Welcome

Dear Prospective Applicants,

I am delighted to introduce a pivotal new role within the Church Commissioners for England: Director of Strategy and Engagement.

The Church Commissioners exist to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England, stewarding resources responsibly and ethically to enable growth and serve communities across the nation. As an organisation with a rich history, a significant national profile, and an £11.1bn endowment, our work touches every part of the Church—from parish ministry and bishops’ housing to historic buildings and our commitment to responsible investment. This new position will play a critical part in shaping our future: leading strategic planning, driving key projects, and ensuring authentic, meaningful engagement with stakeholders across the Church and beyond.

Reporting directly to me, the Director of Strategy and Engagement will be at the heart of our strategic direction and organisational coherence. You will oversee our Central Support and Governance functions, support the Board and senior trustees, and help articulate, refine and deliver our strategic business plan. You will also champion collaboration across the National Church Institutions, ensuring that our priorities reflect the needs of the wider Church and that our work is aligned, transparent, and forward-looking.

This role carries significant leadership responsibility, including oversight of complex and high-profile initiatives. These include implementing governance changes, strengthening our programme management approach, and guiding multi-year programmes such as Spire, our work to understand and respond to the Church Commissioners’ historic links to African chattel enslavement. This is a unique opportunity to help shape how the organisation acknowledges its past while acting with integrity, compassion and accountability in the present.

Central to this role is engagement—ensuring that the voices of bishops, diocesan leaders, parliamentarians, Synod, staff and beneficiaries inform our work. We are seeking an individual who combines strategic insight with operational grip; someone who can think broadly, influence effectively, engage widely and lead with humility. The successful candidate will bring exceptional interpersonal skills, a commitment to our values, and a genuine passion for supporting the Church’s mission to be simpler, humbler and bolder.

The National Church Institutions are committed to belonging and inclusion. We want every colleague to feel valued for who they are and what they contribute. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, of all faiths and of no faith, and we particularly encourage interest from under-represented groups who can help broaden our collective perspectives.

If you share our vision for a Church that is outward-facing, collaborative and courageous—and if you have the experience and heart to help us reach that vision—we warmly invite you to consider this opportunity.

Thank you for your continued support as we take this important step forward.

John Worth
Chief Executive
Church Commissioners for England