South West Ministry Training Course

Job Description & Person Specification

Vice Principal

Reporting to:Joint-Principals (Directors of Ministry, Dioceses of Exeter and Truro)

Location: Within the region, initially in Exeter

Working Hours: 20 hours per week (0.5 FTE). Attendance at residential weekends, a week’s ‘Easter School’ and some evening events will be required.

Line Manager for:Academic staff; Training CoordinatorAdministrator; Academic Registrar.

Job Purpose: The Vice Principal provides the day to day leadership and management of SWMTCs provision of ministerial training, nurturing the missional ethos of the Course and delivering excellent ministerial formation while working with two different but complementary dioceses and acrossthe spectrum of traditions within the Church of England.

Key Responsibilities:Working closely with the Directors of Ministry as Joint-Principals s/he takes overall responsibility for:

Academic Management

  • Developing the curriculum to meet the changing needs and opportunities facing the Church (and, in particular, advancing the curriculum changes currently underway)
  • Overseeing the educational, training and formational programmes delivered by SWMTC, ensuring they are delivered well and effectively.
  • With the Academic Registrar, securing a mutually beneficial relationship between SWMTC and Durham University (the validating HEI).
  • Overseeing the academic management of the Course,including quality assurance and enhancement.
  • Ensuring the provision of appropriate pastoral care for students.
  • Liaising with dioceses in relation to individual students.

Staff Management

  • In collaboration with the Directors of Ministry as Joint-Principals, leading the staff team and working closely and creatively with the Programme Directors, overseeing their work and undertaking regular appraisals.
  • Initiating programmes for staff development.
  • Line managing the Academic Staff, Chaplains, Academic Registrar (and thereby Academic Administrator) and Training CoordinatorAdministrator.

Teaching and Tutoring

  • The Vice Principalwill be a core member of the teaching team, involved in the teaching of ordinands andother students. This will include home visits to ministry students.
  • Undertaking the assessment and marking of students’ work.

Professional Development

  • Participating in training programmes, as appropriate.

Person Specification: The Vice Principal will be:

Attributes / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications and Training /
  • MA in a theological discipline or an equivalent publishing record
/
  • PhD in a theological discipline

Knowledge, skills and abilities /
  • Experience of teaching ministry subjects to first degree level, including the pastoral care of students.
  • Effective in the management of quality assurance systems within higher education.
  • An effective participant in the educational, training and formational structures and systems of sponsoring churches, including their quality assurance systems.
  • Experienced in effectively managing and leading a team of both paid and voluntary staff, with a working knowledge of the relevant employment legislation.
  • Familiarity with the opportunities and challenges of ministry in the different contexts of the region
  • IT literate and competent in using Microsoft Office applications, especially Powerpoint, Outlook and Word.
  • Clean driving license and access to a vehicle
/
  • Experience of working in a small organisation

Personal Qualities /
  • Able to think strategically so as to deliver and review policies
  • Ability to exercise initiative
  • Ability and commitment to work collaboratively with colleagues
  • Ability to respond creatively to new situations
  • Ability to listen and communicate effectively
  • Ability to assimilate and express concepts accurately and succinctly, both verbally and on paper
  • Proven presentation skills
  • Ability to develop understanding and effective relationships
  • Diplomacy, tact, patience, flexibility and a sense of humour

General /
  • An empathy with the mission and ministry of the Course
/
  • Understanding the belief systems which shape the life of ministerial students

9/2/18