Assistant Diocesan Secretary
Based at the Diocesan Office, Rochester (with travel across the Diocese)
Full time (35hrs) | Salary from: £66,485
Are you an experienced senior leader who thrives in complex organisations and enjoys bringing clarity, coordination, and strategic oversight to challenging programmes of work?
The Diocese of Rochester is seeking an Assistant Diocesan Secretary to work closely with the Diocesan Secretary at a significant moment of transformation. Following successful investment through the Diocesan Investment Plan, the Diocese is delivering an ambitious programme of work to support the Called Together vision and strategy.
This is a key leadership role providing oversight of governance, risk, and organisational coordination, ensuring the effective delivery of strategic priorities across the Diocese.
About the Role
You will play a central role in supporting the Diocesan Secretary and senior colleagues in managing governance, risk, and organisational capacity. Your key responsibilities will include:
· Overseeing governance planning, ensuring effective scheduling and coordination of diocesan committees and boards
· Monitoring implementation of actions arising from governance bodies to support organisational delivery
· Leading on the maintenance and monitoring of the diocesan risk register
· Supporting the Diocesan Secretary in responding to national policy developments affecting diocesan functions
· Helping manage internal capacity and performance monitoring as programme activity expands
· Supporting preparation for General Synod and Bishops Council, including planning and correspondence
· Advising colleagues on responding to emerging national policy developments
· Representing the Diocesan Secretary in internal and external meetings when required
· Line managing the Head of Property and overseeing the work of the DAC, Surveyors, and Net Zero teams
About You
We’re looking for someone who:
· Has proven experience in a senior management role, ideally within a charity or values-led organisation
· Has strong governance, risk management, and organisational oversight skills
· Is highly organised and able to manage complex priorities and competing demands
· Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills and can work effectively across teams
· Is resilient, discreet, and able to approach challenges with a solution-focused mindset
· Understands and supports the aims and ethos of the Church of England
It would also be helpful if you:
· Have experience working within the Church of England or a similarly complex organisation
· Are familiar with General Synod, Bishops Council, or equivalent governance structures
· Have experience supporting senior executives or board-level leadership
What we can offer:
• Flexible working and TOIL
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and counselling service
The Diocese is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
The wider a group’s diversity, the smarter, wiser, and more compassionate and creative its decision making becomes.
We are committed to achieving diversity throughout our Diocese by seeking UKME/GMH colleagues and those from a wide range of backgrounds, to help us create a culture of inclusion and belonging.
Closing date for applications: 26 April 2026
Interviews will be held on: TBC
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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We are looking for a thoughtful, resilient, and effective person to lead on both the delivery of SPRING that City of Sanctuary Sheffield is responsible for, and the advocacy associated with that work.
You will ensure that the SPRING is accessible, trauma-informed, and impactful for the community of new refugees accessing the service.
You will also make sure that systemic issues faced by the community accessing SPRING are chronicled and highlighted, and that we take collective steps to bring about positive change.
We particularly welcome applications from people who have personal experience of the asylum system and migration. To support all applicants, a preparation session will be offered by the New Beginnings team at Voluntary Action Sheffield.
To Apply
To apply, please submit the following:
1. A covering letter (no more than 2 pages long). In this letter:
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Say why you are applying for the job.
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Tell us how you meet the job requirements detailed in the person specification. Give practical examples of what you have done that meets the requirements.
2. A brief summary of the work and volunteering you have done or a short CV.
3. Name, phone number, and email addresses of two references, at least one of whom can comment on recent work or volunteer experience.
A free preparation session will be run by the New Beginnings team at Voluntary Action Sheffield. This will be open to anyone applying for the role to learn a bit more about the job and get support with their application. This session will take place on Thursday 2nd April at 4pm at The Sanctuary.Please contact Blessan at City of Sanctuary Sheffield if you have any questions about attending this session.
Closing date for applications is 15th April at 11:30pm
Interviews will be held on the week commencing 11th May and/or the week commencing 18th May
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.