Role title: Private Secretary to the Bishop
Report to: Bishop
Place of Work: The St Philip Howard Centre, Crawley
Key Relationships: Vicar General, Episcopal Council Bishop’s Secretary, Other Clergy and lay colleagues
Salary: £negotiable (this is a senior role for a professional colleague).
Hours: Part-Time, 2 days per week (negotiable). Work will mainly be carried out during office hours - flexibility required for other hours by arrangement.
Holidays: 28 days including bank holidays (pro-rata)
Primary purpose of the Role
The Private Secretary to the Bishop will work closely with him to support him in his responsibilities with regard to correspondence, meetings and the associated record keeping. The role holder will support at a wide range of formal and informal meetings held by the Bishop in the Diocesan offices and parishes.
Principal duties and tasks:
Correspondence
→ Work with the Bishop to ensure a full and timely response to all correspondence received
→ Draft formal letters for the Bishop including letters of appointment to diocesan clergy and the Holy See
Support for Meetings
→ Accompany the Bishop to key meetings to ensure that these are minuted and actions noted
→ Where appropriate to follow up with the Bishop to support the timely implementation of actions arising from meetings
→ Draft agendas and other papers to support the Bishop in meetings
→ Liaise with key colleagues to circulate documents
Other Duties
→ Support the Bishop with ad hoc meetings, including practical support for evening meetings by arrangement
→ Undertake other reasonable duties at the request of the Bishop, including the support of senior colleagues
Person Specification
→ Total confidentiality
→ Excellent written communication
→ Competent use of Microsoft Office
- Outlook
- Excel
- Word
- PowerPoint
→ An openness to deepen an understanding of the life of the church, particularly Canon Law.
→ Full driving licence and car owner – willingness to travel within the Diocese.
→ Because of the nature of the collaboration required it is a genuine. occupational requirement for the post holder to be a practising Catholic.
Closing date: Thursday 5th December
Shortlisting: Friday 6th December
Interviews: Friday 13th December in Crawley
Please send your completed Application to: The Chief Operating Officer, Sarah Kilmartin; E: coo@abdiocese.org.uk
Electronic signing and submission are acceptable. If you do not hear from us within 21 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Further details regarding application and other details about the vacancy can be found on: https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/careers/bps
