Operations Support Officer

To be responsible for the care and preparation of the building to enable the effective use of our shared space by church and community users.

Operations Officer Responsibilities:

To maintain the church building as a welcoming space

• To act as a keyholder for the building


• To maintain a register of keyholders


• To ensure the building is opened and locked as required, liaising with volunteers


• To ensure the church is ready for users


• To ensure the church is tidy and welcoming


• To inform the venue manager of maintenance issues; lighting, plumbing, etc.


• To undertake scheduled safety checks


• To liaise with Venue Manager to order consumables as required


• To be a polite, professional presence at all times, reflecting the values of the Church


To support external bookings and congregational events

• To brief users on the venue e.g. servery, lighting, A/V equipment


• To monitor the cleanliness and tidiness of the venue following a booking


• To set-up or arrange for the set up of screens, projectors & necessary A/V, as required


To enable worship by ensuring church furniture including chairs and altar are laid out to agreed layouts

• To prepare chairs, altar & other furniture for midweek and Sunday services


• To prepare furniture for baptisms, wedding & funerals


• To prepare for school services and rehearsals (especially Christmas, Easter & Harvest services)


To undertake other duties commensurate with the job

• To uphold safeguarding policies and procedures and report any concerns to the Safeguarding Officer


• To work flexibly ensuring that we deliver on our mission


• To provide holiday cover for the church administrator and venue manager, as agreed with your line manager


• To be an excellent ambassador for the Church at all times


• To hold the out of hours emergency phone when required, 15 hours/week spread over five days to include weekends and evenings, as required.
  
  General - Essential


• A commitment to reflect the inclusive, Christian ethos of St Philip and St James in all dealings with Church volunteers, congregation members, venue users and visitors


• The physical ability to move and set up furniture and equipment for events and services


• Ability to work unsociable hours, including weekends and evenings


• Excellent attention to detail


• Ability to work to weekly deadlines and plan work accordingly


• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work creatively with Church volunteers, congregation members, venue users and visitors


• Well presented, polite and friendly


Desirable / willing to accept training in:

A practical knowledge of the Church's year

Qualifications and Training - Essential

Knowledge of Health & Safety principles

Experience - Essential

• Experience of working in a small team with the ability to be adaptable


• Experience of the use of audio visual equipment


Desirable / willing to accept training in:

• Experience of working in a Church on a paid or voluntary basis


• Experience of working with volunteers


Personal Qualities - Essential

• A positive can-do attitude to problem solving in a voluntary environment


• Respectful of people of all backgrounds and cultures


• Flexible, adaptable and very well organised


• Good understanding of written and verbal English and numeracy
  
  St Philip and St James (known as Pip and Jim's) is a thriving Church of England parish church serving the Bath Road, Suffolks and the Park area. We have around 150 people who worship with us as well as regular christenings, weddings, and funerals. At Christmas and Easter, we host a series of school services and other large events. To discover more about the Church, you can visit our website: www.pipandjims.org.uk or see more via Facebook and Instagram sites.


In May 2021 we reopened following a £3m redesign which took eighteen months to complete. This has created a flexible church for the 21st century at the service of its local community.

Alongside our worshipping congregation, we now have a busy and thriving community venue which is used throughout the week for community groups, community choirs, pilates, yoga, beer festivals, craft fairs, toddler groups, concerts, and other community events. Our five-year strategic plan states that…

As a congregation we will see Christ in the world and be Christ in the world;

offering a shared space for church, for community and for you.

We have a robust system for booking the space using ChurchSuite, with events publicised via our website and social media. The Operations Support Officer, reporting to the Venue Manager, will work in the church team alongside the Church Administrator who supports our Vicar and Churchwardens to ensure the smooth running of the church and to support its congregational life.

We are looking for talented and committed individuals to join our friendly team, so that we can continue to offer Cheltenham this exciting space for the flourishing of our community. If this sounds like a role for you, we'd love to hear from you…


• Competitive salary


• Part-time hours


• NEST pension scheme


• 25 days annual leave per year (based on the fte)