Church Relations Officer

Do you speak Church? Can you help build passion for mission across a wide range of church styles and traditions using your fundraising and/or marketing skills for a great cause? Do you have the gift of administration?

If so then come join our Church Relations team and play a key role in helping us build and maintain relationships with churches for the sake of God’s mission.

Since CMS believes that all of God’s people are called to mission, it is specifically the task and responsibility of the Church Relations team to engage the UK church in the cause of mission and foster relationships that inspire and challenge: to increase awareness and understanding of mission and foster fruitful partnership. CMS offers a range of ways for churches to engage with global mission, including opportunities to establish formal links with individual people in mission, to receive a CMS speaker, and through prayer and fundraising resources.

The role is responsible to the Church Relations Team Manager, and the CRO will work closely with and support the Church Relations Advisers (CRAs). S/he will also liaise regularly with the wider Fundraising team, Mission Partners, and other colleagues within CMS whose functions have a direct bearing on his/her responsibilities, particularly within the Church and Community Mission, International Mission and Finance directorates.

The Church Relations Officer is a fixed-term, either full-time or part-time role 28 – 35 hours per week (4 or 5 days a week), with a starting salary of £27,480 (full-time; or £21,984 for 4 days a week), and a generous pension scheme contribution. The role will be based at home due to the current pandemic but the post holder will be expected to work from the CMS House, Oxford from time to time (occasionally) when the government’s regulation allows it as well as for key team meetings.

Currently CMS employees are working from home following government advice, and will continue to do so until the government allows office working. As this role is fixed-term, it is envisioned that the appointed person would be able to support the team working from home and equipment/ working tools will be provided.

The ideal candidate will be educated to A-level, ideally degree level, and have experience of fundraising and/or marketing experience, awareness of broad differences in church styles, traditions and etiquettes and experience of building and maintaining excellent ‘customer’ relationships, as well as proven administrative and database skills. The post holder should also be a committed Christian, in agreement with the aims and values of CMS, which can be found on our website, and willing to attend evening or weekend meetings occasionally if required.

This post is fixed term because the Church Mission Society is currently undergoing a strategic review to ensure that our approach to mission is fit for the next generation. The outcome of this work will be clearer organisational alignment around an agreed strategic focus, and organisational clarity that will improve the sustainability of our work, financially and otherwise.

Further details can be found in the job description and person specification available to download.

Closing date for receipt of completed applications:

• Midnight on Sunday 1st November 2020.
• Interviews will be held on 11 November 2020 at CMS house, Oxford or Zoom depending on government guidance.