General Secretary, National Council of Churches in Australia
• Exciting opportunity to work for a unique organisation
• Senior advisory and secretariat role
• Full-time position based in Sydney
The Organisation
The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) is an ecumenical council of member Australian Christian Churches. It works in partnership with state ecumenical councils and is an associate council of the World Council of Churches and a member of Asian and Pacific ecumenical bodies.
The NCCA evolved in 1994 and has a membership of 18 Christian Churches each with a varied history of place, experience and theology but sharing a common faith.
The operations of NCCA is guided by four strategic objectives for the next three years. These objectives are communication and engagement; support and participation; ecumenical advocacy; and council development.
The Role
Reporting to the President of the Board of NCCA Ltd, as the executive officer you will use your creative leaderhships skills to drive the implementation of NCCA’s strategic objectives. You will be responsible for operations through the management of NCCA programs and the Secretariat.
A servant leader, with an understanding of the sensitivities to deliver in the ecumenical space, you will advise and support the Board, engage with the NCCA membership to encourage active participation in the organisation’s activities, manage a team for program delivery and promote the work of the NCCA to the wider community.
Key Requirements
Your high-level strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, demonstrated commitment to ecumenism and awareness of developments in ecumenical thought and activity are key to this role. Just as important is your ability to foster and develop collaborative and productive working relationships and to manage competing stakeholder expectations.
You will be an active participant of an NCCA member church and ideally have experience in overseeing board secretariat services and providing governance advice. You will also possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and proven people management ability.
Specifically, the following are our Key Requirements:
- Tertiary qualifications in one or more of Theology, Business, Management
- Management experience in a not-for-profit (ideally faith-based) organisation
- Demonstrated commitment to ecumenism and an awareness of the circumstances of NCCA member churches and developments in ecumenical thought and activity
- Demonstrated high-level strategic thinking and problem-solving skills and ability to research and analyse data, prepare policy recommendations and write reports and briefing papers
- Highly developed oral and written communication skills and excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills
- Experience in overseeing board secretariat services and providing governance advice
- Experience in managing a team to deliver quality services, manage priorities and meet objectives
This full-time position and will be offered on a contract basis for three years, renewable for a further three years, subject to satisfactory performance. Occasional national and international travel will be required.
For a confidential discussion about this opportunity and to obtain a copy of the Position Description please contact Anthony Spata at REACH Human Resources on 0402 210 055.
Application Process
Applications must include a Cover Letter (which addresses why you are interested in this role and how your qualifications, experience, knowledge and personal attributes align with each of the above Key Requirements) and Resume to be sent to Anthony Spata at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Applications close Thursday 27 February 2020
Preferred candidates will be required to have a National Police Check and Working with Children Check, and appointment will be subject to satisfactory check outcomes.
Downloaded the pdf Position Description NCCA General Secretary February 2020 (177 KB)
Only candidates with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.
A message from the NCCA President:
Ms Liz Stone has been offering her gifted and thoughtful ministry as our Interim General Secretary for a significant period.
Those at the 2019 Forum or at various Assemblies and other NCCA meetings, as well as readers of this Newsletter, will be aware of all she has been contributing on a part-time basis, alongside her other vocational work.
As President, I am personally very grateful for Liz’s capable, prayerful and insightful work which continues through this interim period.
It has always been the plan that, having established our changes to the Constitution and the Board having clarified our Strategic Plan (or 'Road Map', as it was described at the Forum), we would advertise for a next full-time General Secretary.
That time has now come, as you can see from the above advertisement.
With gratitude again to Liz Stone, it is brought to your attention.
Your prayers will be much appreciated as we seek discernment at this important time in the evolution of our NCCA.
A Prayer:
Gracious God,We give thanks afresh for your providence and presence; your plans for our wellbeing.
We give thanks especially for our experience of your grace in our NCCA.
You always hold out to us a future full of hope.
Hence we pray now for the wisdom of your Holy Spirit as we seek a next NCCA General Secretary.
We pray for all involved in this process, including potential candidates and members of the NCCA Board as the appointment process is undertaken.
In this and in all ways, may we continue to faithfully make more vivid the unity you will for your Church.
We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord,AMEN.
Every blessing,
Bishop Philip Huggins, NCCA President
