Diocesan Director of Ordinands

We are looking for a new Diocesan Director of Ordinands with the experience and strategic skills to release the considerable potential for licenced lay and ordained ministry across the Diocese.

Location: Kidlington, Oxford. OX5 1GF

Hours: Full-time

Salary: £54,531.32 - £59,075.41 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Wednesday 21 May 2025 at 23:59

Interview Date: Friday 6 June 2025 in person at Church House Oxford

The Role

As Diocesan Director of Ordinands, you will play a pivotal role in nurturing and discerning vocations to ordained ministry within the Church of England. You will guide individuals through the national discernment process, ensuring they are supported spiritually, pastorally and practically. You will be leading a high-quality Vocations and DDO team of two full-time Area Directors of Ordinand (ADO), one full-time Administrator, and 7 part-time Volunteer Assistant Directors of Ordinands (VADO).

Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the discernment and selection of candidates for ordained ministry.
• Providing pastoral and theological guidance to those exploring vocation.
• Collaborating with parish clergy, bishops and national church bodies to support candidates.
• Managing and developing pathways for diverse vocations, fostering inclusion across communities.
• Supporting the transition of candidates into theological education and formation.
• Maintaining accurate records and reporting on candidate progress.
• Leading and inspiring a team of Assistant Directors of Ordinands and Vocations Advisors.

About You

For this role there is a genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for the appointed person to be an ordained member of the Church of England under Part 1, Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010. It is expected that the post holder will have:

• Experience of parish ministry within the Church of England, with the ability to engage across its breadth.
• A lively, sustaining faith expressed through prayer, worship and scripture.
• Proven track record in vocational discernment, including knowledge of the Shared Discernment Process.
• Commitment to supporting male and female candidates with integrity, aligned with the Five Guiding Principles.
• Strong leadership, team management, organisational and communication skills.
• Experience of developing strategy, managing budgets, and writing reports within Church of England frameworks.
• Awareness of human development and discernment processes, with sensitivity and critical insight.
• Ability to travel widely across the Diocese, including rural areas, with good IT skills and adaptability.

Benefits and Rewards:

• 25 days holiday per annum, rising each year by one day to a maximum of 30 days.
• In addition to the statutory UK public holidays, the Diocese offers three privilege days.
• Hybrid working.
• Free parking and subsidised on-site café.
• Generous employer pension contribution of 12.5% which includes a death in service benefit (5% Employee Contribution).
• Electric car and cycle-to-work salary sacrifice schemes.
• Access to wellbeing support via Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced family-friendly policies and a generous sick pay provision.
• Access to low-interest financial services from Churches Mutual Credit Union, including loans.
• An attractive modern working environment.

We want the Church of England's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion for all to be reflected in our staff. We are particularly keen to receive applications from UK Minority Ethnic / Global Majority heritage and disabled candidates, who are currently underrepresented.

The Church of England is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community. In the Diocese of Oxford we follow and are committed to the Church of England's House of Bishops' Safeguarding Policies and the relevant statutory legislation and guidance "Working together" to ensure the welfare of children and young people is paramount. This post is subject to an enhanced plus barred lists DBS check.

The successful candidate must have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.