Revitalise Adviser

Lambeth Palace Library; Rochester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established church organization is seeking a Revitalise Adviser to support endangered churches in sustainability and growth. You'll guide parish leaders in understanding their challenges and defining paths forward. This role requires strong relational and communication skills, along with the ability to manage multiple parishes. Offering a flexible working environment, generous holidays, and a contributory pension scheme, the position mandates a deep understanding of the Church of England and its traditions.

Benefits

Flexible working

Generous holiday entitlement

Contributory pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in enabling change with church or community groups.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively.
• Familiarity with Church of England structures.

Responsibilities

• Supporting parishes in engaging with diocesan vision.
• Analyzing parish data to identify needs.
• Developing communication tools for churches.

Skills

Relational leadership

Change management

Communication skills

Project management

Pastoral sensitivity

Job description

Are you passionate about seeing local churches grow in faith, mission, and sustainability? Do you have the skills to accompany and support parishes on a journey of revitalisation?

The Diocese of Rochester is seeking a Revitalise Adviser to walk alongside fragile churches as they discern their future direction. Working closely with clergy and PCCs, you’ll help build confidence, clarity and capacity for mission and ministry in local contexts.

This is an exciting and relational role for someone with strong pastoral awareness, practical wisdom, and a heart for parish life.

About the Role

You will support up to seven churches at a time through our diocesan Health and Vitality Process, helping them understand their current realities and explore fresh pathways to missional and financial sustainability. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting fragile parishes to engage with diocesan vision and strategy
• Gathering and analysing qualitative and quantitative parish data
• Developing communication tools and facilitating initial engagement
• Accompanying churches in discernment, planning, and implementation of change
• Helping parishes develop sustainable missional and financial plans
• Offering insight and connection to relevant diocesan teams and external partners
• Providing regular reporting to the Revitalise Project Board and Archdeacons

You’ll act as a trusted guide, helping churches navigate uncertainty and unlock new potential, while celebrating each context’s unique gifts and opportunities.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• A missional leader (lay or ordained) with experience of enabling change
• Relational, collaborative, and pastorally sensitive
• Experienced in guiding groups or organisations through transition
• Skilled in creating and interpreting mission and financial plans
• A confident communicator and facilitator
• Adaptable, proactive, and able to work independently
• Deeply aware of the diversity of church traditions and parish life
• Organised and able to manage multiple projects
• Committed to confidentiality, discretion, and safeguarding best practice

You’ll need a good understanding of Church of England structures and a willingness to travel throughout the Diocese, including some evenings and weekends.

Lay or ordained candidates are welcome, however please note that this is an employed post with salary and does not include housing.

There is an Occupational Requirement (OR) for the postholder to be a communicant member of the Church of England (or a Church in communion with it, or a member Church of Churches Together in England, Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland, or the Evangelical Alliance).

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 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: Sunday 18 January 2026

Interviews will be held on: Monday 2 February 2026