Head of Children and Youth Ministry

New Wine Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A church body in the UK seeks a Head of Children’s and Youth Ministry to lead and deliver its strategy. The successful candidate will oversee a £15 million programme, engaging with local communities to motivate and manage youth initiatives. Ideal for individuals with significant leadership experience in children's or youth ministries, this role includes flexible working hours and a competitive salary of £59,700 – £64,293. Commitment to safeguarding and inclusion is essential.

Benefits

25-30 days of holiday

Pension scheme

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Significant experience in leading effective children's or youth ministry.
• Experience of successfully leading a major programme with multiple stakeholders.
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Office and project management software.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and deliver Diocesan strategy for children and youth.
• Manage and motivate the CYM team.
• Ensure successful delivery of Diocesan Investment Programme.

Skills

Leading children's or youth ministry

Collaboration

Inspiring leadership

Communication

Project management

Education

Experience in strategic leadership

Experience managing budgets

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management software

Job description

Overview

Diocese of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom

Salary: £59,700 – £64,293 per annum

JOB TITLE: Head of Children’s and Youth Ministry

EMPLOYER: Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance

DEPARTMENT: Mission and Ministry

LINE MANAGER: Director of Mission and Ministry

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Director of Mission and Ministry

LOCATION: Church House Oxford, Langford Locks, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1GF

JOB TERM: 5-year fixed term appointment subject to funding

Note: The Diocese is a Church of England body; safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, and other statutory requirements apply. The current main duties and responsibilities are outlined in this job description and may be adjusted for reasonable changes over time.

Job Purpose

To oversee, lead, refine as required and deliver the Diocesan strategy for Children and Young People (CYP) across the whole diocese. This includes leading the aspiration to double the number of children and young people deeply rooted in Christ and living out their faith in the world in the whole of their lives. To lead the delivery of the £15 million programme funded through the national Diocesan Investment Programme (DiP) (subject to outcome in February 2025) and with team colleagues inspiring and enabling each deanery to achieve plans and priorities for the Children and Youth Programme.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Oversee the implementation and successful delivery of all aspects of the Diocesan Investment Programme (DiP) funded programme for children’s and youth ministry. 50%

2. Oversee and lead Children and Youth Ministry (CYM) across the diocese, including strategic oversight across deaneries and parishes, management and motivation of the CYM team, and ongoing development and implementation of the Diocesan strategy for CYP. 40%

3. To share in the leadership of the Department of Mission and Ministry through proactive engagement in the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT), working collaboratively with other colleagues and engaging in continuous professional development. 10%

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Oversee the implementation and successful delivery of all aspects of the Diocesan Investment Programme (DiP) funded programme for children’s and youth ministry.

• Inspire and motivate those in deaneries, parishes and Church House to achieve this substantial project.
• Ensure understanding of all elements of the proposal and funding requirements.
• Oversee the project manager in preparing, revising and delivering clear programme plans and ensure the budget remains on track, proactively spotting and ensuring resolution of issues as they arise.
• Develop strong relationships of trust with local projects including providing support and accountability processes for local line managers.
• Oversight of training resources for volunteer and paid CYP workers and for CYP generally across all parishes.
• Take decisions on grants for training and on whether applications are sufficiently strategically and practically to be considered by the £5m CYP Areas Fund and stimulate applications in the areas of the diocese where greatest impact can be achieved and best fit to Fund criteria.
• Prepare for and report to the CYP Governance Board.
• Attend and ensure effective meetings of local governance groups.
• Work closely with the Project Manager to ensure monitoring and reporting processes are fulfilled.
• Liaise with the national Vision & Strategy consultant and produce reports as required.
• Proactively manage engagement and communication with key stakeholders, in partnership with the diocesan communications team.

2. Oversee and lead Children Youth Ministry (CYM) across the diocese, including strategic oversight of CYM across all deaneries and parishes, the management and motivation of the CYM team and responsibility for the ongoing development and implementation of the Diocesan strategy for children and young people.

• Oversee the implementation, development, and delivery of Diocesan strategy for CYP ministry.
• Work effectively with Bishops and other members of each area team to provide leadership, motivation, and expertise to ensure engagement in the delivery of the Diocesan strategy within their episcopal areas.
• Encourage CYP to be high profile across all deaneries, ensuring motivation, support and sharing of good practice to increase CYP numbers and discipleship.
• Oversee, enable and manage the CYP ministry team of Discipleship Enablers.
• Actively engage in encouraging and resourcing vocations to CYP ministry.
• Share in the leadership of the Department of Mission and Ministry through proactive engagement in the SLT.
• Conduct regular supervision and reviews with direct reports, setting SMART objectives and providing coaching.
• Ensure provision of training and development opportunities, recruiting and developing direct reports and fostering continuous learning.
• Support leadership in safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives across the team.

3. To share in the leadership of the Department of Mission and Ministry through proactive engagement in the SLT, collaborating with colleagues and pursuing CPD.

• Fully participate in SLT meetings and contribute to cross-department planning.
• Collaborate on planning and development of the departmental work plan.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the post and promote safeguarding and equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of technical competency areas and pursue professional development.
• Participate in ODBF performance management processes and comply with ODBF policies (Health and safety; Dignity and respect; Equality, diversity and inclusion; GDPR; Safeguarding).

Dimensions

CYP Programme - a £15m project funded by the national Diocesan Investment Programme led by this post.

Relationships – develop and maintain high-quality relationships with Area Teams, Area Deans, Lay Chairs, and local clergy.

Delivery – form a high performing team delivering against agreed outcomes to achieve priorities.

Planning & Organisation

The post-holder will:

• Share responsibility for the CYP Governance Board including monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the DiP project.
• Plan annual work plans in alignment with departmental objectives.
• Manage multiple priorities and projects with competing deadlines.
• Plan and organise own work and support 6 direct reports.

Decisions

The post-holder will:

• Lead all aspects of the diocese’s work on CYP across the diocese and manage the CYP team including budgets and resources.
• Decide on grants to CYP workers and fund proposals under the £5m CYP Areas Fund.
• Prioritise work and pursue professional development.

Contacts

Internal: Director of Mission and Ministry; Head of Discipleship & Social Justice; Director of Formation for Ministry; Bishops, archdeacons, and Heads of Department; Mission & Ministry colleagues; Church House Oxford staff.

External: CYP Governance Board members; National Vision & Strategy Consultant; TEI principals; National Church Head of CYP; CYP Ministry Leads.

Professional Standards – Knowledge, Skills and Experience

The person appointed will be a committed member of a Church recognised by the National Council of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and in sympathy with the aims and approach of the Church of England. This constitutes a Genuine Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010.

You will have the ability to and demonstrable experience of:

• Significant experience in leading and delivering effective children's or youth ministry at a strategic level.
• Ability and/or experience of successfully leading a major programme with multiple stakeholders.
• A strong Christian faith with a passion for church life.
• Highly developed, effective, flexible and collaborative leadership skills.
• Ability to work creatively with different theological traditions within the Anglican church.
• Inspiring leadership and ability to work with children and youth volunteers and staff.
• Effective, flexible leadership and motivational skills.
• Engaging, listening and communicating with individuals at every level of the Church and building trust.
• Commitment to strategy development in line with organisational vision.
• Collaborative teamwork; experience writing reports, presentations, and managing budgets and resources.
• Experience of managing others.
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Office, SharePoint, MS Teams; project management software preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel across the Diocese of Oxford.

General Information

Salary Band: F

Remuneration: £59,700 – £64,293 per annum; four band points; progression via objectives.

Hours: 37 per week; flexible hours; some evenings/weekends may be required with time off in lieu by agreement.

Place of work: Church House Oxford, Langford Locks, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1GF

Holidays: 25 days in year one; up to 30 days from year six onward; pro-rata for part-time; plus public holidays and discretionary days (Ascension Day, Maundy Thursday, Christmas Eve).

Pension: Auto-enrolment into Church of England Pension Builder 2014; Salary Exchange arrangement; clergy pension option available on discretion.

Probation: 6 months; review and possible extension.

Notice: 1 month during probation; 3 months thereafter or statutory minimum.

Circumstances: Ability to travel across the Diocese.

Note: The post is not exhaustive; duties may change and the post-holder may be required to perform other related duties.

Closing date: 9:00am on Monday 10 March 2025

Interviews: Tuesday 18 March 2025

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: We welcome applications from UK Minority Ethnic / Global Majority heritage and disabled candidates and are committed to safeguarding and inclusion. The Church of England safeguarding policy applies; this post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

The Diocese of Oxford is the Church of England in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. We are a living, growing network of more than a thousand congregations, chaplaincies and schools, and we are an accredited real Living Wage employer and a tier 1 Fairwork supporter. We are committed to becoming more Christ-like: contemplative, compassionate and courageous for God’s world.