Job Description and Person specification

Job Description
Post:
Location:
Senior Governance Officer (Legal and Constitutional Practice)
Fixed term 10 month contract
(The role will provide maternity cover in part for the Conference Officer
for Legal and Constitutional Practice)
Methodist Church House
25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR
Responsible to:
Responsible for:
Relationships
Internal:
Relationships
External:
Ethos and
Working Style:
The Assistant Secretary of the Conference
Complaints and Safeguarding Worker
Events and Conference Coordinator
The Team’s Leadership Groups of Connexional Secretaries and Senior
Managers
Members of the Governance Support Cluster
Members of the Connexional Team
The Presidency
The Chair of the Methodist Council
The Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee
District Chairs, the Warden of the Diaconal Order and Circuit
Superintendents
The Chair and members of the Law and Polity Committee
The officers and staff of the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
The Connexional solicitor
Methodist Insurance Company
The Churches’ Legislative Advisory Service
The Charity Commission and officers of other statutory regulatory bodies
The Senior Governance Officer is expected to embrace fully and advocate
the ethos of the Methodist Church Connexional Team expressed through
Our Calling and Priorities for the Methodist Church, together with the
collaborative working style expressed in Ways of Working.
Purpose and Objectives of the Governance Support Cluster:
The purpose of the Governance Support Cluster (GSC) is to support the Methodist Church in fulfilling its
mission within the constitutional framework laid out in its foundational documents; and to assist the
Church continually to develop its governance arrangements to enable it to live out Our Calling and
Priorities in new and innovative ways.
To achieve this the cluster will support and develop the work of the Connexional Team that is directly
accountable to the Conference and in particular will support the role of the Secretary of the Conference.

The Cluster necessarily draws on services and expertise in the wider Team and oversees the provision of
theological resources and advice on legal, constitutional and governance matters to a range of
connexional bodies and to the Connexion as a whole.
In developing experience and expertise in legal and governance matters, this cluster will:
1. provide reliable support and guidance for the constitutional and timely functioning of the principal
governance bodies of the Church
2. assist the Secretary of the Conference and the wider Church in developing the Church’s mission and
ministry in full compliance with the general law, internal Methodist legislation and the discipline and
usage of the Methodist Church
3. facilitate, in collaboration with the rest of the Team and the wider Church, theologically-informed
developments in leadership, management and governance to support the Church’s vision of its
mission and worship.
4. keep under review formal procedures in order to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and make
Constitutional Practice and Discipline as accessible and user-friendly as possible.
Purpose and Objectives of the Senior Governance Officer (Legal and Constitutional Practice)
Under the oversight of the Assistant Secretary of the Conference, the role is to:
ensure that the responsibilities of the Secretary of the Conference, as set out in the Standing
Orders for the complaints and discipline processes, are fulfilled;
facilitate the provision of legal and constitutional guidance to local Churches, Circuits and
Districts, and with the Assistant Secretary of the Conference play a major part in ensuring the
legal and constitutional compliance of governance bodies and the Team;
assist the Assistant Secretary of the Conference in executive action in respect of ministers, in
particular through the resignation, reinstatement and senior appointment processes
at all times to work collaboratively and flexibly with the Assistant Secretary of the Conference.
Main Tasks:
1 Within the Governance Support Cluster the post-holder will:
1.1 convene the Law and Polity Committee, overseeing the work of the Committee and
drawing on the resources of the Committee regarding legal and constitutional matters
affecting the Methodist Church
1.2 Prepare the annual report of the Law and Polity Committee to the Methodist Conference
and prepare such other reports to the Council as required by the Assistant Secretary of the
Conference.
1.3 oversee the annual production of The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the
Methodist Church
1.4 with the Assistant Secretary ensure oversight of the complaints and discipline processes of
the Church, and grievance procedures for ministers
1.5 be responsible for contracting legal advice as required
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1.6 ensure that the Methodist Council’s responsibilities under Part 9 of the Constitutional
Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church detailing property matters are properly
fulfilled
1.7 offering guidance on the interpretation of Standing Orders and the Model Trust to
governance bodies and Managing Trustees.
1.8 liaise with The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (custodian trustees).
1.9 fulfil, as appropriate, such duties assigned to the Property Secretary in the Methodist
Church Act 1976 and the Model Trusts.
1.10 provide guidance and support to Managing Trustee in respect of their legal responsibilities
and the requirements of CPD
1.11 offer support to Methodist bodies through the charity registration application process,
including on the requirements of the Charities Act with the specific issues for Local
Ecumenical Partnerships.
1.12 liaise with the Charity Commission on behalf of The Methodist Church
1.13 Manage the Law and Polity budget
2. The post-holder will undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by the Assistant Secretary
of the Conference as appropriate.
Terms and Conditions:
Terms of appointment
Health and Safety:
Equal Opportunities:
Physical Conditions:
Remuneration:
Fixed term to cover a maternity leave. This position is initially available
for 10 months, starting in January 2014.
The post holder will be subject to the Methodist Council’s Health and
Safety policy
The post holder will be subject to the Methodist Council’s Equal
Opportunities policy
Open Plan Office Accommodation
For lay employees: Starting salary of £44,681 plus £3,528 Inner London
Allowance per annum
For ordained appointments: A stipend plus an additional allowance.
Work Permit:
Hours of Work:
Appointment will be subject to documentary evidence of the right to live
and work in the UK
35 hours per week
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The normal hours of work will be from 9.00am to 5.00pm with an hour
for lunch. Flexibility in working hours will be required due to the nature
of this post and the work of the Cluster.
Holiday Entitlement:
Sick Pay:
Probationary Period:
Season Ticket:
21 days plus Bank Holidays.
Entitlement in accordance with the Methodist Council’s terms and
conditions of employment
Appointment made subject to the satisfactory completion of a
probationary period which, for this post, is three months.
Season ticket loans are available after the satisfactory completion of the
probationary period.
30 August 2013
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Person Specification:
Senior Governance Officer (Legal and Constitutional Practice)
Attributes Essential Desirable Assessme
nt
1. Relevant
Training &
Education
A degree or appropriate professional
qualification in law or another relevant
discipline
A,Q
A member of the Methodist Church or
actively committed to the life of the
Methodist Church.
A, I
2. Proven
abilities
Relevant experience of working in a
regulatory environment.
Professional experience of a governance
and/or a legal role
Ability to build good relationships with a
wide range of people
Ability to effectively present complex
information in a clear and accessible
manner both orally and in writing
Excellent communication and
interpersonal skills.
Able to operate effectively within a
complex governance system and
influence decision making as appropriate.
Ability to grasp and resolve complex
issues.
A , I
A , I
A, I
A, I,W
A, I
A, I
A,I, W
Ability to keep track of legislation and
ensure any consequences for the
Methodist Church are highlighted and
dealt with.
A,I,
Highly organised with the ability to set
priorities, manage a busy workload and
work to deadlines.
A,I,W
3. Special
Knowledge
and
Expertise
Comprehensive knowledge of the
governance structures and working of
the Methodist Church
A, I, W
Knowledge of managing/charity trustee
responsibilities.
Experience of explaining complex issues
to diverse audiences.
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Experience of working with Church
officers at circuit, district and
Connexional levels.
A, I, W
A, I
A, I

4. Personal
Qualities
Knowledge of trust, charity and property
law.
Experience of convening committees and
overseeing the work of the committee to
ensure deadlines are met.
Experience of strategically planning work
IT and word processing skills
Demonstrate awareness of, and
sensitivity to, issues of equality, diversity
and inclusion and a commitment to the
unique value of the individual in all
aspects of the Church’s life
In sympathy with the ethos of the
Methodist Church as expressed through
Our Calling and Priorities for the
Methodist Church
Ability to work collaboratively with
colleagues, members of committees and
others, including volunteers, throughout
the Methodist Church
Professional and positive approach, with
a commitment to professional
development and self-improvement
Knowledge of the Methodist
Conference procedures
Knowledge of the set-up of Local
Ecumenical Partnerships.
Comprehensive understanding of the
Methodist Standing Orders and Model
Trusts.
Experience of drafting legal and
governance documents.
Experience of managing a complaints
and disciplinary processes
A,I
A,I
A, I, W
A, I, W
A,I,W
A,I
A,I
A, I
A, W
A, I
A , I
A , I
A , I
Willing to travel around the connexion
A, I
Availability to work occasional irregular
hours especially evenings/weekends
A, I
Ability to maintain the highest level of
confidentiality
A,I
Method of Assessment A – Application Form, I – Interview, W – Written exercise, P –
Presentation, G – Group exercise, Q – proof of qualification (certificates or transcripts)
We reserve the right to introduce a written exercise or group exercise as part of the recruitment and
selection process.
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