Join to apply for the Director of Strategy and Engagement role at The Church of England

About The Church Commissioners

Established in 1948, The Church Commissioners work to support the Church of England’s ministry.

The main aspects of their work include managing the endowment fund, supporting Church-facing commissioner teams, and providing central support and governance.

Managing the endowment fund – The Investments team of c. 85 colleagues manages the Church’s permanent endowment fund. This £11.1 billion fund (as at 31st December 2024) is one of the largest in the country and has its origins in Queen Anne’s Bounty, established in 1704. The fund represents a diverse investments portfolio, managed with a strong focus on responsible and ethical investments that enable the funding support for the Church of England to grow in line with agreed investment return targets.

Church‑Facing Commissioner Teams

• The Church Buildings team of c. 35 colleagues supports dioceses and parishes with the care, conservation and development of historic church buildings, advises on permissions for changes to church buildings and provides guidance on architectural and heritage matters. It helps churches adapt for worship and community use and works with government to advise on policies that affect church buildings.
• The Mission & Pastoral Services team of c. 10 colleagues supports the creation, merger and closure of parishes and benefices. It oversees the adjustment of parish boundaries, supports dioceses on the legal framework for pastoral change, and handles the legal steps when a church building is no longer required for public worship, including finding suitable alternative uses or disposal.
• The Bishoprics & Cathedrals team of c. 40 colleagues advises on the provision of suitable housing and office accommodation for diocesan bishops and archbishops, funding bishops’ working costs, and supporting cathedrals in their governance and sustainability. It also oversees Lambeth Palace Library, the historic library and record office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and the main archive for the documentary history of the Church of England.

Central Support and Governance

• The Commissioners’ Secretariat team supports the Chief Executive, senior trustees and Board in all aspects of their governance.
• The Engagement Manager is responsible for working closely with a wide variety of Commissioners’ teams to help ensure that the Church Commissioners has effective engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• The Strategic Programme management team varies in size depending on the strategic projects currently underway.

Supporting Teams

The Church Commissioners is supported by a number of key enabling teams which are part of the Church of England Central Services (ChECS). This includes Finance, Assurance, Technology, Data, Project Management, Communications and Legal teams. The ChECS team is a c. 150‑colleague force.

About The Department / Role

The Director of Strategy and Engagement has direct responsibility for Central Support and Governance, comprising the Commissioners’ Secretariat (4 colleagues), the Engagement Manager and the Strategic Programme Management team (c. 5 colleagues). Additional Strategic Programme team members may be added as further strategic projects are commissioned.

What You’ll Be Doing

Strategic focus

• Support the Chief Executive and Board with the development, articulation and delivery of the Commissioners’ strategic business plan to enable it to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England, engaging widely and authentically in so doing.
• Act as a close adviser and sounding board for the Chief Executive and leadership team, ensuring the provision of accurate and timely advice, briefings and presentations.
• Assist in developing and delivering plans and projects to give life to the business plan.

Communications and stakeholder engagement

• Advise on and support stakeholder engagement. Develop and implement engagement and communications strategies for key stakeholders and leaders, e.g., bishops, parliamentarians, dioceses and General Synod. This includes major projects and programmes of work and liaison with the Communications team.
• Champion the views of key stakeholders and beneficiaries within the Commissioners, helping to ensure that business plans and projects reflect the perspectives of the wider Church.

Project support

• Manage complex or sensitive strategic projects and issues, thinking through the consequences of those projects, decisions and communications, including considering reputation matters.
• Facilitate the implementation of change plans, working closely with the Commissioners’ leadership team and other NCI executive team colleagues.
• Support the implementation of cross‑NCI programmes from the Commissioners’ perspective.
• Use the Project and Programme Methodology adopted by the Church Commissioners and participate in current project governance structures – working with the PMO to continue to improve this.

Provide Leadership and Support to Project Teams, Including

• The Programme Spire team, which is managing a multi‑year research programme to understand and respond to the charity’s historic links to African chattel enslavement.
• Any changes to the organisational structure for the Church Commissioners, ensuring they are provided with appropriate performance targets and support working closely with the appropriate Finance and People teams.

Leadership and wider context

• Keep up to date with current events, trends and concerns which might affect the work of the Commissioners, NCI and the wider Church.
• Support the wider Church as a senior leader, contributing to the development of the NCI’s. Draw connections between operational activities in different teams, and with other NCI activities where appropriate.

About You

The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we would particularly welcome applicants from UK Minoritised Ethnicities (UKME)/Global Majority Heritage (GMH) and other under‑represented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to recruiting disabled people. We offer interviews to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Please refer to the Job Description for more information about the role and person specification.

What We Offer

Your Salary

• A salary of c. £95,000 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.

Your Benefits

• 30 days annual leave plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro‑rated if working part‑time).
• Flexible working arrangement requests are considered on a case‑by‑case basis to support you and maintain work‑life balance.
• Family Friendly Programme – 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, providing 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.
• Eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in staff networks, groups and societies.

About National Church Institutions

The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation – a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.

We Include. You Belong.

Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways toward our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.

Living out our values in all that we do, we:

• Strive for Excellence.
• Show Compassion.
• Respect others.
• Collaborate.
• Act with Integrity.

We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you.

Please note: You must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for the role.

Location: London, England, United Kingdom