Executive Assistant to the Dean of Lichfield
Job and Person Specification
Job Title
Executive Assistant to the Dean
Reporting to
The Very Rev’d Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield
Responsible for
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Clerical Assistant (P/T)
Other support staff, as/when needed
Volunteer(s), occasionally
Lichfield Cathedral’s History and Mission
Lichfield Cathedral is one of the most ancient places of Christian pilgrimage, worship
and service in the UK. It has a 1300 year history and is the seat of the Bishop of
Lichfield and a regional centre of worship and mission.
Its Mission Statement is:
Lichfield Cathedral is called to live and proclaim the transforming love of God.
Through the fullness of its life in the spirit, it seeks to be a sign of friendship and
freedom that God in Jesus Christ has given the whole world to enjoy.
Strategic Vision – Key Priorities
1. Reaching a new public and making new Christians; by 2019 we want to
double our visitors and significantly increase our worshipping congregations.
Developing partnerships with the Diocese and Cathedral School across a
2. range of activities, so that the Cathedral plays a key role in the delivery of
Diocesan priorities.
Nurturing Christian faith, worship and understanding through learning,
3. exhibitions, events, interpretation of the Cathedral.
Securing alliances to boost economic activity and the cultural and visitor
4. economy.
Renewing and repairing the Cathedral and Close and giving the Cathedral
5. the facilities and infrastructure for future demands.
Securing the Finances for £20m of development and increasing revenue
6. streams.
Main job purpose
September 2015
The Dean leads and heads the Cathedral and is responsible with the Chapter for
every aspect of its life and mission. He is a member of the Bishop’s Staff and is a
senior Church dignitary. Additionally he has a high profile role as Chairman of the
Association of English Cathedrals and he is a member of several national Church
bodies. He helped to found the Lichfield City Centre Partnership and is active in its
affairs; he is a sponsor of the Lichfield Business Improvement District Initiative. As a
result of these responsibilities and the need to act as media spokesperson for the
Cathedral (and on religious matters generally), the Dean’s office has to function at a
high-level of precision and pace.
Therefore, the Executive Assistant provides the confidential organisational,
secretarial and administrative support service required to support the Dean’s
work and role.
Principle tasks and areas of work
1. To support the Dean in his role as head of the Cathedral Foundation and his
work on national and other external bodies.
2. To deal with a wide variety of people, including public and official bodies (e.g.
the Royal Household, Senior Church bodies, Parliamentarians and National
Government) and liaise with them.
3. To arrange, manage and organise the day-to-day business of the Dean and
his diary.
4. To undertake research, at the Dean’s request, to provide background material
and recommendations on any matter.
5. To arrange transport and accommodation when the Dean has to travel.
6. To oversee and deliver specific projects and events led by or initiated by the
Dean and to project manage them.
7. To liaise with colleagues/others (as appropriate) and ensure that the Dean,
Chapter, Committee Members (as appropriate) are kept informed on all
important matters.
8. To deal promptly and efficiently with all correspondence (postal and
electronic).
9. To maintain effective records in relation to all the business of the Dean.
10. To undertake other reasonable tasks at the request of the Dean or the
Operations Director.
The qualities and skills required
1. Fully committed to, interested in and supportive of the Cathedral’s ethos,
vision and ministry.
2. Educated to graduate level or beyond
3. Experience as a senior Personal Assistant
4. Literate, numerate and meticulous
5. Advanced typing skills; ability to use shorthand advantageous
6. The confidence to intervene authoritatively to ensure that confidentiality and
standards are maintained
7. Excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise
8. Experience of keeping detailed records and retrieving information
9. Able to work under significant time pressure and time constraints
September 2015
10. The ability and confidence to communicate effectively with the public and
other external contacts in both written and spoken english
11. Excellent IT skills including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel
12. Knowledge of the Church or church-based charities
13. Experience of working with volunteers and volunteer committees.
14. Flexibility to work occasionally at evenings and weekends when events at the
Cathedral require it.
September 2015