Clergy Support Trust – External Engagement Officer

Location: The position is hybrid with the expectation that the successful candidate will work from the central London office for a minimum of two days a week which will normally be Tuesday and Thursday.

Contract basis: This role is being advertised on a six-month contract initially but with the possibility of becoming a permanent role. The job role is being offered as full time role, but we are also open to candidates who would prefer a part-time role (minimum 28 hours per week across 4 days).

Hours: 35 hours per week worked flexibly. The Trust’s ‘core hours’ are 09:00 – 16:30, Monday to Friday and we expect colleagues to work with reference to these whilst encouraging a flexible working culture and good work/life balance.

About us: Clergy Support Trust is an independent charity, the largest and oldest supporting Anglican ministers and their families. We exist to serve those people who, through their ministry, spend their lives serving others. Founded in 1655, the Trust has grown significantly in recent years. We supported 2,900 households across the UK and Ireland in 2026, including 1 in 5 of all serving clergy in the Church of England, through a wide-ranging programme of grants and support services. Our data and advocacy were instrumental in bringing about recent, generational improvements to clergy wellbeing, including a 10.7% increase in the basic Church of England stipend, and we are a significant player in seeking to improve Church culture and policy. This is a hugely exciting time to join the Trust. We have recently launched our 2026-28 Strategy, which includes several new initiatives, not least the launch of our online Support Hub for clergy households, and renewed commitments to research, training, advocacy and external engagement. Clergy Support Trust has a passionate team of 25 – 30 staff, led by The Revd Ben Cahill-Nicholls as Chief Executive. Shortlisted for ACO Charity of the Year in 2023, the Trust is a proudly inclusive and supportive place to work. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, and believe a diverse workforce leads to fresh ideas and creative thinking, as well as better reflecting our beneficiary base.

Key responsibilities

• Working closely with the whole external engagement team, the External Engagement Officer will provide vital administrative and operational support across fundraising, events, and communications.
• This role is ideal for someone who is in their first/second role, and looking to develop a broad range of skills in a supportive environment.
• It is an excellent opportunity to develop a broad range of skills and experience across comms, fundraising, events, marketing and press within a busy team.
• It is ideal for a motivated individual who has some experience (1 year+) of working in communications or fundraising and can provide reliable proactive support for our fundraising and communications activities (such as event logistics, copywriting content, preparing social media posts) but also is excited to lead on their own projects.
• We are looking for a candidate who is highly organized, technologically adept and curious, with a ‘can-do’ attitude who shares our commitment to supporting the clergy community.

Managing Contacts

• Ensuring that up-to-date records are kept throughout CRM and able to pull off information for colleagues (We use Salesforce).

Financial Processing

• Responsible for adding weekly bank donations onto Salesforce (SF) and working monthly to reconcile SF income with Finance reports.

Supporter Care

• Lead on thanking supporters, specifically managing emails and cards for donations over £100.

Legacy Administration

• Assist with the administration of legacy giving, including thanking donors for pledges and gifts.

Prospect Research

• Support the Fundraising Manager in carrying out research into potential prospects and networks to help expand the Trust’s reach.

Finance Liaison

• Act as the primary team contact for the Finance department regarding income and gift processing.

Events – Logistics and Administration

• Support event logistics by using our CRM to manage all aspects of our events including guest lists, RSVPs, and creating name badges for attendees.
• Act as a point of contact for event booking enquiries (including the Carol Service and Festival) and assist with seating plans.
• Provide hands‑on support at events, including guest registration, hospitality, and high-level donor care.
• Collate and record guest lists and feedback from attendees to inform future improvements.

Communications & Digital Engagement

• Monitor and manage the Hello@ and Festival@ inboxes, ensuring timely and professional responses.
• Assist with digital engagement by managing DM’s, replying to comments, and creating content.
• Manage the logistics of print advertising, including booking space, processing invoices, and the transfer of creative files.

General / Team Support

• Maintain an organized inventory of fundraising and event materials, such as banners, stationery, and merchandise.
• Proactively update Salesforce with missing information to ensure the database remains accurate and reliable for the external engagement team to use.
• Provide general administrative support to the External Relations (ER) team and contribute creative ideas for improving supporter care and donor engagement.
• Undertake other reasonable duties and projects commensurate with the post to support the wider goals of the External Relations team.

Personal Specification

• Excellent attention to detail.
• Proven experience (at least 1 year) of working in communications / fundraising for an organisation.
• Proven experience of using CRM databases.
• IT literate – proven experience of using MS Office, Teams and CRM databases.
• Usage of graphic design software i.e. Canva, to design a range of high-quality marketing materials, and social media content.
• A team‑oriented individual with a personable nature, able to adapt to and positively contribute to the team culture.
• Sympathetic to the Christian ethos of the charity, and with a passion for the wellbeing of clergy and their families.
• Interested in developing a career in communications / fundraising.
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of what constitutes good practice in working with people with lived experience with a view to sharing their stories.
• Experience of uploading content to a website through a CMS system.