FURTHER PARTICULARS
DEAN’S PA
The Dean of King’s College, Cambridge is responsible for the whole of the life of the
Chapel. The Dean’s PA provides the administrative support that allows this
responsibility to be exercised to the highest of professional standards in the context of
the pressures inevitable in the context of the most prominent and iconic building at the
heart of one of the of the world’s leading Universities and in a city which attracts
hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
The pressures on the Dean come from two equally demanding directions: the wider
world and the College itself. The Chapel, its choir and services, are extremely famous
and held in high esteem across the world. It follows that many people attend services
and concerts, and many more would like to attend, especially on special occasions.
Dealing with the correspondence associated with this is a significant part of the
Dean’s PA’s role. He or she also has a significant role in contributing to the
administrative and organisational work that needs to be done behind the scenes for
concerts and other events in the Chapel. This includes overseeing and managing files
and other records and managing key aspects of financial transactions.
Many see King’s College Chapel as a kind of stand-alone Cathedral-cum-Concert
Hall-cum-Tourist Attraction. In reality however it is a College Chapel like many
others in Cambridge and it is a major part of the Dean’s responsibility is to ensure that
the Chapel does not lose this aspect of its identity, for therein lies its integrity. One of
the ways in which this happens is through the collaborative effort which is given
shape by currently six important committees, all of which the Deans’ PA serves;
making sure the agenda is prepared and circulated, attending to practical set-up
arrangements, providing papers, writing minutes and chasing actions.
The Dean’s PA is an integral part of the core ‘Chapel Team’ which consists of the
Dean, Director of Music, Chaplain, Chapel Manager and Head Verger and the
Director of Music’s PA. Enjoying and thriving on the pressures of close collaboration,
attention to detail and preparing for high profile occasions (our broadcasts are
watched and listened to by millions of people every year) is integral to the job.
The Dean’s role is not exhausted by the oversight of the life of the Chapel and he is
also Director of Studies in Theology in Religion and has a pastoral role (especially
towards Fellows) in the College and a wider ministry as a speaker and writer
nationally and internationally. Moreover the College is patron of about 24 ‘livings’
across England and the Dean’s PA is integral to making sure that communication is
maintained and that the College is properly supportive of the clergy who service those
parishes and involved when new appointments are to me made. All of this impacts on
the work of the Dean’s PA.
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The following information is intended as interesting and helpful background
information for those considering this important and interesting job.
The College
King’s College is one of the constituent colleges of Cambridge University. It is
governed by the Provost and some 128 Fellows, who form the Governing Body of the
College, which in turn devolves general control and management to the annually
elected College Council. There are approximately 400 undergraduate and 250
graduate students, and about 250 non-academic staff. All undergraduates and many
graduates live in College accommodation. King’s tries to select the ablest students
from all backgrounds. The undergraduate population includes a high proportion of
students from state school backgrounds as well as a growing number from elsewhere
in the EU. The graduate body is completely international. King’s is noted for its
informal and friendly atmosphere and concern for academic values.
The Chapel
The Chapel was central to the original plan of Henry VI for King’s and continues to
be a dominant feature of the College. Because of the architectural distinction of the
building, the beauty of its stained glass windows, and the musical excellence of its
Choir, the Chapel attracts and makes a strong personal impact upon thousands of
worshippers and visitors each year. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on
Christmas Eve is broadcast to a worldwide audience.
The College sees the maintenance of the building and of its traditions of worship both
as a responsibility and as an opportunity. It is in the context of the Chapel that many
outside the University experience the humane and liberal values for which the College
stands. The Chaplain has an important role as the public face of the College for those
who worship in the Chapel.
Chapel services
The Dean is responsible to Council and the Governing Body for the conduct of
services within the Chapel.
During University Full Term and part of the Long Vacation there are daily services.
The normal pattern on weekdays is a said service each morning and a sung service
each evening. The daily routine is of said Morning Prayer and Choral Evensong.
There is one evening Choral Eucharist a week, normally on a Thursday. There is a
said service of Holy Communion at 12.30 on Wednesdays. Choral Evensong follows
a broadly traditional Book of Common Prayer pattern. Choral Eucharist uses sung
settings from the Latin and Anglican traditions. At weekends, there is Choral
Evensong on Saturday and Sunday evenings, while the Sunday morning services are a
mixture of occasional Matins and more frequent Choral Eucharists, in both cases with
a sermon. Outside Full Term, particularly in the periods leading up to the great
Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter, there are other services as well as
performances in which the Choir takes a leading role.
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Almost all Chapel services are open to the public as well as to members of the
College and University. The College Choir sings seven services a week, and on
Mondays the evening service is sung by King’s Voices, a mixed-voice choir drawn
from members of the College. Readers, servers and acolytes are drawn from College
membership.
The planning, preparation and delivery of Chapel Services is the responsibility of the
Dean who is assisted by the Director of Music, the Chaplain and the Director of
King’s Voices.
The Dean’s PA works in the College Office, currently sharing a room with the
Bursars’ PA. This arrangement is likely to continue as it means that the Dean’s PA is
in close proximity to other senior administrative staff.
Applications
Applications for the post of Dean’s PA should be made on the College’s application
form (available on the website) and be sent to Joanne Preston, Personnel Manager,
King’s College, Cambridge CB2 1ST or by e-mail to jobs@kings.cam.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is Friday 17 April at 9am and interviews will be
held during the afternoon of Thursday 23 April 2015.
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