Overview

Our aim is 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.

The Church of England is committed to reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2030.  To do this requires a decade of action by all parts of the Church. The priority is to reduce the emissions arising year-on-year from the energy use of our buildings and our work-related transport, but other areas of emissions are in scope.

One first step in this has been to develop a Routemap to Net Zero Carbon by 2030, to demonstrate what has already been achieved, and to guide our future activities. We do not want this to be a theoretical plan that sits in a drawer, but something useful that guides real activity, and is being updated over time. A new Net Zero Carbon Programme Board and Team have been established to deliver the ambition and this role plays an integral part in delivering the overall programme.

As a large and very devolved organisation, implementing this net zero plan will involve separate plans being developed by our dioceses, churches, cathedrals, schools, and departments, united by common agreed principles. Work around the country needs to be well coordinated, with regular liaison and progress reporting embedded within a strong programme management framework.

The Net Zero Carbon Programme Officer role is key to this.

Post Introduction

As Net Zero Carbon Programme Officer, you will help to organise and deliver work against the Net Zero Carbon Routemap for the Church of England. 

You will administer the Net Zero Carbon Programme, encourage, support and monitor progress against the Routemap, and support the work of the Net Zero Carbon Programme Board and the Programme Director.

Your role will include wide-spread engagement across the Church, creating a basis for significant year-on-year reductions in our own greenhouse gas emissions from energy use and transport, and gathering and sharing resources, to save time and duplication.

This role will be Home-based, with regular meetings in Church House, Westminster and may require some travel to different dioceses and occasional evening meetings for which time off in lieu will be given.

For an informal conversation please contact julian.atkins@churchofengland.org

Interviews will be held in London on the 10th March 2023.

The Church of England is for everyone, and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country.  This is a priority for the Archbishops. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we particularly welcome applicants from UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.  

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.

Role Responsibility

The Role

Programme management, monitoring, and reporting

• Tracking of programme deliverables - gather updates from members of staff against each of the national milestones and report progress to the Net Zero Carbon Programme Board, the Environmental Working Group, General Synod or other committees as necessary.
• Encourage and support colleagues to create plans for national milestones, setting out the key actions, steps and timescales needed for each. Identify critical paths and co-dependencies/interfaces between milestones. Work with colleagues to try to find solutions if milestones are not going to be met.  Flag obstacles, issues and risks to the Net Zero Carbon Programme Board.
• Work with Research and Statistics on the annual Carbon Emission Reports; acting as a critical friend, and ensuring the data they are able to supply creates clear narratives.
• Support colleagues to identify and plan programmes of work to be delivered using the Triennium Funding Bid, ensuring there are clear and agreed Project Proposals for each one. 
• Determine the best ways to evaluate the milestones and projects, including external review if necessary, and implement measures to allow future evaluation and reporting.
• Support the Programme Director as necessary.
• Facilitating the definition of programme scope, goals and deliverables, identifying and managing risk and ensuring good communication.
• Ensuring compliance with the NCIs Project Management Framework and encouraging its use by all projects within the Programme.

Secretariat

• Arrange meeting dates, agendas, papers and minutes for the Net Zero Carbon Programme Board.
• Contribute to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and other relevant governance committee agendas and papers as required by colleagues.

Supporting Net Zero Carbon Officers

• Be a central point of contact for the Net Zero Carbon officers (or equivalents) in dioceses around the country, answering their questions, highlighting existing resources, and directing them to the correct people.
• Create a diocesan Net Zero Carbon officer network (using the successful Diocesan Environment Officers (DEO) network as a model).  Host quarterly meetings (based on the DEO network meetings) and shorter weekly catch-up/support meetings (based on the models for Giving Officers and Comms Officers).
• Organise and host an annual diocesan Net Zero Carbon officer conference (using the DEO conference as a model).

Co-ordinate and share guidance and best practice

• Administer the online library of good examples, the Net Zero Carbon Resource Hub. Ensure all dioceses and appropriate NCI colleagues are able to access the Hub.
• Gather useful examples of net zero plans, terms of reference, audits etc from around the country and share them through the Hub. 
• Create and share guidance as necessary.
• Maintain and enhance the Routemap webpages.

General liaison/engagement/internal communications

• Play an active role as part of the Net Zero Carbon Programme Team to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholder groups in the dioceses and cathedrals, and ensure they are aware of the Routemap.
• Contribute to delivering the Net Zero Carbon Communications Strategy, including inputting to regular emails and newsletters which provide progress updates for different audiences and contributing to briefing sessions as necessary for key internal audiences, such as Bishops, Diocesan Environment Officers, Archdeacons, DCOs, Giving Officers, Diocesan Advisory Committee Secretaries and Chairs.
• Contribute to planning workshops being run by diocese and departments, to engage them in the Routemap and help them develop a way forward in their area.

Funding

• Where required, give expert input to funding applications and approaches to achieve additional funding for the Net Zero Carbon programme of work.
• Share funding opportunities through the Net Zero Carbon and DEO Officer networks.

The Ideal Candidate

The Requirements

Essential

Knowledge/Experience

• Experience working in the environment/low-carbon/sustainability sector. Ideally, have developed and delivered net zero carbon plans for other organisations.
• Experience of working successfully in multi-disciplinary teams across departments in a complex organisation.
• Knowledgeable and passionate about environmental issues, and have successfully engaged others in work on environmental issues.
• Experience in project or programme management/officer roles.
• Proven track record of proactively delivering successful results.
• Good working knowledge of Word, PowerPoint and Excel, Office365 (or google alternatives).

Skills and Aptitudes

• An engaging communicator with excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills including the ability to clearly communicate technical/complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative.
• Collaborative and positive, with good influencing skills.
• Well organised.
• Able to be rational, objective and unbiased when making decisions and taking action.
• In sympathy with the aims of the Church of England.

Education / Professional qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent).

Circumstances

• This role may require some travel to different dioceses, and occasional evening meetings. (Time off in lieu will be given).

Desirable

• A good understanding of the structures and ways of working of the Church of England.
• Experience of using Microsoft Project or another equivalent Project Management Information System.

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 by visiting Careers | The Church of England

NCI values

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

We welcome everyone and we accept and value people for who they are and what they contribute, treating others in the way we would wish to be treated ourselves. We actively listen to and include others, encouraging and enabling everyone’s voice to be heard in discussions and decisions. When we disagree, we aim to disagree well with respect and kindness.  

We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people. 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.