Summary
We are looking for a
Deputy Theological Adviser to join the Theology team here at the NCIs.
About the Department/RoleThe Theology team is part of Faith and Public Life (FPL), which leads the church's national work on ethics, public policy and relationships beyond the Church of England. This includes government and Parliament, civil society, other Christian churches, and other faiths. The Theology team works alongside the Parliamentary and Public Policy teams, staff covering Anglican Communion affairs, colleagues focused on ecumenical relations, a team supporting inter-religious affairs, and a number of project teams working on issues in social impact investment. There is a strong collaborative working culture across the whole team.
What you'll be doingThe Deputy Theological Adviser will be a key member of the Theology Team, working with the Secretary for Theology and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops to support a major national advisory committee, to provide high-level theological advice to the national Church, and to contribute to other areas of the work of FPL.
You will work collaboratively with the National Theological Adviser to offer high quality theological advice to the bodies that serve the Church of England, the House and College of Bishops, the Archbishops' Council, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the National Church Institutions. You will have particular areas of responsibility, as outlined below which may be subject to change from time to time and by negotiation with the Secretary for Theology.
As part of the Theology team, you will offer a key point of contact for bishops and other stakeholders seeking theological wisdom by drawing in the theological expertise of other staff, committee members, and wider supporters. As an officer of the national church, you will be alert to the range of theological traditions within Anglicanism, able to build trust across that spectrum, and represent the breadth of Anglican theology accurately and fairly in your advice, writing, and speaking.
The main duties and responsibilities in this role include:
- Contribute to the Theology Team's work with the National Ecumenical Adviser and the Council for Christian Unity, with the Liturgical Commission, and with other staff who contribute theologically to the National Church Institution.
- To work with the Secretary for Theology to support the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC), which exists 'to act as a theological and ecclesiological resource for the Church of England's' work.
- To partner with the Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops to provide high level theological advice to the House and College of Bishops.
- To support the Theological Adviser to provide high level theological advice and facilitation to relevant national Church projects and initiatives. At the present time, this is likely to include some support for the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) project and to good communication between FAOC and the various groups tasked with taking LLF forward.
Key role requirements:- The job is based in Central London and requires regular and frequent physical presence at Church House and Lambeth Palace, though with the willingness to be away from home overnight at times, including some weekends. Working from home, and from other locations, where possible and desired, can be part of a flexible arrangement, although team membership and leadership require a regular face to face presence.
- This post carries an occupational requirement to be a Christian (in accordance with the Equality Act 2010).
- For an informal conversation about the role, please contact:
About YouThe 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.
To be successful in this role, you will have/be:
- Proven ability to think and write clearly, analytically, strategically and creatively on complex issues, in different registers and for different audiences.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and oral presentational ability, as evidenced by previous experience in representation and negotiation.
- Practical, demonstrable experience of successfully managing complex and varied workstreams.
- Broad and deep knowledge of Anglican theology and ecclesiology which will be recognised as carrying authority in church and academic circles. This will normally be evidenced by a doctoral degree or equivalent in theology or an area related to theology.
- A communicant member of the Church of England - this post is subject to an occupational requirement that the holder be a communicant Anglican under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.
Please refer to the Job Description for more information about the role and person specification. What we offerYour Salary
- A salary of £46,577 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.
Your Benefits
- 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.
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.
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