Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Circuit Administrator.
Lay Employee in the Wantage & Abingdon Methodist Circuit.
Location: This role will be a combination home and office-based working as required to carry out duties efficiently.
Responsible to: The Superintendent Minister.
Purpose and Objectives: To be responsible to and work closely with the Superintendent Minister and other Circuit Leadership personnel providing administrative support to all the main activities of the Circuit.
Main Responsibilities
•\tTo provide administrative support for the Circuit and be a general point of contact for the Circuit, including being a point of contact when Ministers are away
•\tIn conjunction with the Circuit Meeting Secretary to co-ordinate, but not necessarily attend the Circuit Meeting, and Circuit Leadership Team meetings, including either the booking of rooms or setting up video conferencing (Zoom) and preparation of agendas, minutes, papers, briefs and maintaining lists of attendees
•\tTo do preparatory work for the making of the quarterly Circuit Plan and support the Superintendent in its production, arranging for its subsequent distribution along with other information as required
•\tTo handle routine correspondence on behalf of the Circuit, for instance with solicitors and surveyors, TMCP and the Connexional Team regarding such matters as the sale of buildings
•\tTo maintain the Circuit Website, updating information as required and advertising on it events in the churches and Circuit
•\tTo ensure the smooth flow of information to churches and relevant people in the Circuit and beyond (e.g., in the District) including regularly circulating details of Circuit/Church events on the Circuit Diary
•\tTo prepare and distribute the Circuit Directory annually and keep the electronic version up to date
•\tTo liaise and work with the Circuit and Church Safeguarding Officers, maintaining records of safeguarding checks and those who have attended training. This to include the management of DBS checks and to be a DBS verifier.
•\tTo liaise with Senior Church Stewards/ Trustees and individual church administrators to maintain and update the necessary GDPR documentation
•\tTo arrange training for church volunteers as necessary in food hygiene, first aid etc.
•\tTo undertake other administrative tasks such as maintaining details of Ministerial holidays, sabbaticals and other absences, and ordering materials including membership tickets, Minutes of Conference and CPD
•\tTo maintain the Circuit Safe for the safe storage and retrieval of information and annually review the contents with the Superintendent
•\tTo prepare Circuit records for archiving, in conjunction with the Superintendent
•\tTo provide administrative support for individual churches, Ministers and Circuit Officers as required, with the approval of the Superintendent
•\tTo provide administrative support to the Circuit Stewards as required
•\tTo ensure annual Charity Commission Submissions
•\tTo have flexibility to attend occasional evening meetings
•\tAny other duties and responsibilities identified by the Superintendent Minister that are within the Administrator’s capabilities and level of responsibility, in order to meet the needs of the Circuit
Terms and conditions
•\tTerm of appointment: The post is a permanent position
•\tThe salary will be £15.00 per hour depending on qualifications and experience
•\tPay will be monthly in arrears
•\tThe appointment is part time – of up to 15 hours per week worked over 3 days. Some occasional evening working is expected to cover evening meetings, and time is to be taken in lieu
•\tOpportunities for study and for training
•\tA laptop and workstation will be provided to facilitate homeworking that will be exclusively for circuit work. Personal use on this machine is not permitted.
•\tA flexible approach to home or office based working subject to the direction of the Superintendent is essential
•\tAll reasonable expenses will be reimbursed and applications for funding for training will be considered
•\tThere is a contributory pension scheme to which eligible lay employees will be auto enrolled. Lay employees who do not meet the auto enrolment criteria are eligible to join the scheme subject to certain provisions
•\t28 days (pro rata) statutory annual leave entitlement per year, plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
•\tThe leave year will run from the 1st of September
•\tAppointment will be subject to satisfactory references and Enhanced DBS clearance.
•\tAppointment will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period
ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
ASSESSMENT
1. Education and Training
a. Good standard of education - Have 5 or more GCSEs or equivalent including English and Mathematics.
E
Q/A
b. Competency with MS Office applications: Word; Excel; Powerpoint and desktop publishing software
E
Q/A/I/E
c. Other relevant office skills qualifications
D
Q/A/I
d. Relevant Finance qualifications
D
Q/A/I
2. Relevant Experience
a. Experience of office administration, including the ability to maintain office filing and administrative systems accurately and methodically
E
A/I
b. Able to carry out research and communication using email and the internet
E
A/I
3. Special Knowledge and Skills
a. Good oral and written communication skills to write letters, emails, reports, deal with telephone enquiries and people who come into the office.
E
A/I
b. Fluency with word processing, spread sheets and email
E
A/I
c. Ability to work to deadlines and manage competing priorities
E
A/I
d. Experience of managing websites
E
A/I
e. Familiarity with use of social media including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and X, together with an ability to promote their use and guide churches in how to use these facilities.
E
A/I
4. Special Qualities or Aptitudes
a. Able to work flexibly as part of a small team
E
A/I
b. Able and willing to work alone for periods of time without close supervision
E
A/I
c. Understanding of, and agreement with, the principles of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory working practices.
E
A/I
d. Understanding of all aspects of data protection
E
A/I
5. Any Other Requirements
a. Willingness to participate in flexible patterns of working if required
E
A/I
b. Trustworthy and reliable, able to keep confidences
E
A/I
c. Knowledge of the structures of the Methodist Church
D
A/I
d. In sympathy with the aims of the Methodist Church
E
A/I
e. Respect and regard the importance and seriousness that the circuit places in all matters for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
E
A/I
f. Participates in regular Christian worship
D
A/I
For more information and an application pack, please click "Apply" now!
Closing date for applications: 25th May 2025
Interviews to be held week commencing 2nd June
Post to commence 1st September 2025
The Methodist Church is an inclusive Church committed to the Safeguarding of all.