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We Include. You Belong.

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. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.

Overview

Lambeth Palace is a unique building of significant historical and global provenance. It is, first and foremost, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his family, as well as home to a wider, diverse and thriving residential community. It is also an office and the epicentre of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s to the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion. It is a Grade I listed building comprising various listed buildings dating from the 12th to the 20th centuries, set within 10 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens. Fundamentally, the Palace seeks to be a place of contribution to the life of a 21st century church.

In support of the Archbishop’s ministry, the office at Lambeth Palace is made up of several interconnected teams, including Anglican Communion, Chaplaincy, Communications, Correspondence, Ecumenical, Evangelism & Witness, Events, Inter-Religious Affairs, Social and Public Affairs and Reconciliation – each providing pivotal, interdependent and essential support to the Archbishop to enable the effective delivery of the ministry to which he has been called by God.                                                    

Lambeth Palace is an exciting and vibrant ‘community of communities’. Working here provides an excellent opportunity to contribute to the ministry of an internationally significant religious leader in a friendly, busy, fast-paced and dynamic office. The team at Lambeth Palace works collaboratively with colleagues throughout the National Church Institutions (NCIs) and beyond and supports each other at busy periods, with flexibility and good humour.

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Located within the central team working closely with the Archbishop on a day-to-day basis, this role involves communicating with everyone in the Archbishop’s office and many people outside, supporting the Archbishop’s Diary Manager in all aspects of her role.

As Assistant Diary Manager, you will provide high quality support to the Archbishop’s Diary Manager, to assist them in their role in managing the Archbishop’s day to day and future diary, liaising with colleagues when necessary, and providing wider team support as required.  

The working arrangements for this post are 35 hours per week with the occasional requirement to work unsocial hours.

To arrange an informal conversation about the role and working arrangements, please contact esther.ketskemety@lambethpalace.org.uk  

The closing date for applications is 4 April 2024 (midnight).

The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we would particularly welcome applicants from UK Minoritised Ethnicities (UKME)/Global Majority Heritage (GMH) and other under-represented groups.

We offer a unique environment with opportunities for continuous learning, generous annual leave for work life balance, season ticket loans and a range of benefits including discounted entry to attractions and what we feel is a market leading package when it comes to our pension scheme.

The Role

Assisting the Archbishop’s Diary Manager

• Use internal software to record incoming requests for the Archbishop’s time, as and when passed on by the Diary Manager.
• Ensure timely, efficient and courteous handling of correspondence associated with requests for the Archbishop’s time, when requested by the Diary Manager to respond.
• Prepare a summary of requests for discussion at diary meetings, ensuring that a reasoned recommendation has been provided for each, preparing a summary of declined invitations, and also taking minutes at diary meetings.  
• Meet with the Diary Manager to discuss new and outstanding requests.
• In liaison with the Diary Manager, commission and receive briefing for the Archbishop’s meetings and events, ensuring that it is received on time, complete and filed correctly for the Archbishop to read. Ensure that briefs and the Archbishop’s diary are correctly aligned. 
• Liaise with the Metropolitan Police to keep them updated on the Archbishop’s whereabouts.
• General support for the Diary Manager in their role in the Private Office, making amendments to the Archbishop’s diary when requested by the Diary Manager and providing cover in their absence.

Support PA

• Provide PA support and cover within the Private Office within agreed limits as and when required.  
• General support to the Private Office and other Lambeth Palace Teams as required.  This may occasionally result in the post-holder working unsocial hours.

The Requirements

Essential

Skills/Aptitudes:

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Good interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with the ability to deal with people of all levels with confidence and respect and to work well as a member of a team.
• Excellent prioritisation skills.
• Efficient and quick at dealing with requests.
• Well organised, methodical attention to detail, and the ability to cope with conflicting priorities. 
• Able to work flexibly, both in terms of time and responsibilities.
• Proactive and able to use initiative.
• Innovative with the ability to identify and implement new ways of working.
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Word and Outlook (calendar and email), excellent word processing skills with fast and accurate typing.
• Well-presented work with a keen eye for detail.

Knowledge/Experience:

• Evidence of working in a proactive way, taking the initiative.
• An interest in the Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry and their role in public, national and international life.

Education:

• A good command of written and spoken English, including accurate spelling and punctuation and a good telephone manner.

Personal Attributes:

• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and good judgement in dealing with a wide range of issues.
• Ability to work calmly under pressure, and to adapt plans quickly in response to change.
• Emotionally resilient, with the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• All staff working at Lambeth Palace share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture with regard to children and vulnerable adults, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Desirable

Knowledge/Experience:

• Knowledge of the Church of England.
• Ability to draft and prepare correspondence, briefs and other material as required.

About Us

In the National Church Institutions (NCIs), we support the mission and ministries of the Church of England. We work with parishes, dioceses, schools, chaplaincies and other ministries, and with national and international partners including mission agencies, and other denominations and faith groups.-.  

Find out more about working for the National Church Institutions at Careers | The Church of England

NCI values

• We strive for excellence 
• We collaborate
• We act with integrity 
• We show compassion
• We respect others 

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.  Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you. 

If there is anything we can do to support you in your application please get in touch via email to hr.recruitment@churchofengland.org

As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively look to attract, recruit and retain those of you who are disabled.  

• We are a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and welcome applications from those of you who have served in our Armed Forces and their families.