Job Description. Lay Development Coordinator. Job Title. Department /Area. Discipleship / Education and Learning. Reporting to

Transcription

1 Job Description Job Title Department /Area Reporting to Direct Reports Location Travel Working Hours Lay Development Coordinator Discipleship / Education and Learning Secretary for Education and Learning Lay Development Assistant Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT Frequent travel in the UK 35 hours per week with occasional evening and weekend work Salary Band Band 3 Job Summary: To animate, organise and co-ordinate assigned aspects of the United Reformed Church s lay development strategy, with particular responsibility for the design and implementation of the Stepwise programme which is due to be made public from September 2018 onwards. 1

2 Background: The Education & Learning Committee is a committee of the United Reformed Church General Assembly, and maintains oversight of initial and continuing ministerial development and intentional adult education programmes for the denomination. The Committee s objectives are supported by a small team, of which the Secretary for Education & Learning is the head. The Education & Learning team is part of the Discipleship Department which is headed by the Deputy General Secretary for Discipleship. The team maintains relationships on behalf of the Education & Learning Committee with the Training and Development Officers of the 13 Synods and the teaching staff of three Resource Centres for Learning which serve the United Reformed Church: the Scottish College in Glasgow, Northern College in Manchester, and Westminster College in Cambridge. As part of its focus on missional discipleship (Walking the Way. Living the Life of Jesus Today) the URC is designing a successor programme to Training for Learning and Serving as its intentional vehicle for discipleship development and lay ministry formation. With a working title of Stepwise, the new programme will be designed from the outset for blended delivery in which high quality online resources and accessible student participation are key elements. The initial elements of Stepwise are intended to be available from September 2018 with the entire programme being made public from September The Lay Development Coordinator is expected to be in regular contact with the Secretary for Education & Learning, the Education & Learning Programme Officer and the Instructional Designer. They work closely with relevant Synod staff and Officers and Resource Centres for Learning on specific programmes as required. 2

3 Principal responsibilities and duties Line Management 1. Undertake all responsibilities and duties of line management as required under the Church s policies and procedures, including the regular supervision, training and development of direct reports. Coordination 1. Ensure the agreed strategy for lay training and congregational development is pursued coherently in conjunction with Synods, Resource Centres for Learning and relevant Assembly Committees. 2. Manage the introduction and development of the Stepwise Lay Development Programme. Design 1. Act as executive secretary to the Lay Development sub-committee of the Education & Learning Committee, including the devising, drafting, management and monitoring of policy. 2. Exercise overall responsibility for ensuring the commissioning, design, maintenance and operation of all Stepwise courses, course materials etc., establishing and attending Editorial boards and other organisational meetings as appropriate. 3. Work with the Instructional Designer to liaise with material producers in the design, updating and production of all materials. Delivery 1. Be responsible for the effective delivery of the Stepwise programme, according to the agreed policies of the Lay Development sub-committee in conjunction with relevant Assembly and Synod post holders, both staff and volunteers. 2. Contribute to the strategic advocacy and development of Stepwise, in cooperation with the Lay Development sub-committee. 3. In consultation with relevant bodies draft guidelines for Synod organisers, mentors, tutors, markers and support groups to enable and promote the sustaining of standards throughout Stepwise. 4. Be aware of and respond to educational developments and corresponding training offerings of ecumenical partners, developing relevant links with other discipleship development providers in order to integrate non-urc courses within Stepwise. 3

4 Monitoring 1. Monitor progress of individual students in order to make recommendations to the Academic Quality Assurance Task Group to award credit for registered participants and issue certificates of completion. 2. Work with the Lay Development Assistant on the efficient organisation of the financial aspects of the URC s lay development strategy and implementation of Stepwise courses, advising the Education & Learning Committee through the Secretary for Education & Learning on financial planning. 3. Where necessary, and in conjunction with Synod staff and officers, exercise appropriate pastoral care among those engaged in running or participating in Stepwise courses. 4. Work with the Lay Development Administrator in monitoring Stepwise participation to provide uptake and completion statistics to the Education & Learning Committee and Synods. Working with Committees and Volunteers This section lists the type and level of interaction that this role has with committees and other groups. It will vary from time to time and as directed by the line manager: 1. Stepwise Task and Finish Group meets residentially every two months, act as project manager 2. Lay Development sub-committee of the Education & Learning Committee likely to meet quarterly when it is established to replace the Stepwise Task and Finish Group: executive secretary responsibility. 3. Academic Quality Assurance Task Group meets twice a year: attendance and reporting. 4. The Synod Training and Development Officers meeting meets three times a year: attendance and reporting. 5. Bodies associated with Stepwise for effective design and editing of courses - to be confirmed. 6. Liaison with Resource Centres for Learning, Synods, and external partners. Created September 2017 Expected Standards This section refers to the way in which the job is done rather than the duties/responsibilities. 1. Promote a culture of open and effective communication to enable constructive relationships with colleagues and internal and external customers. 2. Actively foster an environment which nurtures equality and cherishes diversity. 3. Act in ways that protect own and others health safety and security. 4

5 4. Work collaboratively to develop a customer service culture which fosters continuous improvement. 5. Take responsibility for own personal development and support the development of others to enhance their skills and knowledge. 6. Promote, monitor and maintain best practice in data protection principles and practice. This job description reflects the overall scope and responsibilities of the role. However, it is not an exhaustive list and the job holder is expected to undertake any other reasonable duties that might be requested. All jobs change or evolve over time in order to meet organizational or departmental needs and this job description will therefore be subject to periodic review and change if required. 5

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7 Job Title: Lay Development Coordinator Person Specification Requirements Essential Desirable Measurement Education and qualifications 1. Education to Batchelor s degree or equivalent Masters degree in Theology and/or Religious Studies. HE Diploma or equivalent in education Application form Interview Experience and Knowledge 2. Teaching adult learners to HE Diploma Level in subjects relevant to discipleship 3. Mentoring others in Christian discipleship development 4. Recognised ministry, (either lay or ordained) supporting the learning of students from a wide variety of social, economic and ethnic backgrounds line management Application form Interview Test? Skills and Abilities Other 5. MS Office particularly Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint (Intermediate level) 6. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 7. Innovative approaches to core tasks 8. Good judgement in acting on own initiative, whilst working with minimum supervision 9. Dependability with a commitment to teamwork 10. Practising Christian and a member of the United Reformed Church or of a Church which belongs to one or more of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council (DECC) or the Council for World Mission (CWM) designing material for online delivery Application form Interview Test Application form Interview 7

8 or Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI)* 11. Willing to travel occasionally within the United Kingdom 12. Willing to work occasional evenings and weekends. *This is a Genuine occupational requirement in accordance with the Equality Act 2010: Part 1, Schedule 9 8