Advertised from 7 August 2025

Role

The Church of Scotland is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader to serve as its next Chief Officer. This is a rare opportunity to lead through a time of profound organisational transformation, ensuring that the Church’s people, resources and strategy are aligned to sustain and grow its mission across Scotland and beyond.

As Chief Officer, you will have executive responsibility for the staff and operations of the Church’s Central Services Committee (CSC), overseeing the national support functions including finance, HR, communications, legal, and IT. Reporting to the Assembly Trustees, you will be instrumental in implementing the strategic direction and policies set by the General Assembly.

This role requires someone who can hold the Church’s faith-based mission at the centre of all that they do. This will require courageous leadership, organisational clarity, and the ability to make and implement decisions in complex and evolving contexts. 

We are looking for a leader who can:

• Deliver organisational and cultural transformation in a mission-driven context

• Inspire and lead multi-disciplinary teams with clarity, compassion and accountability

• Shape and implement financial and operational strategy at the highest level

• Build strong relationships across the Church

• Champion the vision of a Church that worships, witnesses, nurtures and serves

You’ll bring significant leadership experience, likely gained in a complex, values-led organisation, with a record of delivering change, building teams, and operating effectively under scrutiny. You will also have deep personal integrity, outstanding communication skills, and a genuine empathy for the faith, vision and challenges of the Church of Scotland.

It is an essential requirement of this role that the post-holder is a committed Christian with a live Church connection which is a Genuine Occupational Requirement in terms of the Equality Act 2010.

Application notes

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Church of Scotland on this appointment.

For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit our website using reference DBVNA. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by noon on 22nd August.