Part Time Learning and Development Officer (aligned to East Anglia District)

The Vacancy

Part Time (21 hours) Learning and Development Officer. Aligned to East Anglia District

Are you passionate about helping to further the mission of our churches, circuits and districts? Are you an excellent facilitator and educator? Do you have imagination, creativity and a pastoral heart for understanding rural communities and those living on the edge? If you are, we would like to hear from you. As an experienced professional with a proven track record in learning and development, you will be part of the GB-wide Learning Network of the Methodist Church, encouraging and resourcing life-long learning.

This position is aligned to the East Anglia Methodist District and will work with circuits and churches in rural, coastal and urban settings. The role includes a wide range of learning and development activities within the life of the church. These are aimed at supporting, encouraging and inspiring the church in living out 'Our Calling: to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission'. The Learning Network works primarily with lay and ordained church leaders, equipping them as they in turn seek to equip all God's people.

As the successful applicant aligned to the East Anglia District, you will work with other team members across Learning Network and the wider Connexional Team, to support, encourage and inspire Methodist people in all aspects of their calling as together we seek to be an inclusive, justice seeking, evangelistic and growing church.

About you

The role includes:

enabling, equipping and resourcing through preparation, delivery and evaluation of a wide range of contextually relevant learning and development activities, events and initiatives, both for onsite and online contexts;
supporting circuits in exploring vision and developing mission plans;
facilitating effective and potentially transformational conversations on a variety of subjects;
helping churches in their commitment to support the Church's aspiration to be inclusive, justice seeking, evangelistic and growing;
working collaboratively with colleagues to plan, develop and review learning and development programmes;
contributing your particular gifts and experiences to enhance learning and development across the connexion
a requirement to travel, and work during some evenings and weekends
a requirement to live within the East Anglia District of the Methodist Church
a requirement to be a member of a church in good standing with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland or equivalent.

Key skills include:

Building good relationships with the Districts and with individuals and communities across the church and beyond;
Good communication (including digital mediums), planning, organising, and leadership skills;
An understanding of safeguarding;
Supporting adult learners;
Theological thinking and the ability to facilitate others in developing theological conversation;
The ability to work with people across a broad demographic;
Flexible and creative approach.
You will have significant experience in offering learning and development support and theological reflection in a relevant context.

Our Culture, Values and Benefits

Thank you for considering joining our inclusive and welcoming team that strives for excellence and values employee wellbeing.

We value and support all those who join our team through a positive work-life balance augmented by generous annual leave (plus an extra 3 days over Christmas/New Year), annualised hours and a Wellbeing Adviser service. We offer a generous occupational pension scheme, where the Methodist Church will pay double the employee contribution up to a maximum of 16% employer contribution.

The Methodist Church is an inclusive and supportive employer. We are actively committed to encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. We welcome applications from people of Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic groups. We also welcome applications from people living with disabilities.

The successful applicant will be required to live within the geographical area of the East Anglia Methodist District and will be expected to travel for work purposes.

Closing date: 15 January 2025

Interviews to take place on: 3 February 2025 in Thetford

N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.