Essential
Skills/Aptitudes:
- Leads, manages and inspires a team, managing performance effectively, setting clear objectives and expectations, managing competing priorities and balancing different needs.
- Prioritises multiple tasks requiring a wide range of skillsets
- Assimilates and analyse information quickly, identifying issues and priorities.
- Highly developed representational, influencing and communication skillsm both oral and written.
- Strong communication skills and a diplomatic touch are needed.
- Has excellent problem solving skills and the ability to relate effectively to complex situations.
- Works collaboratively across the organisation whilst demonstrating both sound judgement and independence of mind.
- Can think at a conceptual and strategic level.
- Has a high level of IT competence.
Knowledge/Experience:
- An interest in, and understanding of, the Church of England is essential for the success of this role.
- An experienced senior leader.
- A good and practical understanding of financial management, planning and budgeting. The COO does not need to be an accountant but must be able to report with clarity on financial matters.
- The COO will require sufficient gravitas and maturity to offer advice to the Bishop and his senior team. These attributes are likely to have been acquired from a career which incorporates senior experience within the corporate and/or charity sectors.
- Safeguarding is a significant area of the DBFs activity. The role requires an understanding of safeguarding policy and the ability to line manage and support the Head of Safeguarding whilst preserving the independent activities of the team. The COO is a key contributor to the meetings of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Committee.
- The COO must be able to delegate to his/her team, with an understanding of where to take the lead.
- The Diocese is operating in a context of rapid change. The COO needs change management experience with a track record of fostering a culture of ideas and innovation, instilling new thinking amongst colleagues.
Personal Attributes
- A high level of integrity and capacity to inspire trust.
- Confidence and ability in handling sensitive information.
- Resilience and good humour.
- A capacity to be flexible and work under pressure, with good levels of personal organisation and ability to work to deadlines.
- Personal faith or a strong sympathy and understanding of the motivations of people of faith.
Circumstances
- Should be confident travelling alone to a variety of locations often for a very short time.
- Travel to Brussels and to locations within the Diocese is required although in recent years an increasing amount of work has been accomplished through online conferencing.
- Must be able to attend archdeaconry Synods and the diocesan Synod.
- Prepared to adapt the work to match the objectives of reducing the carbon footprint of the diocese.
Desirable Qualities and Experience
- Working with boards of Trustees or other governance bodies either as a member or reporting officer.
- Working in an international context.
- Some experience of technological change.
- Able to create and manage new and changing roles.
- Experienced at forming good relationships with key figures in a church context including clergy and lay leaders.
- Understanding and experience of working with volunteers.
- Ability to present financial information with clarity and authority.
- Some experience of public affairs and communications strategy.
- Some experience of working with funding or delivery partners.
- Understanding of employment regulations or the ability to absorb and implement advice in this area.
Competencies
- People management.
- Personal effectiveness.
- Team working.
- Delivering excellent service to chaplaincies and key stakeholders.
- Creative Problem solving.
- Strategic perspective.
- Delivering results.
- Emotional intelligence.
- Courageous decision maker.
- Strong Communicator.
This role is a full-time permanent role and the contractual hours are 35 hours per week plus one hour per day for lunch. As is usual with senior roles, some additional time will be required to be worked, including some evenings and weekends, as circumstances dictate.
General Conditions
- Required to work in the office in person in London for the majority of the time.
- 30 days holiday plus Bank Holidays.
- Member of the Church Workers Pension Scheme (all contributions paid by the DBF).