Skills/Aptitudes:
- Strategic thinker & planner: able to grasp the big picture, take a long term as well as short term view, and draw connections across subjects and organisational boundaries. Can think analytically and creatively.
- Effective influencer: able to create acceptance and support for ideas, able to inspire and deliver change across a complex and dispersed organisation, without necessarily having line management control.
- Excellent communicator: able to understand the needs of different audiences and adapt communications to suit; able to listen to and engage with trustees, staff and stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to establish positive working relationships with colleagues and senior stakeholders across the church and with Government. Able to act in a representative / ambassadorial role with senior government ministers and officials.
- Project management skills: able to lead and deliver projects and continuous improvement.
- Inspiring and encouraging team leader. Committed to developing others and growing high performing teams.
- Ability to identify and adapt to changing priorities and work under pressure to achieve deadlines. Proven problem solving and analytical skills.
- Ability to operate rapidly, flexibly, yet thoroughly across a wide range of issues, showing energy, enthusiasm and stamina.
- Excellent IT skills including understanding of the full Microsoft Office suite (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
Knowledge/Experience (essential):
- Evidence of working with boards and staff teams to develop, implement and deliver strategic plans and projects, including monitoring of progress against targets.
- Experience of developing policy supported by suitable strategic analysis.
- Experienced and credible leader, having led organisations and/or large teams, ideally at national level. Experience of delivering culture change in a complex organisation.
- Supporting senor governance bodies, ensuring smooth processes and effective decision making.
Knowledge/Experience (desirable):
- Knowledge/ experience of public policy in relation to historic buildings. Knowledge of heritage management and planning.
- A broad understanding of the work of the Church of England and its national church institutions, its structures, values and ethos. Understand organisational priorities, wider church environment and institutional constraints, and how to translate these into deliverable and sustainable strategies.
- Experience of handling media questions/interviews.
- Experience of writing government-compliant business cases and working directly with government officials.
Personal Attributes:
- Naturally collaborative, enjoys working with others.
- Friendly, approachable and professional.
- Self-motivated and well organised.
- Proactive and positive attitude.
- Impact and a level of personal authority.
- Models the NCI values and challenges inappropriate behaviours effectively.
- Role model for effective change management and successful in encouraging others to implement change well.
- Real commitment to stakeholder engagement and excellent customer service.
- Self-aware, with a high level of emotional intelligence; committed to personal development and seeking feedback on performance.
- A commitment to the Christian faith.
- Passion for the mission aims and ethos of the Church of England.
- Appreciation / Understanding for how church buildings contribute to the worship and mission of the Church of England, their historical and architectural significance, and the challenges faced by the church in their maintenance and in sustaining their contribution to mission and to community life.
Education:
- Degree level, or able to demonstrate experience and skills to an equivalent level (MBA or relevant professional qualification would be desirable but not essential).
We welcome applicants from any Christian background and /or a variety of Christian life experiences including those of longstanding or more recent commitment to their faith. This post carries an Occupational Requirement to be a practising Christian (in accordance with the Equality Act 2010) due to the senior advocacy and representational responsibilities of the role.