Salary: £35,412.95
Salary Band: L
Hours: 37 hours per week (1 FTE)
Contract: Permanent, full time
Location: Church House Oxford, Langford Locks, Kidlington, OX5 1GF
About the role:
The Oxford Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) is currently seeking a Church Buildings Officer to help support the long-term sustainable future of the historic church buildings across the diocese and assist individual congregations to care for them and adapt them for today’s needs. Working within the Church Buildings Team, the Church Buildings Officer will be responsible for:
- managing, processing, and assisting with DAC casework (including formal DAC site visits), providing pre-application advice, project management support, and managing the consultation processes with amenity societies;
- making recommendations to the DAC committee as necessary and utilising delegated authority to progress cases outside of the committee structure;
- supporting the Head of Church Buildings in proactive projects to ensure the long-term sustainability of churches within the Diocese
- assisting in providing information, training, and guidance for parishes in all aspects of managing their churches.
About you:
We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated conservation professional, who is a strong team player but able to take the initiative. You will embrace the challenge that such a varied role brings, with an organised approach, and the ability to navigate differing stakeholder views, finding pragmatic solutions under pressure.
With a strong understanding of conservation philosophy, legislation, and techniques, and experience in providing advice to building users on the care, alteration, and management of historic buildings, you will play a key role in this small and hard-working team of conservation professionals. Your ability to problem solve and mediate will ensure that you are able to support parishes in utilising their church buildings and that the best possible outcome is achieved in a timely manner.
You will be flexible in your working style, with confident communication skills, and excellent organisational and monitoring abilities, handling a number of complex schemes at once and managing relationships with colleagues throughout the heritage sector.
You will be from an architectural, surveying, or conservation officer background with strong knowledge of conservation techniques and philosophy. Ideally, you will have or be willing to work towards IHBC (Institute of Historic Building Conservation) accreditation. A keen eye for detail and the skills to manage stakeholders will be essential.
You do not need to be a practising Christian or have a faith to work with us - around 50% of our staff are not practising Christians but are comfortable with the Christian ethos that underpins our work. However, all our staff do have a desire to make a difference.
What is it like to work at Church House, Oxford?
This is what our staff say Vacancies - Diocese of Oxford (anglican.org)
Benefits and Rewards:
• 25 days holiday per annum, rising each year by one day to a maximum of 30 days
• In addition to the statutory UK public holidays, the Diocese offers three privilege days
• Hybrid working
• Free parking and subsidised on-site café
• Generous employer pension contribution of 12.5%, including 1% death in service benefit (5% Employee Contribution)
• Electric car and cycle to work salary sacrifice schemes
• Access to wellbeing support via Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced family friendly policies and a generous sick pay provision
• Access to low interest financial services from Churches Mutual Credit Union including loans
• An attractive modern working environment
How to apply:
| Job Description | Application Form | Recruitment Monitoring Form | Privacy Notice
Please email your completed application form, recruitment monitoring form, and a short cover letter detailing your suitability and interest in the role to recruitment@oxford.anglican.org
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Liz Kitch, Head of Church Buildings, on 01865 208229.
Closing date for receipt of applications:
08:00 on Tuesday 28 May 2024
Interviews will take place on:
Wednesday 12th June 2024 at Church House, Oxford
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. If you do not hear from us, your application has not been successful.
We want our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion for all to be reflected in the composition of our staff. We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates from communities currently underrepresented in the diocese.