Head of the Private Office to The Archbishop of Canterbury

This is a unique and high-profile position at the heart of the Archbishop of Canterbury's ministry. As Head of the Private Office, you will provide leadership and operational oversight for a busy, complex office that supports the Archbishop's work locally, nationally and internationally. The role demands exceptional organisational ability, political awareness, and emotional intelligence to manage sensitive matters and relationships with discretion and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Oversee the Private Office to ensure it provides seamless executive support for the Archbishop. Manage administration, logistics and scheduling with discretion and efficiency.
• Consultation and Communication: Act as a key conduit between the Archbishop and staff, consulting on decisions and disseminating her views effectively.
• Confidentiality: Handle highly sensitive matters with discretion and emotional intelligence.
• Diary and Requests Management: Line manage the Archbishop's Diary Manager and, in partnership with senior colleagues, ensure engagements reflect priorities and respond to changing circumstances. Ensure all incoming requests and invitations are logged, assessed, and responded to appropriately. Seek advice on prioritisation and alignment with the Archbishop's objectives.
• Hospitality: Ensure that the Archbishop's guests and visitors receive warm and welcoming hospitality and are well looked after.
• Travel Arrangements: Ensure travel arrangements are made accurately and on time, including booking tickets and accommodations when necessary.
• Inbox Management: Develop and maintain an efficient system for managing the Archbishop's inbox, ensuring timely responses, prioritisation of urgent matters, and clear communication with the wider team.
• Team Management: Line manage the Diary Manager, Correspondence Manager and Personal Assistant, fostering a high-performing team and collaborative work culture.
• Briefing & Preparation: Ensure the Archbishop is fully prepared for all engagements, and that briefs from relevant staff members are produced and logged.
• Research & Correspondence: Conduct research on a range of issues and draft sensitive, high-level personal correspondence in liaison with the Correspondence Manager.
• Gifts Management: Maintain oversight of gifts given and received, ensuring accurate logging.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders and personal contacts in a complex political environment.
• Security Liaison: Coordinate with the Metropolitan Police regarding the Archbishop's movements to ensure appropriate security measures.
• Staffing: Occasionally accompany the Archbishop on visits and meetings as required.

Archbishop's Spouse Support

Facilitate communication between Lambeth Palace staff and the Archbishop's spouse, ensuring effective diary management and briefing. All staff working at Lambeth Palace share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture with regard to children and vulnerable adults, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Diversity Statement

The 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.

Required Experience

• Experience of working in a complex organisation with multiple external, diverse relationships.
• Experience of leading and motivating a team, enabling them to carry out integral support roles to a senior figure, with the ability to instil a positive culture with strong awareness of wider priorities.
• Experience of planning and managing high level events in support of a senior figure.
• Experience of overseeing the extensive/complex diary management of a senior manager/leader, which is affected by an evolving political landscape.
• Demonstrative experience of drafting complex letters and other correspondence, taking into account the bigger picture.
• Previous experience of coordinating research projects, including producing high-level briefing documents.
• Experience of staffing a senior figure in meetings or/and on travel engagements.
• Experience of managing staff in a busy and complex office.

Skills, Abilities & Attributes

• Sensitivity and good judgement in understanding and dealing with urgent and complex issues and relationships across a very wide range of subjects.
• A commitment to supporting the Archbishop to provide compassionate, consistent and hopeful leadership to the Church of England and in the Anglican Communion.
• A thorough understanding of the Church of England, and the ability to quickly grasp the work of the Archbishop of Canterbury, including her personal priorities.
• Seeing the big picture and navigating a complex and constantly changing political landscape.
• A natural instinct for prioritisation and seeing what is important.
• Proven ability to be a proactive problem solver and to take initiative.
• The ability to develop and maintain relationships in a fast-paced and politically complex environment, demonstrating confidence and emotional intelligence.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively to achieve results.
• Highly diplomatic and discreet, with experience of being exposed to highly sensitive material, involving a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to juggle being a trusted and supportive adviser to a senior leader, whilst pushing back where necessary.
• Outstanding communication skills, both oral and written.
• A calm and reassuring presence, with a nurturing leadership and communication style.
• Resourceful and calm under pressure, with the ability to cope with a number of simultaneous demands.
• Proficient in Microsoft Windows and the Office suite.
• Due to the demanding nature of this role, a degree of flexibility with working hours and responsibilities is required, with the ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.
• Educated to A-Level, or equivalent qualifying experience.