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Head of Vocations & Discipleship (inc. DDO)

Closing date:	27 April 2026
Contact:	Human Resources
Location:	Chelmsford

Are you someone who can recognise and nurture the God‑given gifts of others, empowering them as they explore their vocation to ministry?

Working hours: This is a full-time role (35 hours per week) with the opportunity for hybrid working and flexible working

Salary: c£60,000, subject to qualifications and experience

The Diocese of Chelmsford is seeking to appoint a Head of Vocations & Discipleship to lead our new Vocations & Discipleship Team. The new team in our Mission & Ministry Department brings together our Assis tant DDO, Lay Ministry Adviser, and Vocations Outreach Officer, with two additional roles of Assistant Director of Ordinands and a Vocations & Discipleship Administrator.

We’re looking for a leader who knows how to create and implement inspiring approaches to Christian formation and discipleship, enabling people to grow and flourish in their faith. You will help shape the journey of those exploring their call to ordained and lay ministry.

We know from experience that people growing in discipleship are people ready to follow Christ’s call into new vocations. Would you like to join us in this work, enabling the strategic development of vocations and discipleship across our diocese and leading our Vocations & Discipleship team?

ROLE DUTIES

Lead the strategic development and delivery of a diocesan wide vocations and discipleship strategy and team, responding to the recently conducted Vocations Review, with the objective to increase the number of ordained and lay vocations in the Diocese of Chelmsford.
Oversee and support Area Vocations/Ordination Advisers, developing a team approach to support learning and development.
In liaison with Area (Sponsoring) Bishops, oversee discernment, sponsorship, and preparation processes for national selection panels for candidates for ordination
Oversee and line manage the work of the Lay Ministry Adviser and their wider team in the discernment, training and deployment of all licenced and authorised lay ministers across the Diocese of Chelmsford.

CRITERIA

An ordained priest of the Church of England, or a Church in communion with the Church of England, with experience of working with churches of more than one tradition.
Substantial experience of vocational discernment work in the Church of England to at least a diocesan adviser level or equivalent.
Experience of developing and delivering inspiring approaches to nurturing Christian formation and discipleship.
Experience of staff line and volunteer management, enabling colleagues to flourish in role and experience of handling complex and sensitive staffing issues.

For an informal conversation please contact the The Revd Canon Rob Merchant at rmerchant@chelmsford.anglican.org

Benefits: We offer a range of benefits including hybrid and flexible working, 11% non-contributory pension scheme, 25 days holiday rising to 29 after five years’ service.

For more information please see the job description, and to apply please complete the application form and return to jobs@chelmsford.anglican.org

Closing Date: 27 April 2026

Interview Date: 6 May 2026

We reserve the right to invite candidates for preliminary interviews.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close the role early and we cannot consider candidates who do not complete and return a completed application form.

Please refer to the CDBF Privacy Policy for guidance on how we will process your data.

Job Description Application Form

Guidance Notes Privacy Notice Download the Enhanced DBS Confidential Declaration form

The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance (CDBF) processes data provided in applications or elsewhere, and/or personal information supplied by third parties such as referees, as part of the recruitment process. The data provided will be used to make a decision regarding suitability for employment. The data for successful candidates will be retained to form personnel records for the duration of employment and beyond in line with relevant statutory requirements and policies and procedures. Data provided by unsuccessful candidates will retained for a period of six months. During this period the CDBF may use this data for contact in the event of there being any other suitable vacancies. You can find out more about the CDBF and data protection here - https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/data-protection-and-privacy

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