Project Leader - Strengthening multi-parish Benefices programme
We seek a Project Leader who will be responsible for making multi parish benefices in the diocese of Ely welcoming spaces for residents to grow and serve as followers of Jesus, and happy places to lead and work for their clergy.
In October 2025, Ely Diocesan Synod approved up to £750,000 budget over 5 years for a project to enable multi parish benefices in the diocese to become units fit for mission and ministry amongst the populations that they serve. This project aligns with 3 of the 6 bold outcomes envisaged by the Church of England’s Strategic Priorities:
* A Church of England which fully represents the communities we serve in age and diversity.
A pathway for everyone into an accessible and contextual expression of church through:
* A parish system revitalised for mission so churches can reach and serve everyone in their community.
* Creating ten thousand new Christian communities across the four areas of home, work/education, social and digital.
1. Working with Archdeacons to mentor and support clergy who lead multi parish benefices, as they juggle the weight of demands alongside leading their benefices into greater fruitfulness.
2. Working with incumbents and Archdeaconry Mission & Pastoral Committees to simplify and improve governance, leadership and clarity of vision, so that PCCs and Joint Councils are competent to oversee and support growth.
3. Overseeing and directing a Parish Support Officer (half time) who will provide EA support to this project and day to day line management for parish administrators.
4. Directing the work programme of up to 12 part time administrators, who will help implement change in the benefices selected for the programme.
5. Working with the Director of Mission & Ministry to develop a pipeline that prepares clergy to lead multi parish benefices in the future, preparing them for the challenges and envisioning them with the opportunities.
You will have considerable freedom to play with models and processes in consultation with local stakeholders to achieve the outcome of making our MPBs great places for clergy and lay people.
You will give 16 hours (2 days) per week to this role and be recompensed either £20k pa or by a pro-rata credit to the benefice that releases you to undertake this work. You will receive full expenses. The post will last for 5 years. If you are a priest with common tenure, this post will not affect or remove your common tenure terms.
The post holder will need to demonstrate significant experience successfully leading change, and deep understanding of the role of incumbent clergy in multi parish benefices. Previous experience leading a multi parish benefice would be a significant advantage. You will need to be a car driver, owing to the rural nature of many benefices. You will demonstrate and teach best safeguarding practice and will be required to complete the Church of England confidential disclosure form.
You will be accountable to the Ven Richard Harlow, Archdeacon of Huntingdon & Wisbech, and work collegially with both Archdeacons in the Diocese of Ely, as well as colleagues in the Mission & Ministry Department and Church Buildings Team.
Key Outcomes:
1. Reach – 12 benefices will be committed to participate in this programme by end of year 2; lessons learned will be available to the rest of the diocese.
2. Clergy wellbeing – clergy in participating MPBs will report wellbeing consistent with or better than other clergy posts in the diocese.
3. Sustainability – 10/12 MPBs in the project will contribute in Ministry Share what is agreed by Diocesan Synod by year 4.
4. Sustainability – 10/12 of participating MPBs have adopted legal/administrative arrangements that they can sustain with available finance and volunteer resource by 2031; 12/12 participating MPBs will be registered with the Charity Commission by Dec 2031.
* Download the Recruitment Pack and application form below.
* Closing Date: 12 noon Monday 8 Dec 2025
* Interviews: To be advised
* Full details at
Safer Recruitment in the Diocese of Ely
The Diocese of Ely is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees to undertake safeguarding checks and training relevant to their role and to adhere to the. Therefore, this position is subject to an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).
Our Diocese
The Diocese of Ely stretches from Cambridge to Peterborough and out towards the coastal areas of West Norfolk. It houses 800k people, which will rise to 1 million in the next 15 years. This area buzzes with energy from the academic, business and medical excellence of Cambridge University to the rich agricultural areas of Huntingdon, Fenland and Norfolk.
Despite the presence of a world leading university, Cambridgeshire is not all affluent. Towns and cities have pockets of poverty and low attainment. Rural areas can be isolated and vulnerable. These parishes contain some of the more economically deprived wards in Cambridgeshire, yet they are full of loyal, innovative people with deep roots in these communities. There is work to be done here, and there are good people to share it with. But the challenges of rural isolation, heritage buildings, low incomes and aging church congregations demand fresh thinking and clear action. You will be leading a team to address these challenges, alongside archdeacons and parochial clergy and members of the diocesan Mission and Ministry Team.
The Diocesan Bishop has moved on, but the diocese remains on a steady course, as it awaits our next Diocesan. Our Mission Strategy devolves much decision making to the parishes, benefices and deaneries, so that clergy are able to innovate, take risks and build alliances for the sake of the Kingdom of God and the good of our communities. You will be working with experienced colleagues and a determined Senior Team to effect change that encourages our multi parish benefices.
A Diverse and Inclusive Workforce
The Diocese of Ely is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME), women, and disabled people are currently under-represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation.