Head of Leadership Development

Reference: 2024/07

About the role

We are looking for an exceptional leader who will shape the future leadership of Church of England Birmingham (CofEB). Working under the leadership of the Director of Ministry, and consulting widely, the successful candidate will support the growth of lay and ordained leaders across Church of England Birmingham. The role involves designing and deploying impactful learning approaches and experiences to develop leaders capable of fostering greater spiritual depth, numerical growth, and missional confidence. The Head of Leadership Development will lead projects to find and test new ways of discerning and forming Christian leaders, including scaling these initiatives.

Context

CofEB has been given a significant opportunity to strengthen and renew our leadership pipeline through strategic investment supported by £6 million from the National Church. This initiative is not simply about filling vacancies but shaping the future leadership of the Church in Birmingham for the next generation.

Across our diocese, we see extraordinary faithfulness, deep commitment, and real signs of hope. Clergy and lay leaders serve with courage and imagination in complex contexts. Churches engage creatively in mission, serve communities under pressure, and seek to reach younger and more diverse populations with the good news of Jesus Christ.

However, we also face challenges. Many current systems for identifying, developing, supporting, and deploying leaders need updating and integration. The scale and pace of cultural change, increasing complexity in parish ministry, clergy wellbeing pressures, and growing leadership demands of mission require a more flexible, intentional, and integrated approach.

Nationally, the Church of England is not currently developing enough future leaders to sustain and grow ministry over the coming decades, and Birmingham reflects this picture. While numbers are a concern, the focus is also on ensuring we recognize those whom God is calling, nurturing leaders with the spiritual depth, resilience, missional imagination, and cultural intelligence needed for the future.

Leadership in the Church does not yet fully reflect the communities we serve. Birmingham is one of the youngest, most ethnically diverse, and socio-economically varied dioceses in the country. To be serious about mission, we must become more intentional in identifying and supporting leaders from under-represented groups, ensuring pathways into leadership are accessible, visible, and sustainable. We recognize that God calls people made in His image, with a rich diversity of gifts, experiences, and needs.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement impactful learning approaches and experiences to develop lay and ordained leaders.
• Lead projects to innovate and test new methods of discerning and forming Christian leaders, including scaling successful initiatives.
• Support the growth of leaders capable of fostering spiritual depth, numerical growth, and missional confidence.
• Consult widely across the diocese to ensure the leadership development strategy meets diverse needs.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Ministry and other stakeholders to align leadership development with diocesan goals.
• Ensure leadership pathways are accessible, visible, and sustainable for under-represented groups.
• Address challenges in clergy wellbeing, cultural change, and the increasing complexity of parish ministry.

Requirements

• Proven leadership experience, preferably within a faith-based or nonprofit context.
• Strong background in designing and delivering leadership development programs.
• Ability to innovate and test new approaches to leadership formation.
• Experience working with diverse teams and communities.
• Commitment to fostering spiritual depth, resilience, and missional imagination in leaders.
• Excellent communication and consultation skills.
• Understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the Church of England, particularly in urban and diverse contexts.