Regional Net Carbon Zero Senior Project Manager

The General Synod of the Church of England voted in February 2020 for the whole of the Church
of England to achieve net zero carbon by 2030. The vote recognised that the global climate
emergency is a crisis for God’s creation and a fundamental injustice.

The Synod asked for a plan to be made, setting out how to get to net zero carbon. That plan of
action, called the Routemap, was approved by General Synod in July 2022 in a Motion that asked
for the Routemap to be endorsed, requested every Diocesan Synod to debate the Routemap as it
applies to them, requested high energy users within the Church to draw up a programme of action
based on the Routemap, and called for progress reports to Synod every three years.

The Dioceses of Blackburn, Carlisle and Manchester have agreed to collaborate on the
implementation of their diocesan net carbon zero (NCZ) Routemap action plans approved in autumn
2023 and developed by the individual Diocesan Environment Officers in each diocese supported by
their local governance groups.

The Regional Net Carbon Zero Senior Project Manager is a nationally funded role to provide
additional capacity to; track the implementation of the actions in each of the diocesan action
plans during 2024/2025, ensure smooth delivery of c. 175 nationally funded decarbonisation
reports for churches, offices, retreat houses across the three dioceses plus Carlisle schools
and provide a link with the developing national church Roadmap.

Key responsibilities

1. Support 3 x diocesan teams with delivery of the individual NCZ plans including; 
   1. Creation and maintenance of diocesan project plans/risk registers
   2. Reporting progress milestones and targets to diocesan governance group(s)
   3. Co-ordinating with Diocesan Environmental Officers (DEO) and other staff/volunteers in
      encouraging greater Energy Footprint Tool returns
   4. Co-ordinating with Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) officers in supporting the delivery of NCZ
      development projects
   5. Overseeing ‘mini-projects’ e.g. piloting Authorised Lay Minister (ALM) and carbon literacy
      training in dioceses
2. Oversee delivery of regional co-ordination of NCZ matters including;
   1. Convening regional co-ordination meetings
   2. Reporting progress on delivery of the nationally funded de-carbonisation reports for churches,
      offices, retreat houses and schools
   3. Engagement with the national team/DEO network to be a conduit for future opportunities released
      by the national team
3. Oversee delivery of over 175 building decarbonisation reports including;
1. Ensuring that the reports are delivered to time, cost and quality specifications agreed with
   the principal and sub-contractors. 
2. Coordinating support to churches, schools, offices and retreat houses on understanding and
   interpreting decarbonisation reports

Person Specification

• Qualifications and Training
  • Educated to at least degree level in a numeric subject.
• Knowledge and Skills
  • A minimum of five years project management experience.
  • A minimum of five years experience of procuring and managing consultant/contract resources.
  • At least three years experience of working with senior leaders and subject matter experts towards delivery of organisational objectives.
• Attributes
  • Teamwork.
  • Driven.
  • Resilience.
  • Impartiality and collaboration.
  • Commercial Awareness.
• Personal Qualities
• Self starter – able to manage own workloads against a competing set of priorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent negotiation skills –  finding a consensus for action.

For a full job description and person specification, please visit General vacancies tendersglobal.net The Diocese of Blackburn (anglican.org)

Outline of Terms and Conditions

Employer: Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance

Salary: £41,220 per annum

Hours: This is a full-time role based on a 35-hour working week, but the post holder may be
required to work additional hours as to meet the reasonable requirements of the role. The post
holder will be entitled to time off in lieu for attending meetings outside normal office hours
which may include evenings and weekends.

Location: The post holder will be based at the Blackburn Diocese Board of Finance, Clayton
House, Walker Office Park, Blackburn, BB1 2QE. The Diocesan Board of Finance operates a flexible working policy that provides for remote
working 2 days/week once the initial probationary period has been successfully completed. The nature of the role requires regular travel around the three dioceses, and sometimes beyond.
A smartphone and laptop will be provided to assist remote working in accordance with the
diocesan policy.

Pension: The default for staff is a Royal London Pension Scheme, 10% Employer contribution 2%
minimum employee contribution. Clergy can opt into the Church of England Clergy Pension Scheme
via a salary sacrifice. Details of this are available on request.

Annual leave: The full-time entitlement is 25 days (not including statutory bank holidays) in
the first year of employment rising by 1 day per completed calendar year up to a maximum of 30
days per year. This is pro rata for part time employees. The holiday year runs from 1 January
to 31 December.

Probationary period: The appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month
probationary period.

Notice Period: During the six-month probationary period two weeks’ notice is required on either
party. Thereafter you will be required to give three months’ notice should you wish to resign.

Expenses: Working expenses are paid at the diocesan rates.

Employee Assistance Programme: is available

Right to work: The post-holder must have the right to reside and work in the UK.

Diversity – The Diocese of Blackburn believes that diversity enables us to thrive and develop
and is committed to race equality, welcoming applications from UK Minority Ethnic/ Global
Majority Heritage backgrounds

The Diocese of Blackburn is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children,
young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this
commitment.