Head of Vocations and Ordinands

As Head of Vocations and Ordinands, you will be at the forefront of identifying and nurturing those called to ordained and other licensed ministry; leaders who are Christ‑centred, theologically rooted, and missionally courageous. You will lead a prayerful and visionary discernment process, ensuring that each candidate is both deeply supported and rigorously assessed. You will work across a rich and varied landscape of church tradition, with a passion for widening participation and cultivating vocations that reflect the full diversity of our region.

You'll develop accelerated pathways for those with leadership potential and strengthen routes into ministry for underrepresented communities, including through the Elizabeth and Peter Streams. This is a key strategic role – working closely with bishops, parish leaders, vocations advisers and ADDOs, theological institutions, and the Ministry Division – to resource and help shape the future of ordained and lay ministry across the diocese, enabling the vibrant, faithful, and hope‑filled Church we long to see.

• Lead on Vocational Discernment & Formation
• Lead a spiritually grounded, pastorally sensitive, and theologically robust discernment process from first enquiry through to selection and initial formation encompassing the role of DDO.
• Support candidates into appropriate formation pathways, ensuring formation is rooted in Scripture, open‑hearted in spirit, and hopeful for the future of the Church.
• Facilitate a culture within the diocese where all our ministers are equipped to recognise, celebrate and nurture a wide variety of vocations to ministry.
• Supporting and advising those responsible for the selection and training of those presenting for Licensed Lay Ministry.
• Ensure that the vocations offer resources and adapts to our emerging strategy for the future of the Church of England in Birmingham, ensuring we have confident missional leaders for each and every context.
• Ensure effective transition and pastoral continuity for candidates as they move from discernment and IME1 into curacy (IME2), maintaining strong links between diocesan support, training pathways, and parish contexts.

• Actively engage with underrepresented groups to ensure leadership reflects the diversity of our region.
• Work alongside colleagues, TEIs and Ministry Division to promote and explore specific routes of formation which are accessible and equipping for
• those called to pioneering, church planting, or fresh expressions of ministry,
• later‑life vocations
• those who are already serving the church in a different authorised ministry.

• Work closely with bishops, vocations advisers/ADDOs and the wider Ministry Team to ensure excellent candidate experience and discernment outcomes. Be a key part of our People Planning workstream, identifying how we identify, equip and deploy leadership for our worshipping communities.
• Liaise with theological training institutions, local training pathways and the Church of England Ministry Division to support candidates through to their transition to curacy.
• Ensure compliance with national discernment and formation processes, maintaining accurate candidate records and reporting to Ministry Division.

• Provide spiritual and pastoral care for candidates, modelling a life of prayer and trust in the Holy Spirit.
• Foster a culture of ongoing formation, theological reflection, and Christlike leadership.
• Ensure discernment and formation processes are conducted in ways that promote safeguarding and candidate wellbeing.

A deep personal faith rooted in Scripture, prayer and sacrament. Experience of developing innovative pathways for training or formation. Strong theological understanding with an ability to work creatively across traditions. Knowledge of current trends and challenges in ministry and mission within the Church of England and the expectations upon ministers. Experience in vocational discernment, mentoring, or leadership formation. Proven experience in leadership development, preferably in both parish and wider…