Reports to: Dean of Southwark

Key Relationships: Dean of Southwark, Cathedral Clergy, COO, Chapter Members, Chapter Committee Members, Senior Management Team

Start date: Immediate

Salary: £18,600 per annum (£31,000 FTE)

Hours of work: 21 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks). Some flexibility will be required to allow attendance at evening meetings and events.

How to apply: Please submit a CV and Cover Letter (no more than two sides of A4) outlining your suitability for this role, with reference to the main duties and person specification below, by Tuesday 11th June 2024 at 8am.

Interviews: Week commencing Monday 17th June

Role Purpose

Southwark Cathedral has been a place of Christian worship for over 1400 years. Now it stands on the vibrant and exciting regenerated south bank of the Thames surrounded by cultural venues such as Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market, the offices of major companies as well as schools and diverse residential communities. It is an inclusive Christian community that offers a welcome to all.

This is a key role at Southwark Cathedral supporting the Dean. This secretarial role will primarily feature management of a busy personal diary, correspondence and broader administrative support for the Dean in his capacity as Dean of Southwark, Chair of Chapter and CEO of the Cathedral.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

  • Lead the coordination, preparation, planning and follow up for the Dean’s briefing for and attendance at meetings associated with the governance of the Cathedral including Chapter, Finance Committee, Audit & Risk Committee, Nominations Committee, Fabric Advisory Committee and Board of Enterprises. This will include research and assisting in the drafting and review of papers for such meetings, but minute taking will not usually be required (but may be requested from time to time in liaison with members of staff usually responsible for the minutes);
  • Support the Dean in all their working relationships including building and maintaining excellent relationships with Chapter Members and Committee Members, the Bishop’s staff and with the wider Diocese, as well as with neighbours, commercial partners, professional advisers and other third-party organisations relating to the Dean’s work;
  • Prepare the Dean’s weekly diary file, including the preparation of any meeting papers or briefs for the week ahead;
  • Manage the Dean’s diary: including making appointments, arranging meetings, scheduling preaching and other liturgical arrangements, programming annual schedules (such as Bishops Staff Meetings, chaplaincy and wider public commitments) – keeping Outlook diaries up to date with any changes and making travel arrangements;
  • Support other members of the clergy team with administration tasks as requested;
  • Set up key meetings including room set up and refreshment provision as required;
  • Assist the Dean with the processing of their expenses;
  • Work with the Governance & Committees Manager on Gifts Registry declarations for the Dean;
  • Provide administrative support to bodies the Dean chairs, e.g. Southwark Cathedral Development Trust, the Deans Fund and other Cathedral-associated bodies;
  • Draft briefs and reports for the Dean;
  • Draft, file and send outgoing correspondence on the Dean’s behalf and process incoming correspondence;
  • Interact with the Cathedral database in support of the Dean’s work;
  • Provide general administrative assistance in the context of a busy office;
  • Respond to / forward on general email enquiries received from the Cathedral website;
  • Promote the mission, purpose and values of the Cathedral;
  • Ensure that the highest standards of professional performance are maintained, and ensure professional skills are regularly updated through participation in training and development activities.

The main duties and responsibilities of your post are outlined in your job description. This list is not exhaustive and is intended to reflect your main tasks and areas of work. Changes may occur over time and you will be expected to agree any reasonable changes to your job description that are commensurate with your salary and in line with the general nature of your post. You will be consulted about any changes to your job description before these are implemented.

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