Church and Community Support Officer

Join the Diocese of Leicester as our Church and Community Support Officer.  Are you passionate about strengthening communities and supporting historic churches to be open for future generations? We are looking for somebody relational, empowering and adaptable to be our Church and Community Support Officer to work with our parishes and their communities, helping to build local engagement and ensure church buildings remain sustainable as a place of worship and a resource for the local community.

This is a new fixed-term post made possible by a grant from the Church Commissioners of the Church of England through their Buildings for Mission funding.

About the role

• Provide on-the-ground support to Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) to increase local engagement and volunteer capacity.
• Support PCCs and congregations to engage with their communities through consultation, surveys, and outreach initiatives.
• Help churches identify ways to maximise the potential of their buildings, including generating income and securing funding.
• Develop volunteering opportunities and support the creation of Friends Groups and other local initiatives.
• Build partnerships with local authorities, businesses, charities and community organisations.
• Support PCCs in exploring new models such as Festival Churches.
• Facilitate shared learning across the Diocese.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience of managing community-led projects and working with volunteers.
• Ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including clergy, PCCs and external partners.
• A proactive, self-starting approach with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• An open-minded approach with the ability to adapt to local needs.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiating and communication skills.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, monitoring and evaluation.
• Good IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and databases.
• Ability to travel regularly across the Diocese and work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Sympathy with and commitment to the values and mission of the Church of England and the Diocese of Leicester.

Desirable:

• Experience of heritage funding (e.g. NLHF)
• Knowledge of Church of England structures
• An interest in historic buildings

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a collaborative and experienced Church Buildings Team.
• Hybrid working with a Leicester office base.
• An opportunity to work with a variety of different communities across Leicestershire, each with its own needs.
• Make a tangible difference to local communities and the future of historic church buildings.
• Generous pension (10% employer contribution) and annual leave (25 days plus bank holidays).
• Opportunities for training, development and professional growth.

Find the full job description and how to apply on the Pathways website.

For an informal conversation about the role, contact Gill Elliott, Church Buildings Enabler (up to 1 July and from 13-17 July):
07947353129 Gill.Elliott@LeicesterCofE.org 

Closing Date: Sunday 19 July 2026
Shortlisting Date: Wednesday 22 July 2026
Interview Date: Friday 31 July 2026

Anticipated Start Date: Autumn 2026

We particularly welcome applications from UK Minority Ethnic / Global Majority Heritage candidates, especially those of Black descent, who are currently underrepresented in our organisation.

The Diocese of Leicester, part of the Church of England, is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community. We follow the Church of England’s Safeguarding Policies and relevant statutory guidance. We believe that safeguarding is everybody’s business.

This post is subject to a Basic DBS check and proof of right to work in the UK. The Diocese is unable to offer a Certificate of Sponsorship.