Description

Summary

We Include. You Belong.Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.Living out our values in all that we do, we:

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Collaborate
• Act with Integrity

We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we're looking for then we would like to hear from you. About the DepartmentThe Church House Legal Office and the Synod Office in Central Secretariat are both responsible for providing legal, policy and administrative support for the Church of England's major governance bodies, including the General Synod (the Church of England's legislative body), the Archbishops' Council and the Church Commissioners. What you'll be doingThe purpose of this role is to support the administrative work and planning of the Legal Office and the Synod Office you will be part of the governance of an extraordinary community of organisations seeking to make a difference across a diverse society, by supporting the mission and ministries of the Church at a national and international level. You will provide joined-up administrative support for a number of matters which are handled by both departments, fostering good relationships and efficiency. Supporting the work of the Advisory Lawyer/Secretary to the Legal Aid Commission. Your working week will be divided between the two teams in proportions as agreed between them from time to time. Main duties and responsibilities Legal Office

• Providing administrative support for the Overseas Permission to Officiate (OPTO) process;
• Providing support to the Secretary to the Legal Aid Commission in relation to applications for legal aid in clergy discipline cases
• To familiarise yourself with the application of the clergy legal aid scheme, and to manage applications for legal aid, using your initiative to obtain further information from applicants and their legal representatives where appropriate in order to progress applications in a timely way
• Providing support to the Secretary to the President of Clergy Discipline Tribunals;
• Providing administrative support to the Committees and Commissions of the General Synod, including by organising meetings, arranging correspondence and document management, and minute-taking.
• Acting as the first point of contact in the Legal Office, taking responsibility for answering incoming queries professionally and efficiently but escalating as and when appropriate.
• Maintaining the diaries of the Chief Legal Adviser and his two deputies as required, ensuring they are prioritised appropriately and taking the initiative when conflicts arise and escalating by exception.

Synod Office/Central Secretariat

• Supporting the Clerk to the Synod with administering the elections by and of the General Synod.
• Responsible for engaging with dioceses to handle any casual vacancies from when the vacancies arise to when the position is filled.
• Supporting the Clerk to the Synod with General Synod preparation and administration.
• Being a member of the Synod Support Team during General Synod meetings, assisting with the logistics of those meetings.
• Providing administrative support to the Business Committee and other committees as necessary, i.e. ensuring the agenda is set up and in place, acting as a minute taker, etc.

Applicable to both teams

• Managing the logistics of arranging Committee meetings from start to finish in a hybrid environment for online and in-person attendees.
• In charge of processing invoices and expense claims in a timely manner, ensuring accuracy, correct coding and compliance with relevant NCI policies.
• Providing general administrative support such as internal minute-taking and other administrative tasks.
• Acting as a champion for knowledge management and the better use of technology, i.e. being a lead for SharePoint and similar.
• Proactively maintaining the Salesforce CRM database for Synod membership, bishops, registrars and other legal officers and ensuring the data is accurate and up to date.
• Showing resilience and adaptability in a dynamically changing environment, ensuring that tasks are prioritised accordingly and any issues are resolved or escalated promptly.

We take a flexible approach to work, with many colleagues opting for a hybrid approach. However, because organising and supporting formal meetings and providing practical office support is key to this role, it is primarily office-based; subject to that, some hybrid working is possible by agreement. This post does require attendance at Synod meetings in York and London, which involves some overnight stays and weekend work (for which time off in lieu is given). 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. Essential:Skills/Aptitudes:

• Willingness to take the initiative and work independently. You will have a track record of being pro-active and taking a "hands on" approach to problem solving.
• Proven ability to understand, interpret and apply legislation. Ability to engage with issues of a legal nature (no legal qualification required). Proven ability to work independently but knowing when to escalate matters to the Secretary of the Legal Aid Commission.
• Ability to read, understand, interpret and apply relevant legislation.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Excellent computer literacy and word processing skills.
• Proven ability to draft letters, agendas and minutes.
• Ability to work both individually without supervision and as part of a team.
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to organise, prioritise and handle a number of competing tasks in order to meet hard deadlines.

Personal attributes

• Discretion and integrity, ability to be trusted with confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to take decisions and show initiative.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Adaptable, flexible and enthusiastic.

Desirable:Knowledge/Experience:Any of the following:

• Experience of the design or implementation of knowledge management systems.
• Good working knowledge of Sharepoint, MS Teams and related apps such as Microsoft Lists.
• Proven record of successfully providing administrative support to senior individuals.
• Experience of having worked in a high-pressured team environment.
• Experience of having worked in a public or third-sector environment.
• Familiarity with legal processes.
• Understanding of the structures of the Church of England.

What we offer Our benefits include:

• 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 salary.
• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus three additional days
• Flexible working hours and location, with an expectation of just 1-2 days per week in our office in Westminster
• Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunity to 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. The closing date for applications is Monday 07 May 2024.Interviews will be held during week commencing 13 May 2024