Job Description
As Chief Operating Officer, you will support the ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury through accountability for Lambeth Palace as an office, a home, a place of worship, an historic building and gardens, and an events venue.
This is a critical senior leadership role at the heart of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry. As Chief Operating Officer, you will bring strategic direction, organisational leadership, and operational excellence. You will ensure that the Palace operates effectively, sustainably and safely. You will enable the Archbishop’s ministry through advice, strong strategic planning and prudent financial stewardship, ensuring we live within our means, and work to promote collaboration across the other National Church Institutions.
Reporting directly to the Archbishop, you will work collaboratively with the Chief of Staff, supporting and covering for each other to ensure that the work of Lambeth Palace enables the ministries of the Archbishop, the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. You will each need to be a visible senior leader within the Palace proactively demonstrating our values, prioritising the wellbeing of colleagues, and taking responsibility for excellent safeguarding practice and promoting a safer culture.
Closing date: 9am Tuesday 12 May
Responsibilities
* Setting the strategic direction and a robust business plan for the work of the operational teams, ensuring that their work is aligned with the Archbishop’s priorities, and effectively mitigating risk;
* Leading an inclusive, values‑led culture, providing visible leadership through periods of organisational change;
* Overseeing, developing and managing Key Performance Indicators to forecast and analyse financial performance;
* Working to ensure financial sustainability and improving cost‑effectiveness through stronger financial controls and budget discipline;
* Building and maintaining relationships with existing and new sources of funding for the Archbishop’s priorities including the Lambeth Trust and Partnership, and proactively increasing income through growing the commercial activities of Lambeth Palace;
* Overseeing the security arrangements for the Palace and all aspects of the Archbishop’s ministry, ensuring coordination with the Metropolitan Police and security contractors;
* Leading our approach to business continuity, resilience planning and crisis response, ensuring Lambeth Palace is prepared for and able to respond effectively to major incidents that impact on our work, working alongside the NCIs business continuity planning group;
* Acting as an ex‑officio Trustee of the Archbishop’s Charitable Foundation, and providing support and advice to the Trustees.
Qualifications
To succeed in this role, you will be an experienced senior leader who can combine strategic judgement with confident people management and operational oversight. You will work closely with the Archbishop and their Chief of Staff and colleagues across Lambeth Palace and the other NCIs, providing calm, values‑driven, people‑focused leadership in a complex environment.
You will bring the credibility to advise at the highest levels, the discipline to ensure smooth day‑to‑day running, and the interpersonal skills to foster a positive, inclusive and hospitable culture that is welcoming to staff, volunteers and visitors.
* Substantial strategic leadership experience in a complex or high‑profile setting, with the ability to set strategic direction, manage risk and align operational work to organisational priorities;
* A track‑record of leading excellent operational delivery with experience of having accountability for finance, strategic planning, estates or facilities, and in establishing clear systems, processes and performance measures;
* Experience of developing and executing an income generation strategy;
* People‑centred leadership, modelling organisational values, enabling teams to deliver well, and ensuring safeguarding and wellbeing are consistently prioritised;
* Experience of business continuity and crisis management;
* Excellent stakeholder engagement, able to work confidently with senior stakeholders, funders, public authorities and governance bodies, representing the Archbishop’s priorities with clarity and integrity;
* Resilience, discretion, emotional intelligence and a commitment to belonging and inclusion.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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.
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