Parish general manager jobs

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic safeguarding specialist to be our Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO) to lead safeguarding across the Diocese. Effectively as Head of Safeguarding, this is a senior leadership role with independent authority of the Diocesan Bishop, responsible for the professional oversight of safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. 

The Head of Safeguarding provides expert guidance, manages safeguarding concerns and allegations, and ensures the implementation of national safeguarding standards. You will lead a dedicated team, collaborate with senior clergy and external agencies, and ensure that safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of diocesan life. 

Some of the key responsibilities of the role include:  

Culture, leadership, and Capacity 

• Lead the development and implementation of the diocesan safeguarding strategy. 

• Work closely with the Bishop of Guildford, Cathedral Dean, Diocesan Secretary, and senior clergy to promote a culture of safeguarding excellence. 

• Support the Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP), ensuring effective governance and oversight. 

• Oversee diocesan responses to audits, quality assurance, and Safeguarding Practice Reviews. 

Prevention 

• Implement the Church of England’s Safeguarding Code of Practice across the Diocese. 

• Provide expert safeguarding advice to clergy, parishes, and the Cathedral. 

• Ensure safer recruitment practices are followed across all diocesan bodies. 

• Develop and oversee the diocesan safeguarding training plan in line with the Church of England’s Learning and Development Framework. 

• Ensure training is high-quality, legally compliant, and regularly reviewed. 

Recognise, Assess and Manage Risk 

• Lead and coordinate all safeguarding casework within the Diocese, ensuring that work is completed as required by Church of England Managing Safeguarding Allegations Code of Practice, and statutory guidance and legal responsibilities.

• Participate in Case Management Groups, supporting the chair to ensure proper case management and ensure lessons learned are shared with DSAP. 

• Collaborate with senior leaders to report Serious Safeguarding Incidents to the Charity Commission. 

Victims & Survivors 

• Coordinate responses to disclosures of abuse, ensuring timely and compassionate support. 

• Implement the House of Bishops’ policy on responding well to victims and survivors. 

Learning, Supervision and Support 

• Work collaboratively with the National Safeguarding Team and other Church of England Safeguarding Officers, attending national safeguarding events and activities as required. 

• Engage in continual professional development, including ensuring that the requirements of the National Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework for Diocesan Safeguarding Officers are met. 

General 

• Lead and develop the safeguarding team, fostering a culture of collaboration and reflective practice. 

We are looking someone who has: 

• Proven leadership and strategic planning skills. 

• A professional qualification or equivalent experience (e.g., in social care or criminal justice), with current professional registration where applicable.

• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and best practice. 

• Experience of leading/facilitating/influencing organisational culture change to develop good safeguarding practice and healthy safeguarding cultures.

• Experience in managing complex safeguarding casework and risk assessments. 

• Experience working with victims, survivors, and perpetrators of abuse. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively. 

• Familiarity with Church of England safeguarding frameworks and governance structures. 

• Commitment to the values and mission of the Church of England. 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the Head of Safeguarding 

Benefits of the role include: 

• Competitive salary within the Charity Sector 

• A 10% non-contributory pension 

• Life assurance provision of 3x annual salary 

• 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays 

• An employee assistance programme 

• Learning and development opportunities 

Ready to Apply? 

Submit your CV along with a detailed supporting statement (cover letter), outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. The supporting statement is an essential part of the application process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. 

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with our Safer Recruitment Guidelines. 

The Diocese take our responsibility for the safeguarding of children and adults seriously. Our recruitment processes reflect this commitment. 

We take your privacy seriously. To understand how your personal data will be processed during the recruitment process, please read our Candidate Privacy Notice before applying 

We believe that diversity is a strength. We actively welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those who identify as female, younger, of a UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage, or disabled, as it is essential that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. 

Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date, it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date. 

We are seeking a prayerful and spiritually mature priest to serve as Senior Chaplain to the Bishop of Peterborough. This is a varied and rewarding role, supporting the bishop in her ministry across churches, chaplaincies, schools, and communities. The successful candidate will be theologically able, liturgically sensitive, administratively efficient, and committed to promoting the vision of the diocese.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the bishop in liturgical, missional, and pastoral areas.
• Draft correspondence and respond to emails on behalf of the bishop.
• Represent the bishop at events, meetings, and task groups.
• Maintain and update bishop's guidelines; advise clergy on queries.
• Support health, military, schools, and prison chaplains.
• Prepare briefing papers for the House and College of Bishops and General Synod.
• Build and maintain networks across civic, commercial, and educational sectors.
• Provide pastoral care for clergy and lay leaders.
• Oversee the administration of licences and legal documents.
• Act as a safeguarding liaison and participate in core groups as required.

The post holder is required to have the following to be successful in the role:

• Demonstrates a deep and secure faith with a strong pattern of prayer.
• Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Is liturgically skilled and honours the breadth of traditions in the diocese.
• Offers effective pastoral care with tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Possesses strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Understands Canon Law and Church of England processes.
• Shows good judgment and discernment in pastoral and disciplinary contexts.
• Has a positive, pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
• Enjoys variety and sees this role as a calling to support the mission of the diocese.

Your Salary

• A salary of £34,069 per annum.
• Clergy already in the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (CEFPS) will have the option of either remaining in this scheme or joining the PB14 scheme. In addition to the employer age-related contribution (between 8-15% of salary), the employer also matches the employee contributions in whole percentages up to 3%. Employees enrolled into PB14 will be automatically enrolled to contribute 3% of their pensionable salary. The employee can choose to increase or decrease their contribution at any time

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.

Salary: £19,200 per annum pro rata (£32,000 FTE)
Contract: Permanent, part-time (22.5 hours per week) - working days to be agreed at interview
Location: St Edmund House, Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth, PO1 3QA
Travel: Occasional travel across the Diocese required. Valid driving licence and access to a vehicle essential

About Us:

The Diocese of Portsmouth spans Hampshire, Berkshire, South Oxfordshire, and the Channel Islands. We support 87 parishes and 50 schools, serving over 27,000 practising Catholics and 32,000 children and their families. Our work is meaningful, community-focused, and values-driven.

About the Role:

Are you an experienced and proactive HR professional with a strong understanding of UK employment law and a passion for supporting people? We are seeking a confident and capable HR Advisor to join our Diocese HR Team, providing high-quality advice and guidance to managers and employees across a wide range of HR matters.

This is a pivotal time to join our team as we continue to develop our HR infrastructure and support the implementation of our 10-year Mission Plan. You’ll play a key role in shaping our HR function and contributing to a positive and inclusive working culture.

HR Advisor - Job Description

Advisory

• Provide advice to line managers on employee relations (ER) issues e.g. policies, performance management, end-to-end absence management including return to work meetings, reporting and occupational health referrals etc. Able to resolve complex employee relation issues and conduct investigations where necessary.
• Provide advice to managers across all policy and practice areas, for example on family friendly policies such as maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, carers leave, etc.
• Support the maintenance of existing policy documentation and make changes where applicable
• Proactively take responsibility for the adherence and implementation of HR policies
• Support line managers in the management of employees in probation, and where necessary extension cases
• Support line managers in performance management practices, objective setting and performance improvement plans (PIPs)

HR Analytics

• Report on HR analytics monthly and quarterly for the HR Manager, for example on headcount, sickness, recruitment analytics, staff turnover and remuneration reports.

Benefits and Payroll

• Support the HR Manager with reward strategies and implementation
• Prepare payroll changes each month for HR Manager sign off
• Assist the HR Manager with annual benchmark surveys
• Support the HR Manager in liaison with benefit providers

Talent Acquisition and onboarding

• Work with the HR team for efficient and accurate end-to-end recruitment in all areas across the Diocese.
• Work in liaison with the HR Administrator to coordinate and execute the Diocese recruitment processes to include working with recruitment agencies, posting job adverts, liaising with line managers for shortlisting, offers of employment to suitable candidates, and onboarding.
• Ensuring the new joiner inductions are organised and all documentation has been received and checked.
• In the absence of HR Administrator, produce and issue relevant documentation following promotions, job title changes, salary increases and ensure that HR records are updated accordingly by the HR administrator.

Learning & Development

• Identify learning needs and appropriate methods of meeting needs in the most cost-effective way.
• Support the HR Manager in the delivery of training as required, including annual conferences and line manager training.
• Ensures training requirements are met to fulfil and maintain health and safety requirements such as First Aid and Fire Safety.
• Ensures that refresher training is completed for existing employees in data protection, cyber security, health and safety, and EDI.
• Be a trusted advisor and coach to line managers on people related issues.
• Ensure all documentation is completed by employees who are supported in their further training and education by the Diocese, including a Further Education Support Agreement.

General

• Regular review of data integrity and updates to the HRIS including regular audits.
• Support the HR Manager to drive workforce planning, talent acquisition, and retention strategies
• Deal with queries from the HR inbox to ensure effective and prompt responses
• Involvement in HR projects and new initiatives as required
• Updating of HR intranet pages.
• Contribute to HR-related projects such as organisational change, restructures, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Keep up to date with developments in employment law and HR best practices.
• Support the HR Manager with volunteer management
• Undertake other reasonable tasks as requested by the HR Manager.

HR Advisor - Person Specification

Essential

• Understands the people practices, processes and approaches across the employee lifecycle including for example, recruiting people, conducting learning needs analysis, creating talent pools, developing people policies, analysing people data, managing grievances.
• Able to apply legal knowledge and judgment to people practices
• Able to demonstrate evidence-based practice in decision making
• Proven problem-solving ability
• Understands and interprets data and analytics and its usage, and can measure their impact and value
• Able to explore stakeholder needs and concerns using a range of methods
• Experience of managing change and different approaches
• Understands and can influence the organisation to develop and maintain a positive culture and healthy working environment.
• Able to think in a systemic way to align different elements of the organisations values, culture, structures, people policies and practices to maximise organisational performance
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Proficient in HR systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Minimum CIPD Level 5 qualification

Desirable

• Working towards or holds CIPD Level 7 qualification
• Experience of change management
• Experience of working in the reward arena and adept at data analysis
• Experience in not-for-profit sector or public sector
• Experience supporting organisational change and employee engagement initiatives.

Applicant Information

Employee Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays
• Contributory pension scheme
• Free life assurance
• Employee wellbeing programme

If you are inspired by the idea of working in a values-driven environment where your efforts will have a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability and motivation for applying. 

Closing date: Wednesday 3rd December at 23:59.

Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the advert prior to the deadline.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

We welcome applications from individuals who support the ethos and values of the Catholic Church. The Diocese of Portsmouth is an equal opportunities employer.

Interview Details

You will be notified shortly after the closing date, should we wish to progress your application and invite you to an interview.

Appointment

Any offer of employment to work at the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is conditional upon receipt of two satisfactory employment references, provision of relevant certification of qualifications held, and completion of pre-employment checks.

You must have a valid UK Right to Work, as the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth does not offer UK Visa Sponsorship.

School Governance and Admissions Officer

We wish to appoint a skilled and experienced team member to be the lead officer for school governance and admissions in Church of England schools across the Diocese.  The post holder will work closely with the Director and Deputy Director of Education, schools, governors and senior leadership teams.

Position: School Governance and Admissions Officer

Location: East Sussex/Hybrid

Salary: £30,970 per annum (pro-rata FTE £44,242 pa)

Hours: Part-time, 26.25 hours per week (flexible working)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 27th November 2025

Interview Date: Hove on 15th December 2025

About the Role

The Diocese has 154 schools across Sussex working in partnership with 360 parishes.  The vision for Education is to be “Deeply Christian, serving the common good.” Based at Church House in Hove, the organisations seeks to live out this vision to “Know, love and follow Jesus”. 

The principal duties include:

• Providing advice and support relating to school admissions to headteachers and school governors
• Advising school governing boards and headteachers on issues of compliance and governance, including complaints and disciplinary issues
• Developing and delivering training related to admissions and governance
• Managing the recruitment and appointment process of foundation governors
• Working with the Deputy Director and School Effectiveness Team to address leadership and management issues in schools with the purpose of raising standards and improving outcomes for children

About You

• Be educated to degree level (or equivalent) and with experience of being a school governor, clerk to governors or have other relevant governance experience
• Have up to date knowledge and understanding of education legislation and regulation related to admissions and governance for Church Schools and Multi-Academy Trusts
• Have the ability to plan and deliver high quality training to governors and headteachers
• Be able to establish effective working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including governors, headteachers, academy partners and Local Authority officers
• Be committed and confident in the aims and ethos of the Diocese of Chichester as an outward facing ambassador for the diocesan Education team

For full details of the job please see the job description and person specification when you click to apply.

About the Organisation

The vision of the Diocese is to help people within the Diocese to know, love and follow Jesus. Based in Hove and serving the people of the Diocese across more than 360 parishes and 154 church schools and the wider community, this is a great role for someone who supports the ethos, aims and objectives of the Diocese and the Church of England.

As an employer, and as a Church House team, the mutual values at work are to be Respectful, Professional, Flexible and Supportive.

Benefits include:

• The opportunity to apply to use the DBF’s remote working policy to work from home for part of the week.
• A 0.7 pro-rata entitlement to 28 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays and 2 privilege days per year,
• Flexi-time, free parking, the ride to work scheme
• Membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with a 15.1% employer contribution and an employee contribution between 0-6%
• An employee assistance programme with access to counselling support, GP helpline, financial, legal and care advice and support
• Free eye tests and employer contribution towards glasses
• Free parking, the ride to work scheme and development opportunities

The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment and to comply with the relevant safeguarding policy.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and the post will involve travelling around the Diocese, some evening work and occasional work at weekends.

Other roles you may have experience of could include School Governance Officer, School Admissions Officer, School Governance and Administrations Officer, Teacher, Governor, School Governor, School Admissions, School Governance. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

The Diocese of Guildford is committed to fostering a culture of safety, transparency, and compassion across its churches, Cathedral, and communities. We believe Safeguarding is a shared responsibility and a vital part of our mission to ensure that every person feels safe, valued and supported in their faith journey. 

We are seeking an experienced safeguarding professional to join our team in a unique role that combines casework experience with audit and learning coordination: 

• As a Safeguarding Advisor you will provide expert advice and casework support across the Diocese, ensuring compliance with legislation, national policy and best practice. 

• As an Audit Coordinator you will lead preparations for the INEQE safeguarding audit in March 2027, embedding learning from previous audits and coordinating the Diocese’s response 

We are looking someone who has: 

• Extensive safeguarding experience in a statutory, voluntary or judicial settings.

• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and risk assessment processes.

• Experience in managing complex safeguarding casework. 

• Experience working with victims, survivors, and perpetrators of abuse. 

• Excellent communication and organisational skills 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the Safeguarding Advisor (Audit Coordinator) 

Benefits of the role include: 

• Competitive salary within the Charity Sector 

• A 10% non-contributory pension 

• Life assurance provision of 3x annual salary 

• 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays 

• An employee assistance programme 

• Learning and development opportunities 

Ready to Apply? 

Submit your CV along with a detailed supporting statement (cover letter), outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. The supporting statement is an essential part of the application process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. 

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with our Safer Recruitment Guidelines. 

The Diocese take our responsibility for the safeguarding of children and adults seriously. Our recruitment processes reflect this commitment. 

We take your privacy seriously. To understand how your personal data will be processed during the recruitment process, please read our Candidate Privacy Notice before applying 

We believe that diversity is a strength. We actively welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those who identify as female, younger, of a UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage, or disabled, as it is essential that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. 

Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date, it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.