Head of Ministry Operations

Reference: 123456

About the role

The Head of Ministry Operations ensures that the Ministry Team runs effectively and dynamically in support of our diocesan vision of Growing Churches at the Heart of Every Community. Working under the direction of the Director of Ministry and in partnership with other leaders in the team, you will coordinate and manage activities in line with our vision and strategies, particularly around vocations, formation, and leadership development.

You will create systems to enable our strategy and gain efficiencies, positioning the team for future success. As part of the Ministry Development team, you will pray, listen, and act to catalyse formation across Church of England Birmingham (CofEB).

Managing day-to-day activities, infrastructure, and administrative staff, you will ensure all operations are effective, efficient, and aligned with established guidance.

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, enabling churches to grow at the heart of each community.

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 must also acknowledge the challenges we face. Many of our 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 all require a more flexible, intentional, and integrated approach.

At the same time, the leadership pipeline is under strain. 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, our primary focus is ensuring we recognise those whom God is calling—nurturing leaders with the spiritual depth, resilience, missional imagination, and cultural intelligence needed for the future.

Additionally, we recognise that 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. If we are serious about mission, we must address this gap.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the Ministry Team operates effectively in support of the diocesan vision.
• Coordinate and manage team activities in line with strategies for vocations, formation, and leadership development.
• Develop systems to enable strategy and improve efficiency, positioning the team for future success.
• Pray, listen, and act as part of the Ministry Development team to catalyse formation across CofEB.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, infrastructure, and administrative staff to ensure effectiveness and alignment with guidance.