Children and Young People Schools Engagement Advisor

Church of England; Rochester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused religious organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Children & Young People Schools Engagement Adviser to foster partnerships between churches and schools. This role involves supporting spiritual encounters, providing training, and ensuring effective faith formation for children. Ideal candidates should have relevant experience in youth ministry, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to inclusivity. Flexible working options are available with generous holiday entitlement. Closing date for applications is 8 February 2026.

Benefits

Flexible working

Generous holiday entitlement

Contributory pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Communicant member of the Church of England or associated churches.
• Able to travel across the Diocese including evenings and weekends.
• Experience in a ministry or educational context.

Responsibilities

• Support churches in partnerships with schools for spiritual engagement.
• Train and advise leaders in missional engagement.
• Develop and share resources for holistic faith formation.

Skills

Children’s, youth, or schools-based ministry experience

Training and advising adults

Relational and collaborative partnership building

Confidence in communication

Organisational skills

Education

Relevant qualifications or equivalent experience

Job description

Do you want to help children and young people encounter faith through Seasonal partnerships between church, school, and home? Do you have the experience and vision to equip churches to build creative, and missional relationships with schools?

The Diocese of Rochester is seeking a Children & Young People Schools Engagement Adviser to play a vital role in developing meaningful connections between local parish churches and school communities. Working as part of the Children, Young People and Families team, you will help shape a holistic approach to discipleship, chaplaincy, pastoral care, and faith formation for children and young people across the Diocese.

This is an exciting, relational role for someone who thrives on collaboration, creativity, and supporting others in mission.

About The Role

• Supporting churches to develop effective partnerships with schools that enable spiritual encounter, pastoral care, and discipleship
• Equipping leaders and volunteers to initiate and sustain missional engagement with schools
• Facilitating collaboration between church, school, and home to support holistic faith formation
• Developing and sharing resources, training, and good practice across the Diocese
• Supporting diocesan and local events, including chaplaincy initiatives and youth leadership opportunities
• Promoting and contributing to the CYPF Enhanced Learning Pathway (Catalyst)
• Building strategic partnerships with diocesan, national, and external organisations
• Providing pastoral support and modelling safeguarding best practice
• Representing the Diocese within national networks where appropriate

About You

• A communicant member of the Church of England (or a church in communion with it, or a member of the Churches Together in England, the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland, or the Evangelical Alliance)
• Experienced in children’s, youth, or schools-based ministry, with relevant qualifications or equivalent experience
• Confident in training, advising, and supporting adults in ministry and volunteer roles
• Relational, collaborative, and able to build strong partnerships across diverse contexts
• Organised, adaptable, and creative in approach
• A confident communicator with children, young people, and adult leaders
• Aware of diversity, culture, and church traditions and able to nurture inclusive practice
• Able to travel across the Diocese, including some evenings and weekends

An enhanced DBS check will be required.

What We Can Offer

• Flexible working, hybrid working and TOIL
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and counselling service

The Diocese is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

The wider a group’s diversity, the smarter, wiser, and more compassionate and creative its decision making becomes.

We are committed to achieving diversity throughout our Diocese by seeking UKME/GMH colleagues and those from a wide range of backgrounds, to(output) help us create a culture of inclusion and belonging.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, please contact the HR department at [e-mail].

Closing date for applications: 8 February 2026

Interviews will be held on: 25 February 2026