeline is under strain. Nationally, the Church of England is not currently developing enough future leaders to sustain and grow ministry over the coming decades. Birmingham reflects this picture. Even so, numbers are not our primary concern. This is also about ensuring we are recognising those who God is calling with their rich and varied qualities - nurturing leaders with the spiritual depth, resilience, missional imagination, and cultural intelligence needed for the future.
Alongside this, we recognise that leadership in the Church does not yet fully reflect the communities we serve. Birmingham is one of the youngest, most ethnically diverse, and socio-economically varied dioceses in the country. If we are serious about mission, we must become more intentional in identifying and supporting leaders from under-represented groups and ensuring that pathways into leadership are accessible, visible, and sustainable. We recognise that God calls people made in his image, with a rich diversity of gifts, experiences, and needs. Our task as a Ministry Team is not to make people fit our leadership pathways but to generously shape those pathways to be fit for every person God calls.
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Could you join the team and help nurture the future leadership of Church of England Birmingham?
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning: Support the Director of Ministry to refine our strategic thinking and deepen consultation.
- Resource Management: Oversee annual team budget management, resource allocation, and support financial planning, operational services, and IT.
- Compliance & Risk: That directly relates to Ministry specific activity on top of the wider organisation procedures and processes managed by other teams.
- Process Improvement: Review, develop, and implement systems and processes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Ministry team. Support internal and external evaluation of the projects in the Leadership Theme. Support other Heads in stream leading.
- Proactively support the integration of the Ministry team within the wider processes and teams of CofEB seeking to collaborate wherever possible.
- Line management of operational staff serving the Ministry Development Team and where needed, lead teams for specific projects, fostering a prayerful and positive culture with high standards for caring for all whom we serve.
Key Relationships
As well as the Ministry Team, the role needs to be able to work closely and effectively with Bishops, Archdeacons, Project Management Office, and the Mission team to execute effectively.
Prayer and Team Life
- Participate fully in the prayer and shared life of the Ministry Team and wider CofEB staff team.
- Model a collaborative, hopeful, and servant-hearted approach to ministry.
- Engage in ongoing Christian discipleship, professional, theological, and personal development.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Qualifications/Knowledge and Experience
- Anchored in Scripture, prayer, worship, mission, and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit.
- Experience of leading change.
- Good strategic understanding and vision for effective execution.
- Ethos of attentive listening to people and to God in a way which informs strategy.
- Good manager of operational staff (prioritisation, task allocation, managing performance, eye for detail).
- Works well in a team.
- Good negotiation and problem-solving skills.
- Strong organisational and planning experience.
- Experience in a similar operational role, including team management.
- Translate vision into priorities and action.
- Lead collaboratively with clarity, kindness, and courage.
- Humble, resilient, emotionally mature, and self-aware.
- Build trust and inspire confidence.
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There is a Genuine Occupational Requirement, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, that the postholder is a practising and committed Christian with a love for the Church.
Desirable
- Good understanding of Church of England parish life and ministry.
- Training / qualification in change management or project management.
- Experience of working within the Church of England or wider charity sector.
- Prioritising and going the extra mile to enable individual vocations.
- The capacity to identify, develop, and release gifts and leadership in others to share ownership of and realise the vision.
We are very open to applications from either lay or ordained. The role could suit someone with third sector, public, or commercial operational experience but with an ability to appreciate the different characteristics of a church organisation.
Terms & Conditions
- Salary and Pension: £42,000 per annum, plus membership of the Church Workers Pension Scheme.
- Contract: 5 year Fixed-term appointment funded through the Diocesan Investment Programme.
- Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week.
- Holidays: Five weeks annual leave, plus Bank Holidays and discretionary days.
- Responsible to: Director of Ministry.
- Closing date for applications: 7th September.
- Interviews (to be held in person): 2nd October.
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 they meet the person specification for this post, particularly those who are currently under-represented within our staff teams, including people from Global Majority Heritage and UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds, those with visible or invisible disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQI+.
We offer a range of inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and wellbeing support for our staff teams.
The Church of England Birmingham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All postholders are expected to share this commitment.
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