St Mellitus College Dean

Candidate Information St Mellitus College has been one of the most remarkable stories of growth in the in recent years. It has become a truly national college with five different centres and has played a crucial part in changing the nature of theological training both in the UK and internationally.

This is an exciting time for the College as it looks for the right person as its new Dean to lead it into the next phase of its life and impact.

Bishop of Kensington, President of St Mellitus College INTRODUCTION St Mellitus College (SMC) was formed in 2007 by the Bishops of and Chelmsford, in partnership with St Paul’s Theological Centre (). We seek to play our part in the revitalization of the church, offering theological education and training set in the context of prayer and worship that combines academic excellence, a focus on missional leadership, the formation of Christian character, and the flexibility to fit around busy lifestyles, all energized by the life of the Spirit.

St Mellitus is a national college. Responding to the invitation of local bishops, the College has five centres – London, Chelmsford, the North West (Liverpool), the South West (Plymouth), and the East Midlands (Nottingham), and seeks to provide vibrant, innovative, and rigorous theological education through the delivery of non-residential, full-time and part-time training in theology and ministry at introductory, undergraduate and postgraduate level, preparing students for ordained, Reader (LLM) and lay ministries in the Church of England, and for leadership in other churches.

There are more than 60 members of the staff team based across our centres, who are further supported by a number of volunteers. Our ethos is to be grateful, gracious and professional. Our prospectus can be found here.

THE COLLEGE HAS OVER 750 STUDENTS ACCESSING ITS VARIOUS PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING OVER 320 UNDERTAKING ORDINATION TRAINING FROM 33 DIOCESES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SUMMARY

The Dean provides spiritual, pastoral and strategic leadership of a large, growing College with a diverse staff and student body. S/he reports to the St Mellitus board. The Dean (in their capacity as SPTC Principal) also reports to the SPTC board of Trustees.

The Dean must be an Anglican leader who understands and embraces the open-hearted ‘Generous Orthodoxy’ pioneered by the College, ensuring students benefit from the full wisdom of the Christian Church’s various traditions, including HTB/SPTC’s charismatic theology, praxis and culture.

As College Principal, the Dean holds primary responsibility for the overall strategic vision and values, and for the unity and cohesion of the whole College. The Dean holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring the highest standards are maintained in theological study and and ministerial training, in delivery of the College’s courses, in staff organisation and in the College’s internal and external operations, relationships and partnerships. The Dean works closely with two Assistant Deans and a Leadership Team who share the operational management of all aspects of the College’s life.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The Dean will be a natural leader with strong pastoral and teaching gifts. S/he will be highly organised and a natural problem solver, with excellent judgement. The Dean will be an exceptional communicator, a vision caster and intellectually adept. S/he will be a gifted and experienced teacher, scholar or church leader.

In terms of character, the Dean will be collaborative, wise, gracious, communicative, trustworthy, warm, prayerful, flexible, calm, quick-thinking, robust, diplomatic, approachable, resilient and self-aware. The Dean will possess high EQ and will have the ability to inspire others and to work collaboratively. S/he will be able to relate well with academic theologians, administrators, Bishops/DDOs/clergy and students from diverse educational, ethnic and social backgrounds.

The Dean will have the ability to identify, along with others, a spiritual and missional vision for the College, and the ability to articulate that vision theologically both within the College to inspire students and staff, and also outside the College in the wider church.

The Dean will be passionate about training and equipping a diverse range of leaders who can share the good news of the gospel, and plant and lead healthy, growing missional churches across the range of church traditions. ROLE SPECIFICATION

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

CULTURE, LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY • Under the guidance of the Board of Trustees, setting and safeguarding the vision, values, culture and development plan for the national College, and contribute to the national development of training for ministry • Maintaining quality in academic, missional and ministerial formation across the whole College • Cultivating and maintaining unity across the national College, including regular attendance at all teaching centres • Developing collaborative and effective working relationships with key stakeholders in the wider Church and Higher Education bodies such as Durham and Middlesex universities, particularly core partners, diocesan senior staff, and host premises • Working closely with the Assistant Deans, Centre Directors and leadership team to support the fruitful growth and sustainability of all teaching centres and all aspects of the College’s academic, ministerial and administrative functions • Working effectively with the regional Advisory Boards and embracing the distinctive needs in the different regional centres within the framework of the national College • Developing a strong relationship with the SMC board and Chair of the Trustees

COLLEGE LIFE • Oversee the leadership team and work with them to facilitate all aspects of programme revision, delivery and development for the College • Relate well to and understand the needs of the team of academic tutors in the College and foster a strong culture of theological teaching and research • Work with the Assistant Deans, Centre Directors and Admissions team to oversee student recruitment, including open days and prospective student interviews • Involvement with oversight of and investment in formational and ministerial development of students • Undertake academic staff duties as appropriate across the various centres and venues, including teaching, developing and managing course modules, engaging in research and theological writing

STAFFING • Cultivating a unified and integrated national College • Line Management of Assistant Deans (and members of the Leadership Team and other staff as required) • Ensuring a flourishing staff team, including oversight and management of staff development and recruitment across the College GOVERNANCE & FINANCE • Attending all meetings of the SMC Board of Trustees, and regional Advisory Boards and relevant subcommittees • Working closely with the Bursar, the Director of College Operations and the financial services team oversee the financial, compliance and fundraising aspects of the life of the College • Accountable Officer for Higher Education Bodies, including Office for Students, HESA, QAA etc. Primary point of contact for Ministry Division, TEI principals etc. Ultimate responsibility for safeguarding

PRINCIPAL OF SPTC • The Dean is also the Principal of St Paul’s Theological Centre (SPTC), a constituent part of St Mellitus College and part of the HTB Group. As a key partner of the College the Dean will liaise closely with HTB, including attendance at key meetings

GENUINE OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT

There is a Genuine Occupational Requirement under the Equality Act 2000 for the postholder to be a practising Christian in the Anglican tradition, with a rich knowledge and understanding of the Church of England. The postholder need not be ordained, though this is desirable.

Candidates must have the right to work and reside in the UK. SUMMARY TERMS

• The Dean will be employed by St Mellitus College Trust • This is a full-time position, based at the St Mellitus College campus in London SW5. There will be frequent travel to the other SMC Centres • Remuneration is in line with an Archdeacon in the London Diocese (£37,500 pa) • A house at the London campus is provided for better performance of the Dean’s duties; a housing allowance would be considered as an alternative. An allowance for removal costs will be given • Pension: automatic enrolment into either the Church of England Funded Pension Scheme (if ordained) or SMC’s Scottish Widows DC Workplace Pension Scheme • Six weeks holiday per annum • 6-month probationary period • 6-month notice period DEAN’S HOUSING PROVISION

The Dean is provided with a large five-bedroom house next to the London teaching centre (SW5). The house is made up of the middle two floors of the original vicarage.

There is a separate three-bedroom flat above which houses the verger and three St Mellitus College teaching rooms in the basement, both of which have separate external access.

The ground floor consists of three large reception rooms, kitchen which can accommodate a small seating area with adjoining utility space, and WC. The upper floor includes a large master bedroom, four other bedrooms, a study space and two family bathrooms. There is also one additional WC between the upper and ground floors off the stairs.

It is a Victorian building with high ceilings, large windows and lots of natural light throughout.

There is also private access into the communal square gardens and off-road parking for one car. Paid resident’s permits are available for additional on-road parking in the Kensington & Chelsea borough.

APPLICATIONS

If you would like to apply for the role of Dean, please submit a full CV to [email protected], with a covering letter outlining - a) the reason for your interest in the role; and b) the reason you consider yourself a good fit for the role

The closing date for applications is 17 June 2020. Interviews will take place in London (or online if necessary) on Friday 3 July 2020.