Head of Property Candidate Information Pack
Contents Introduction
Note from Bishop of Guildford
Note from the Diocesan Secretary
Diocese of Guildford - About us
The Portfolio
Transforming Church, Transforming Lives
Job Description
Employee Benefits
Diversity and Inclusion
Campaign Schedule and Key Dates
Introduction
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the appointment of Head of Property at the Diocese of Guildford. Vital to the mission of the organisation, The Head of Property ensures that the operational property portfolio runs at is very best for the benefit of the clergy, community, partners and diocesan staff. The Diocese of Guildford seeks to enhance the wellbeing of the clergy as they settle into vicarages, which combine a workplace and a home, by ensuring effective management and maintenance of property and forging strong and trusted relationships with them. In addition, the Diocese realises the opportunity to extract additional value from both its housing and investment portfolios. The appointed will be responsible for reviewing the current portfolio and subsequently devising and implementing a long term property strategy. This will outline the current and future requirements of operational housing, as well as identifying opportunity for development and asset management across the overall land and property portfolio. Following the launch of the vision Transforming Church, Transforming Lives in 2016 there has been an exciting period of change, leading to significant new missional energy in many of our churches, chaplaincies and schools. It’s been especially encouraging to witness the development of around 80 new worshipping communities since the launch, including four major projects in areas of new housing.
The role of the Head of Property is key to unlocking potential within the physical estate by ensuring effective running and utilisation of the portfolio.
Note from Bishop of Guildford
Dear Applicant
The role of Head of Property in Guildford Diocese is much more than a matter of bricks and mortar. It’s about enhancing the morale and wellbeing of our clergy and their families (our greatest asset), as they live and work in diverse communities across the diocese, and learn to call their vicarage a home. It’s about helping churches make the most of their property assets for the mission and ministry to which God’s called them. It’s about overseeing our whole property portfolio as a diocese, and unlocking its potential for the future. It’s integral to our vision of a Transforming Church, Transforming Lives. This is an exciting time in the life of the Diocese, and one of great opportunity. Do come and join us!
Andrew Guildford Bishop of Guildford
Note from the Diocesan Secretary
Dear Applicant
As Head of Property your skills will be key to helping us develop and support our property portfolio and processes to fulfil these strategic goals, as well as to ensure strong and effective management and maintenance of our buildings and land. This is a hands on and busy role supported by a small in-house property and church care team that delivers a key function of the support we provide to our parishes from our Operations team based at Church House. You will also need to ensure we maintain and develop a reliable and trusted network of suppliers, including architects, surveyors, agents, engineers, project managers and building contractors. We are looking for a proven hands-on leader and skilled property professional with a track-record of property portfolio management, both residential and community based. We want someone who can inspire and support their own team, our leadership team and the wider organisation. But most of all I am looking for a colleague who shares the missional passion and heart to reach and serve communities in this place.
Thank you for your interest in this key role of Head of Property in the Diocese of Guildford. I’m so glad that you’re considering joining our team. This is an exciting time for us, with the launch of the vision of a Transforming Church, Transforming Lives in 2016 leading to significant new missional energy in many of our churches, chaplaincies and schools. It’s been especially encouraging to witness the development of around 80 new worshipping communities since the launch, including four major projects in areas of new housing. Over the past eighteen months we have moved our diocesan teams into new, attractive, open-plan offices on the University of Surrey Research Park. More recently, we have embarked on a major review of the services we offer, seeking to ensure that our diocesan strategy gets well embedded, that our resources are efficiently managed, and that Church House Guildford is genuinely scratching where the parishes are itching.
Yours faithfully
Peter Coles Diocesan Secretary
Diocese of Guildford
About Us
The Diocese of Guildford covers the western two-thirds of Surrey and a significant area of North-east Hampshire. It also includes one parish in a London borough and one in rural West Sussex. In the north-east, it is largely suburban, but moving south and west, there are a number of distinct towns and numerous villages. The south-west has a more rural feel to it, but the north-east is largely suburban. The population here is greater and excellent road and rail links to London and elsewhere mean that there is much commuting within these areas. The population is just over a million, rising in line with the national rate. Notwithstanding the rural areas, the average population density is above average, both regionally and nationally. The Diocese has two archdeaconries, each with six deaneries, and a total of 161 parishes. There are very few multi-parish benefices with just one stipendiary priest. A great deal of the work of the church is done at a local level by the parishes. The diocesan teams support and encourage the work of the parishes, and also work with wider networks to the mutual benefit of the church and society at local, regional and national levels.
The Portfolio
With more than 200 clergy and investment houses, 217 Church buildings and many parish owned halls and facilities, our property portfolio provides an essential asset for our mission and ministry across this area, whilst also supporting multiple community activities, clubs and meetings. The 83 church schools (53 voluntary aided) in the diocese include three secondary schools. There are also 11 Affiliated schools. We currently have 21 academies, 16 of which are under the care of the Diocese’s Good Shepherd Trust.
Transforming Church, Transforming Lives
Transforming Church, Transforming Lives is the vision of the Diocese of Guildford, launched in September 2016 following a long period of consultation Transforming Church, Transforming Lives communicates the essence of everything we are seeking to pray and work towards across the diocese, rather than being a separate mission project to be hived off to a small bunch of enthusiasts. Transforming Church, Transforming Lives is a framework not a blueprint, encouraging a thousand local initiatives to work towards our broader shared goals. It is primarily a strategy for the local church, though many of its principles are being extended to groups of churches, network congregations, chaplaincies and church schools. Its ethos is: • To encourage local mission initiatives through a culture of permission-giving, training, support and finance. • To develop a deeper sense of partnership and shared accountability between churches and across the diocese, as parishes increasingly look to resource one another, and Church House Guildford to resource the whole. • To grow a culture of honesty, mutual learning, persistent prayer, deepening discipleship and confident faith sharing.
The full Transforming Church, Transforming lives strategy can be found here
Job Description
Job Purpose
Relationships
To lead on the development and implementation of a Property strategy agenda in line with the Transforming Church, Changing Lives vision and mission of the Diocese of Guildford. To ensure that Property plans support the needs of the diocese but are also flexible enough to cope with changes in the organisation and Parishes, as and when they occur.
Archdeacons have a special interest in clergy housing and the Head of Property will have a key working relationship with the Archdeacons of Surrey and Dorking. The Head of Property will also relate directly to: • Incumbents and other Parish clergy • Churchwardens • The Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) and the Chair of the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) • Finance Director and the Finance department • Director of HR and Safeguarding and the HR department • Diocesan Registrar and legal advisors • Schools Building team
Accountability
Accountable to the Diocesan Secretary for day-to-day oversight, management and strategic direction of the Property function. Responsible for • Property Surveyor • Property Maintenance Co-ordinator • Property Assistant • DAC & Pastoral Secretary • Custodian Trustee
The Head of Property will be an ex officio member of the Housing Advisory Committee, a subcommittee of Bishop’s Council and the DBF.
The role is enhanced through regular liaison with the network of Diocesan Surveyors in other dioceses of the Church of England.
Responsibilities
• Develop and provide oversight of a strategic property plan which supports the delivery of the diocesan strategic agenda. • Provide leadership and manage the property team, external suppliers and consultants, in order that the strategy is delivered and developed over time; with day to day responsibilities fulfilled. • Over time, optimise the overall property portfolio to be more fit for purpose. • Ensure that our clergy feel valued by providing, maintaining and improving housing that will attract and retain people into the diocese, whilst carefully managing our costs. A flexible response is required in order that we can meet the changing needs of our paid ministry team. • Identify, build and maintain relationships with key partners and stakeholders including developers and council planning teams. • Identify, promote and lead on property development opportunities. • Support the leadership teams in our parishes, offering advice and support to clergy, wardens and others as appropriate, either personally or through the identification of particular skills within the team, external suppliers or consultants. • Work with the Chairman of the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) for the Care of Churches to seek to ensure that parishes are given a high level of support in managing faculty and related permission processes. • Hold the property budget, taking overall responsibility for the preparation of the annual property budget and ensuring expenditure is kept within budget. • Be accountable for ensuring the diocese meets internal and external legal requirements in relation to its properties. • Attend the Bishop’s Staff Meeting and Finance & Audit Meeting as required, to offer professional advice and to contribute to the formation of relevant policies. • Liaise with other diocesan officers, Regional Diocesan Surveyors and Property teams and other relevant professional external agencies to share best practices.
Clergy Houses
Overall responsibility for: • Undertaking (or organising) of the five yearly inspections (quinquennials); • Repairs and maintenance (including emergency response); • Improvements, reducing our carbon footprint and advising on suitable security measures; • Undertake major housing works during vacancies; • Maintaining suitable buildings insurance and managing claims;
• Renting out vacant properties; • Buying and selling as required; • Managing small scale development projects.
Investment Property
Overall responsibility for: • Securing the best terms for lease or licence agreements and renewals; • Liaising with legal advisors to conclude transactions; • Issuing invoices and collecting payments; • Fulfilling landlord’s responsibilities; • Optimising financial returns; • Pursuing development opportunities; • Places of worship, church halls and parish property (services currently provided piecemeal by various church architects or property consultants); • Providing consultancy services, in conjunction with the DAC where appropriate, to parishes to develop their places of worship and church halls, making them welcoming centres used throughout the week; • Offering the sourcing of project management expertise for parish developments; • Providing advice to parishes on renting or buying curate-in-training housing; • Planning with parishes and our Parish Development team for serving new housing developments, drawing in the expertise of the DAC where appropriate.
Head of Property
Property Maintenance Co-ordinator
DAC & Pastoral Sec
Property Surveyor
Quinquennial Surveys (Outsourced)
Property Assistant
Assistant (DAC)
Custodian Trustee Administrator
Diocesan Office
Overall responsibility for: • Health & Safety, including statutory risk assessments; • Maintenance of services provided by the leaseholder, with ‘as built’ plans; • Liaison with Landlord’s agent to fulfil leaseholder responsibilities; • Leading on insurance provision and supply for all Diocesan activities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Desirable
Essential
• Degree level or equivalent
• RICS (or equivalent body) qualified chartered building surveyor or other relevant qualification
Experience
Desirable
Essential
• Leading and managing a property department with expenditure budgets of around £1.4m • Managing small scale residential housing planning & developments • Developing a strategic property plan; optimising return from property and land assets • Experience of managing and motivating volunteers • Working in a complex organisational structure • Can quickly establish credibility and
• Previously influenced senior managers, built strong commercial relationships and driven a Property strategy • Managing a housing portfolio as a building surveyor; building a network of trusted suppliers and consultants • Creating specifications of works, issuing tenders, negotiating best value with suppliers • Managing and leading on contracts and commercials associated with developments • Ability to deliver multiple projects concurrently on time and to budget; • Experience of managing and developing a team
respect and build strong working relationships with department managers
• Demonstrable maturity,
professionalism and gravitas
Knowledge
Desirable
Essential
• Appreciation of the constraints when developing heritage buildings • Strong experience an understanding of property management and associated legalities in a charitable context • Understanding of the Church Faculty regulations and mechanisms of the DAC
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of UK property law and regulations and their practical application, including landlord/ tenant & health & safety • House sales, valuations and disposals; • Strong working knowledge of the legalities associated with property and land management and the ability to apply these to a variety of situations • An understanding of personalities and behavioural styles in order to work collaboratively with a variety of people and to make informed decision around resourcing, prioritisation and relationships • IT skills: good knowledge of Outlook, Word, Excel and Powerpoint and at ease with using technology such as smart phones, tablets, laptops
Skills
• Excellent written communication skills, including letters, inspection reports, proposals, tenders and policies • The ability to inspire confidence of the Bishop, Diocesan Secretary and other senior managers through timely delivery of information and plans
Essential
• Effectively plans ahead to anticipate problems, plans for worst-case and best-case scenarios • Makes sensible, intelligent decisions in difficult and deadline driven situations • Results-focused - understands what is important to key stakeholders- is committed to achieving goals • Able to identify problems and opportunities, shape solutions, successfully implement, with colleagues and stakeholders on board • Effective communicator who is creative and imaginative. Able to listen, converse and influence at all levels of interaction - from one to one meetings to large gatherings
Desirable
• Able to problem solve both operational and strategic issues through a pragmatic and commercially sound approach • Tenacious approach to delivery, quality of output and organisation
Personal and Behaviours
• Capable communication skills both verbal and written - handles complex and difficult situations with thought and confidence • Works independently of Diocesan Secretary, but consults where appropriate • An ability to get on with people of all ages
Essential
• Prepared to take well assessed risks • Sympathy with the aims and mission of the Church of England • Ability to form effective working relationships in a complex environment with a diverse range of people and organisations including colleagues, clergy (at all levels suppliers and consultants • Able to work on own initiative as well as part of a team when required • Excellent customer service • A capacity to be flexible and to work under pressure, with good levels of personal organisation, attention to detail and a focus on delivering results to deadlines • Able to travel by car widely around the diocese, and nationally when required, with a full, clean driving licence • Comfortable working in an open plan modern office environment • An ability to model a responsible and healthy life balance • Resilience and good humour
Desirable
• Act as a role model for the organisation looks beyond own team as a role model and source of knowledge • Works with others in a collaborative and solutions focused manner to achieve win- win outcomes • A compelling, warm and open demeanour with a collaborative working style • A good working knowledge of the Church of England and its structures • An understanding of other Christian denominations and non-Christian faiths
Employee Benefits
Competitive salary in the charity sector
Generous non-contributory pension provision
Annual leave entitlement of 23 days per year in the first year of employment, rising to 26 days per year afterwards, plus bank holidays Office-based in attractive, open-plan surroundings at Church House Guildford, 20 Alan Tu- ring Road, Guildford, GU2 7YF, with on-site car parking
Diversity and Inclusion
DBF aim to be an equal opportunities employer in all respects and in compliance with the Equality Act 2010. No job applicant, employee or worker will receive less favourable treatment in terms of direct or indirect discrimination, harassment or victimisation on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics and set out below, except where discrimination would be permitted by law. The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, race, colour, religion or belief, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity The policy of non-discrimination will also apply membership or non-membership of trade unions and “spent convictions” of ex-offenders. The DBF will follow the recommendations and Codes of Practice of the Equality and Human Rights Commission taking account of those previously provided by the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission. The Diocese of Guildford is part of the Church of England and those who work for the Diocese in a paid or voluntary capacity will be expected to hold a sympatric view for the aims and values of the Church of England, the Diocese and the Christian faith.
Application Process
The Diocese of Guildford are being supported on this recruitment campaign by the search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG).
To arrange a confidential briefing conversation please contact our advisor Stephanie Howe of The Management Recruitment Group
stephanie.howe@mrgpeople.co.uk 0203 962 9900
Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV (of not more than 4 pages) and a covering letter (of not more than 2 pages).
Applications should be sent to stephanie.howe@mrgpeople.co.uk.
The closing date for applications is midnight 4th October 2020.
First stage Diocese of Guildford are being held w/c 19th October 2020.
Second stage interviews with the Diocese of Guildford scheduled w/c 26th October 2020.
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