Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.

Target Resume Now

Tailor your resume to this National Vocations & Discernment Adviser role.

Rezi rewrites your resume against National Church Institutions's job description. Free.

Resume score gauge reading 58 out of 100

Don't guess if your resume is good enough.

See how it scores against the National Vocations & Discernment Adviser posting at National Church Institutions — free, in seconds.

About the Role

The National Vocations and Discernment Advisers are crucial in developing ministers and leaders for the Church of England's mission, fostering both lay and ordained vocations. These roles involve partnering with dioceses and local churches to enhance vocation and discernment pathways, guiding individuals from initial inquiry to formal discernment.

Responsibilities

Support the development of strategic capacity among Diocesan Directors of Vocations (DDVs) and Ordinands (DDOs) and their diocesan teams to sustain growth in lay and ordained vocations.
Provide theological and spiritual advice, guidance, and consultancy to dioceses on vocation and discernment matters.
Provide focal leadership for the ongoing development of the ‘What’s your part in God’s story?’ lay and ordained vocations campaign (Role A).
Provide focal leadership for the development and delivery of lay and ordained vocations short courses and other materials for parishes and dioceses (Role A).
Provide focal leadership for promotion of vocations to lay ministries, working in partnership with the Lay Ministries team and the 30k Project Team (Role A).
Provide focal leadership for national vocations events including the national Vocations consultation and the Church of England’s presence at Christian Festivals and General Synod (Role A).
Provide focal leadership for the development and delivery of good practice guides for parishes and dioceses (Role B).
Provide focal leadership for the design and delivery of high quality and effective training and development programmes for DDVs and DDOs and others involved in vocations (Role B).
Provide focal leadership for the content of the vocations and discernment sections of the national Church of England website (Role B).
Provide focal leadership for the interpretation and application of vocations statistics and wider ministry data, working in close partnership with the Data Services team (Role B).
Regularly act as Panel Secretary, leading Stage 1 (online) and Stage 2 (residential) panels within the national Shared Discernment Process.
Support Bishops in the prayerful assessment of candidates for ordained ministry.
Work with Discernment Support colleagues to ensure the completion and quality assurance of pre-panel documentation.
Prayerfully advise, support, and mentor Bishops’ Advisers in the discernment of candidates and decision-making processes.
Coordinate and oversee assigned panels, ensuring their efficient and effective operation.
Lead worship and contribute addresses (homilies) as part of the panel programme.
Edit and prepare candidate reports for Bishops, and provide feedback to Bishops and Diocesan Directors of Ordinands (DDOs).
Ensure all post-panel records, reports, and documentation are completed accurately and retained securely.
Promote consistent application of the Qualities for Discernment across all panel processes.
Actively support the work of the Candidates Panel and contribute to its effective operation.
Collaborate with the Discernment Support Team on the implementation and effective use of administrative processes and digital systems that support national vocations and discernment work.
Work in close, open, and collaborative relationships with other vocations and discernment colleagues in the Ministry Development Team.

Requirements

Able to bring a rich breadth and depth of Christian theology, ecclesiology, and spirituality to the work of discernment, showing a capacity to engage reflectively with the diverse traditions of the Church of England.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence, mentor, and support a wide range of stakeholders.
Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex processes.
Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear, nuanced, and well-judged reports and proposals.
Ability to facilitate meetings, training, and discussions, including presenting to diverse audiences.
Good digital and IT skills, including proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications and online collaboration platforms.
A fruitful track record of nurturing lay and/or ordained vocations.
Knowledge of good practice in vocational development and discernment processes.
Substantial understanding of and experience within the ministry and structures of the Church of England.
Proven ability to build effective partnerships and work collaboratively within teams and across organisations.
Ability to work confidently through change, supporting the implementation and development of new processes.
High levels of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and resilience, with the ability to navigate difference, conflict, and complex relationships.
Willing and able to travel extensively within England, including regular attendance at residential events away from home.
Must be able to participate authentically in the faith, worship, and ministry of the Church of England.
Must be a communicant member of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with it (Genuine Occupational Requirement).

Skills

Christian theology
Ecclesiology
Spirituality
Communication
Interpersonal skills
Influencing
Mentoring
Support
Organisational skills
Time management
Report writing
Proposal writing
Facilitation
Presentation
Digital literacy
IT proficiency
Microsoft 365
Online collaboration platforms
Vocational development
Discernment processes
Partnership building
Teamwork
Collaboration
Change management
Emotional intelligence
Self-awareness
Resilience
Conflict resolution

Location

England

Work Type

Full-time
Hybrid

Experience Level

Substantial experience within the ministry and structures of the Church of England
Proven ability to build effective partnerships
Ability to work confidently through change

About the Company

The National Church Institutions comprise a wide variety of teams, professions, and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.
Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute.
Living out our values in all that we do, we strive for Excellence, show Compassion, respect others, collaborate, and act with Integrity.
We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward.
The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life.
We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith.
We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values.

Equal Opportunity

We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith.
We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values.
The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life.