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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Facilitate and deliver engaging learning activities for church leaders and communities.
- Company: Join the inclusive and supportive team of the Methodist Church, dedicated to lifelong learning.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, a strong pension scheme, and a focus on employee wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the church while working collaboratively in a diverse environment.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in learning support and theological reflection is essential.
- Other info: Must live within the Chester & Stoke-on-Trent District and travel to the Isle of Man.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 42000 £ per year.
The Vacancy
Full time (35 hours) Learning and Development Officer (aligned to Chester & Stoke-on-Trent and Isle of Man Districts)
Are you passionate about helping to further the mission of our churches, circuits and districts? Are you an excellent facilitator and educator? If you are, we would like to hear from you. As an experienced professional with a proven track record in learning and development, you will be part of the GB-wide Learning Network of the Methodist Church, encouraging and resourcing life-long learning.
This role is aligned to two Methodist Districts, Chester & Stoke-on-Trent and Isle of Man, and covers a wide range of learning and development areas within the life of the church, aimed at supporting, encouraging and inspiring the church in living out ‘Our Calling: to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission’. The Learning Network works primarily with lay and ordained church leaders, equipping them as they in turn seek to equip all God’s people.
As the successful applicant, aligned to both the Chester & Stoke-on-Trent District and Isle of Man District, you will work with other team members across the Learning Network and the wider Connexional Team to enable Methodist people in all aspects of their calling as together we seek to be an inclusive, justice seeking, evangelistic and growing church.
About you
The role includes:
enabling, equipping and resourcing through preparation, delivery and evaluation of a wide range of contextually relevant learning and development activities, events and initiatives, both for onsite and online contexts;
supporting circuits in exploring vision and developing mission plans;
facilitating effective and potentially transformational conversations on a variety of subjects;
helping churches in their commitment to support the Church’s aspiration to be inclusive, justice seeking, evangelistic and growing;
working collaboratively with colleagues to plan, develop and review learning and development programmes in areas such as leadership development, biblical literacy, vocation, worship leading and preaching, pastoral care, ministerial wellbeing, supervision, conflict resolution, mission and ministry with all ages;
contributing your particular gifts and experiences to enhance learning and development across the connexion
a requirement to travel, and work during some evenings and weekends.
a requirement to live within the Chester & Stoke-on-Trent District of the Methodist Church and to travel to the Isle of Man as required
a requirement to be a member of a church in good standing with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland or equivalent.
Key skills include:
Building good relationships with the Districts and with individuals and communities across the church and beyond;
An ability to work interculturally – being sensitive to working across different nations or jurisdictions, with an understanding of contextual theology;
Good communication (including digital mediums), planning, organising, and leadership skills;
An understanding of safeguarding;
Supporting adult learners;
Theological thinking and the ability to facilitate others in developing theological conversation;
Flexible and creative approach.
You will have significant experience in offering learning and development support and theological reflection in a relevant context.
Our Culture, Values and Benefits
Thank you for considering joining our inclusive and welcoming team that strives for excellence and values employee wellbeing.
We value and support all those who join our team through a positive work-life balance augmented by generous annual leave (plus an extra 3 days over Christmas/New Year), annualised hours and a Wellbeing Adviser service. We offer a generous occupational pension scheme, where the Methodist Church will pay double the employee contribution up to a maximum of 16% employer contribution.
The Methodist Church is an inclusive and supportive employer. We are actively committed to encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. We welcome applications from people of Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic groups. We also welcome applications from people living with disabilities.
The successful applicant will be required to live within the geographical area of the Chester & Stoke-on-Trent Methodist District and will be expected to travel to the Isle of Man for work purposes.
Closing date: 12 January 2025
Interviews to take place on: 4th February 2025 in Crewe
N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Learning and Development Officer (aligned to Chester & Stoke-on-Trent and Isle of Man Districts) employer: THE METHODIST CHURCH
Contact Detail:
THE METHODIST CHURCH Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Learning and Development Officer (aligned to Chester & Stoke-on-Trent and Isle of Man Districts)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the mission and values of the Methodist Church. Understanding their commitment to inclusivity, justice, and evangelism will help you align your experiences and skills with their goals during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former Learning and Development Officers within the Methodist Church. They can provide insights into the role and share valuable tips on how to effectively engage with church leaders and communities.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in facilitating learning and development activities. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully supported adult learners and fostered transformational conversations.
✨Tip Number 4
Highlight your ability to work interculturally and your understanding of contextual theology. This is crucial for building relationships across different jurisdictions and ensuring that your approach resonates with diverse communities.
We think you need these skills to ace Learning and Development Officer (aligned to Chester & Stoke-on-Trent and Isle of Man Districts)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take time to thoroughly read the job description and understand the key responsibilities and skills required for the Learning and Development Officer position. This will help you tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasize your experience in learning and development, particularly in a church or community context. Provide specific examples of how you've facilitated learning activities or supported adult learners.
Showcase Your Skills: Make sure to showcase your communication, planning, and leadership skills in your application. Mention any experience you have with intercultural work and theological reflection, as these are important for this role.
Express Your Passion: Convey your passion for the mission of the Methodist Church and your commitment to inclusivity and justice. This can be done in your cover letter by sharing personal motivations and how they align with the church's values.
How to prepare for a job interview at THE METHODIST CHURCH
✨Show Your Passion for Learning and Development
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for facilitating learning and development within the church context. Share specific examples of how you've previously inspired others and contributed to their growth.
✨Demonstrate Your Intercultural Sensitivity
Since the role involves working across different districts, highlight your experience in intercultural settings. Discuss how you adapt your approach to meet the diverse needs of various communities.
✨Prepare for Theological Conversations
Be ready to engage in discussions about theological topics. Showcase your ability to facilitate conversations that encourage reflection and understanding among church leaders and members.
✨Highlight Your Collaborative Skills
Emphasize your experience in working collaboratively with teams. Provide examples of how you've successfully planned and executed learning programs in partnership with others, demonstrating your leadership and organizational skills.
