
VACANCIES
We are looking for outstanding people to join our growing staff team at River!
Check out our current vacancies here.
SPEAR CENTRE MANAGER
The Spear Centre Manager will leader Spear Ipswich, coaching NEET 16-24 year olds into employment, education, and training.
Part-time (4 days) | up to £27,222 pro rata
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Job title: Spear Centre Manager
Department: Love Ipswich
Reports to: Social Transformation Pastor
Direct reports: Spear Assistant Coach
Principal location: River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ
DBS check required: Yes
Special conditions of employment: There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.
Start date: As soon as possible (flexible for the right candidate)
Working days/hours: 4 days (Monday to Thursday)
Salary: up to £27,222 per annum (pro rata)
Travel: May be required on occasion
Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata)
Probation period: 6 months
Contract length: Initial 1 year, subject to successful completion of probation period, with potential to extend subject to funding.
Other expectations: The role holder will need to be available to work some other key dates outside the usual working pattern, such as special services (Christmas, Easter etc.), annual meetings, and Focus (our annual one-week church holiday in the summer). It is expected that staff members will be active members of River Church (i.e., praying, serving, giving, and growing as a disciple of Jesus).
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Spear Programme
Oversee the effective running of Spear Ipswich
As a confident communicator, you will lead group sessions of around 10 young people, using coaching skills to transform attitudes to their own ability and the workplace, and to raise their awareness and maximise potential in stepping into the world of work
Prepare and coach group and 1-1 sessions with the Spear Assistant Coach (training will be provided)
Oversee the daily operational and administrative functions of the programme
Line manage the Spear Assistant Coach and volunteer team
Partnership liaison and relationship management
Purposefully build and manage relationships with relevant professionals at local organisations
Communicate directly with young people to encourage referrals to the Spear programme, and think creatively about ways of building the profile of Spear locally, ensuring as many local young people as possible who would benefit have the chance to take part
Maintain and develop relationships with local partners to form a strong referral network
Research, write, and report on grant funding applications to trusts and foundations, and develop corporate and private funding partnerships, to secure long-term financial sustainability for Spear Ipswich
Supporting River Church’s mission and ministry
Establish a strong presence at River Church to build a network of supporters for the Spear programme
Contribute to the wider Love Ipswich team, including supporting our Money Courses, and River Store (social supermarket) where relevant
Attend and participate in Staff Meeting, Tuesday morning Prayer Meeting, and Sunday Services as required
Regularly pray for Spear, trainees, and River Church
Attending other River Church events and services, occasionally speaking and/or contributing as required
Ad hoc tasks and other project work
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Personal qualities and beliefs
It is essential that the role holder:
has a personal faith in and relationship with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
believes and embodies Christian teaching revealed in the Bible
is committed to the dream, purpose, and goals of River Church
is passionate about social transformation
Personal skills and abilities
It is essential that the role holder:
has good teamwork and team-building skills, and is able to lead, manage, motivate, and encourage others
has good administrative and organisational skills and time management, and the ability to prioritise workloads.
is highly self-motivated with the ability to take initiative and start new projects
has excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, including an excellent level of English spelling, punctuation, and grammar
has the ability to teach, train and develop leaders and volunteers in the Love Ipswich team
has a high emotional intelligence, high attention to detail, and high production values
is creative and flexible, with a can-do attitude and
is teachable and has a desire to learn and grow
understands the importance of confidentiality and has good self-awareness
has enthusiasm, energy, commitment, and a sense of humour
Knowledge, qualifications, and experience
It is essential that the role holder:
has good IT skills, and experience in and/or the ability to learn to use Mac OS X, ChurchSuite, and Expense Plus, as well as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and Powerpoint
has a good and up-to-date understanding of statutory child protection and safeguarding requirements, health and safety legislation, and other legal aspects related to the running of Spear
It is desirable that the role holder:
has prior experience delivering training, coaching and development
has relevant qualifications
has other relevant experience or skills related to the role, or other areas of ministry and church life
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We particularly welcome applications from candidates whose ethnicities are underrepresented in the Church of England. We would welcome informal conversations with anybody considering applying for this position. Email matt.key@riverchurchipswich.org to get in touch. When completing the application form, please feel free to continue your answers on separate pages if you require more room.
There is no specified closing date for applications for this role. We reserve the right to close applications and/or shortlist at any time. As such, we recommend applying for this role at your earliest convenience.
We will inform you as to whether or not you will be invited for interview within 5 full working days of applications closing.
Interviews will be held in person at River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ.
Please bring your passport (and, if necessary, proof of right to work in the UK) and a document showing proof of your home address, such as a utility bill or bank statement, to your interview.
Please note that any offers made are subject to: the receipt of satisfactory references; satisfactory completion of a DBS check, safeguarding training, and any other training necessary for the role; proof of right to work in the UK; satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period; and agreement to adhere to the policies and procedures of River Church.
When you apply for this role, please also complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form at the bottom of this page.
SPEAR ASSISTANT COACH
The Spear Assistant Coach will support the running of Spear Ipswich, coaching NEET 16-24 year olds into employment, education, and training.
Part-time (3 days) | up to £25,000 pro rata
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Job title: Spear Assistant Coach
Department: Love Ipswich
Reports to: Spear Centre Manager
Principal location: River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ
DBS check required: Yes
Special conditions of employment: There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.
Start date: As soon as possible (flexible for the right candidate)
Working days/hours: 3 days/24 hours (usually Tuesday to Thursday)
Salary: up to £25,000 per annum (pro rata)
Travel: May be required on occasion
Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata)
Probation period: 6 months
Contract length: Initial 1 year, subject to successful completion of probation period, with potential to extend subject to funding.
Other expectations: The role holder will need to be available to work some other key dates outside the usual working pattern, such as special services (Christmas, Easter etc.), annual meetings, and Focus (our annual one-week church holiday in the summer). It is desirable that staff members will be active members of River Church.
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Spear Programme
Support the effective running of Spear Ipswich
As a confident communicator, you will lead group sessions of around 10 young people, using coaching skills to transform attitudes to their own ability and the workplace, and to raise their awareness and maximise potential in stepping into the world of work
Prepare and coach group and 1-1 sessions with the Spear Centre Manager (training will be provided)
Support the daily operational and administrative functions of the programme
Partnership liaison and relationship management
Communicate directly with young people to encourage referrals to the Spear programme, and think creatively about ways of building the profile of Spear locally, ensuring as many local young people as possible who would benefit have the chance to take part
Site Setup
Support the Spear Centre Manager in setting up the training room and IT infrastructure for Spear Ipswich
Supporting River Church’s mission and ministry
Establish a strong presence at River Church to build a network of supporters for the Spear programme
Contribute to the wider Love Ipswich team where relevant
Attend and participate in Staff Meeting, Tuesday morning Prayer Meeting, and Sunday Services as required
Regularly pray for Spear, trainees, and River Church
Attending other River Church events and services, occasionally speaking and/or contributing as required
Ad hoc tasks and other project work
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Personal qualities and beliefs
It is essential that the role holder:
has a personal faith in and relationship with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
believes and embodies Christian teaching revealed in the Bible
is committed to the dream, purpose, and goals of River Church
is passionate about social transformation
Personal skills and abilities
It is essential that the role holder:
has good teamwork and team-building skills, and is able to lead, manage, motivate, and encourage others
has good administrative and organisational skills and time management, and the ability to prioritise workloads.
is self-motivated
has excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, including an excellent level of English spelling, punctuation, and grammar
has the ability to teach, train and develop leaders and volunteers in the Love Ipswich team
has a high emotional intelligence, high attention to detail, and high production values
is creative and flexible, with a can-do attitude and
is teachable and has a desire to learn and grow
understands the importance of confidentiality and has good self-awareness
has enthusiasm, energy, commitment, and a sense of humour
Knowledge, qualifications, and experience
It is essential that the role holder:
has good IT skills, and experience in and/or the ability to learn to use Mac OS X, ChurchSuite, and Expense Plus, as well as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and Powerpoint
has a good and up-to-date understanding of statutory child protection and safeguarding requirements, health and safety legislation, and other legal aspects related to the running of Spear
It is desirable that the role holder:
has prior experience delivering training, coaching and development
has relevant qualifications
has other relevant experience or skills related to the role, or other areas of ministry and church life
is part of, or will become a fully active part of River Church (i.e., praying, serving, giving, and growing as a disciple of Jesus)
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We particularly welcome applications from candidates whose ethnicities are underrepresented in the Church of England. We would welcome informal conversations with anybody considering applying for this position. Email matt.key@riverchurchipswich.org to get in touch. When completing the application form, please feel free to continue your answers on separate pages if you require more room.
There is no specified closing date for applications for this role. We reserve the right to close applications and/or shortlist at any time. As such, we recommend applying for this role at your earliest convenience.
We will inform you as to whether or not you will be invited for interview within 5 full working days of applications closing.
Interviews will be held in person at River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ.
Please bring your passport (and, if necessary, proof of right to work in the UK) and a document showing proof of your home address, such as a utility bill or bank statement, to your interview.
Please note that any offers made are subject to: the receipt of satisfactory references; satisfactory completion of a DBS check, safeguarding training, and any other training necessary for the role; proof of right to work in the UK; satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period; and agreement to adhere to the policies and procedures of River Church.
When you apply for this role, please also complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form at the bottom of this page.
COFFEE SHOP MANAGER
The Coffee Shop Manager will oversee the excellent, efficient, and profitable running of the Coffee Shop, lead an exceptional team of staff, and deliver ministry outcomes in partnership with River Church.
Full-time | Salary TBC
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Job title: Coffee Shop Manager
Department: Coffee Shop
Reports to: Coffee Shop Directors
Principal location: Central Ipswich
DBS check required: Yes
Special conditions of employment: There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.
Start date: June-July 2025 (dependent upon acquisition completion date)
Working days/hours: Full Time: Tuesday-Saturday
Travel: May be required on occasion
Holiday: 25 days per annum (pro rata)
Probation period: 6 months
Contract length: 2 year fixed term, with possibility of extension
Other expectations: Whilst the role is currently Tuesday- Saturday, this may be subject to change dependent on coffee shop development in the future. It is expected that staff members will be or become active members of River Church.
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Strategic Management:
Work with the Board of Directors to oversee the smooth transition of ownership and management of the Coffee Shop.
Implement new strategies to increase revenue and profits, and boost evangelistic and social transformation outcomes, developing opportunities for expansion and growth.
Operational Management:
Oversee daily operations, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow.
Ensure the premises (interior, front of house and back of house) and all equipment are kept clean, tidy, organised, and in a good state of repair.
Ensure compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, food safety, environmental and financial policies, and all relevant Group policies and up to date legislation, undertaking training where necessary.
Financial Management:
Track KPIs (sales, revenue, profit, waste etc.), reporting these weekly to Line Manager, and monthly to Board of Directors.
Oversee Coffee Shop finances in collaboration with Head of Operations, including book keeping, bank reconciliation, paying invoices and bills, monitoring cash flow, and payroll tasks.
Oversee the timely preparation and submission of accounts and other statutory reporting.
Product Management:
Manage menu and product range, maintaining quality and diversity to retain maximum customer appeal, setting pricing as appropriate.
Oversee food and drink preparation, ensuring the highest possible quality.
Staff Management:
Recruit, lead, and train a team of baristas and kitchen staff to ensure they are delivering the highest quality drinks, food, and customer service, planning for staff succession.
Run regular staff meetings and training and development events for staff, implementing Group Goals and Staff Values to ensure a healthy, positive team.
Customer Service:
Oversee the highest standards of customer service, offering a positive, transformative customer experience.
Address any issues, concerns, or complaints in a timely fashion.
Inventory Management:
Maintain, order, and track all stock and merchandise, ensuring supply meets demand within budget.
Marketing:
Work with the Comms and Media Manager to promote the Coffee Shop through digital, social, and traditional media to grow the customer base and signpost towards key Coffee Shop and River Church events.
Implement marketing strategies to grow customer base and generate additional revenue.
Social Transformation:
Collaborate with the Social Transformation Pastor on projects to serve vulnerable groups in Ipswich through the Coffee Shop (i.e., free or subsidised drinks for those in need, or work experience and training opportunities for NEETs or prison leavers).
Evangelism:
Pastor, pray for, and share the Good News of Jesus with customers in an appropriate manner, making frequent invitations to Alpha and Sundays.
Other:
Attend the weekly River Church Staff Meeting and prayer meeting when schedule allows, and report back to River Church congregation on Sundays as required.
Ad hoc tasks and other project work
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Personal qualities and beliefs
It is essential that the role holder:
Has a personal faith in and relationship with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Is committed to the dream, purpose, and goals of River Church
Believes and embodies the orthodox Christian teaching revealed in the Bible and in accordance with the CEEC basis of faith and declarations
Is passionate about great coffee, great hospitality, and effective evangelism
Personal skills and abilities
It is essential that the role holder:
Has excellent interpersonal, and verbal and written communication skills; and is friendly and talkative
Has excellent organisational skills
Is able to prioritise competing demands
Has a teachable, flexible, can-do attitude
Has a high level of confidentiality
Has strong leadership qualities, is a team-player and able to motivate a team
Is creative and innovative
Is entrepreneurial and business minded
Has enthusiasm, energy, commitment, and a sense of humour
Has or is willing to undertake food hygiene and COSHH training, and other training relevant to the role
Knowledge, qualifications, and experience
It is essential that the role holder:
Has experience in leading and managing a team
Has excellent barista and general kitchen skills, and is able to train a wider team in these skills
Has experience in stock management
Is able to operate a digital till and conduct electronic and cash transactions
Is able to compile sales and product reports from the till system
Has experience in or the ability to learn to use Mac OS X, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, ChurchSuite, and ExpensePlus
Is able to effectively manage a budget, cash flow and other financial tasks
It is desirable that the role holder:
Has relevant culinary or barista qualifications
Has experience and skills in branding and the use of social media advertising
Has experience of acting entrepreneurially and managing a profitable enterprise
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We particularly welcome applications from candidates whose ethnicities are underrepresented in the Church of England. We would welcome informal conversations with anybody considering applying for this position. Email matt.key@riverchurchipswich.org to get in touch. When completing the application form, please feel free to continue your answers on separate pages if you require more room.
There is no specified closing date for applications for this role. We reserve the right to close applications and/or shortlist at any time. As such, we recommend applying for this role at your earliest convenience.
We will inform you as to whether or not you will be invited for interview within 5 full working days of applications closing.
Interviews will be held in person at River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ.
Please bring your passport (and, if necessary, proof of right to work in the UK) and a document showing proof of your home address, such as a utility bill or bank statement, to your interview.
Please note that any offers made are subject to: the receipt of satisfactory references; satisfactory completion of a DBS check, safeguarding training, and any other training necessary for the role; proof of right to work in the UK; satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period; and agreement to adhere to the policies and procedures of River Church.
When you apply for this role, please also complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form at the bottom of this page.
FUNDRAISER
Help research and submit funding applications to resource what God is building through River Church.
Part-time (negotiable) | up to £25,000 (pro rata)
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Job title: Fundraiser
Department: Operations
Reports to: Executive Pastor
Principal location: River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ
DBS check required: Yes
Special conditions of employment: There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.
Start date: As soon as possible (flexible for the right candidate)
Working days/hours: Part-time (negotiable, usually Monday to Friday)
Salary: up to £25,000 (pro rata)
Travel: May be required on occasion
Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata)
Probation period: 6 months
Contract length: Initial 1 year, subject to successful completion of probation period, with potential to be extended or become permanent subject to funding.
Other expectations: The role holder will need to be available to work some other key dates outside the usual working pattern, such as special services and events, annual meetings, and Focus (our annual one-week church holiday in the summer). It is expected that staff members will be active members of River Church.
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Work with Senior Leaders and Executive Pastor to develop a fundraising strategy for River Church
Research grant funding opportunities from trusts, foundations, major donors, and corporate partners, and assess feasibility and affordability of upcoming ministry projects, matching and monitoring need and opportunity
Maintain an accurate database of prospective, outstanding, successful and unsuccessful applications
Write and submit regular high-quality grant funding applications to grow the financial capacity of River Church
Submit high-quality and timely reports to external funders, maintaining a reporting schedule to track these
Work with the Executive Pastor and Finance Team to match expenditure against restricted external funding lines
Administrate twice-yearly ‘Dream Offerings’ (gift days) and other fundraising campaigns
Hold relationships with philanthropists, local businesses and other partners
Promote a culture of generous individual giving as part of Christian discipleship, managing donor relationships, systems for giving, and where appropriate contributing to teaching on giving
Assist the Executive Pastor to recruit, lead, develop, and co-ordinate the volunteers within the Finance Team, discipling and pastoring Finance volunteers and staff
Undertake other financial and operational tasks as required, and assist other staff with the planning and development of grant-funded projects
Manage volunteers as appropriate, enabling them to work independently and efficiently
Collaborate with social enterprises at River Church to maximise profitability and financial stability
Attend and participate in Staff Meeting, and Tuesday morning Prayer Meeting
Regularly pray for the financial and operational life of River Church
Ad hoc tasks and other project work
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Personal qualities and beliefs
It is essential that the role holder:
has a mature, personal faith in and relationship with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
believes and embodies the orthodox Christian teaching revealed in the Bible
is demonstrably committed to their own discipleship (i.e., praying, serving, giving, and sharing faith) and is intentionally discipling others as followers of Jesus
is committed to the dream, purpose, and goals of River Church
is passionate about church finances and operations
Personal skills and abilities
It is essential that the role holder:
has excellent organisational skills and time management
is self-motivated and resilient
has outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, including an excellent level of English spelling, punctuation, grammar, and mathematics
has strong teamwork and team-building skills, and is able to manage, motivate, and encourage others
has a high attention to detail and high production values
is able to understand and navigate a large organisational budget
is flexible, with a can-do attitude
is teachable, humble, and has a desire to learn and grow
understands the importance of confidentiality, and is trustworthy and reliable, with a good self-awareness
has enthusiasm, energy, commitment, and a sense of humour
Knowledge, qualifications, and experience
It is essential that the role holder:
has excellent IT skills, and experience in and/or the ability to learn to use Mac OS X, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, ChurchSuite, and Expense Plus
has excellent financial management skills and familiarity with financial documents
is able to efficiently produce large numbers of high-quality grant funding applications
has a track record of previous successful grant applications
has experience producing invoices and other financial documents
It is desirable that the role holder:
has prior experience in a church or business fundraising role (or similar)
has other relevant experience or skills related to the role, or other areas of ministry and church life
holds a bachelors degree (or higher level qualification) related to the role
holds financial or accounting qualifications
has worked within the HTB Network of churches (or is able to demonstrate a strong level of familiarity and alignment with the Network’s vision, values, and ecclesiology), in a city centre resource church setting, or another large church
has a thorough and up-to-date understanding of the requirements of financial compliance for charities, and churches with the Church of England
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We particularly welcome applications from candidates whose ethnicities are underrepresented in the Church of England. We would welcome informal conversations with anybody considering applying for this position. Email matt.key@riverchurchipswich.org to get in touch. When completing the application form, please feel free to continue your answers on separate pages if you require more room.
There is no specified closing date for applications for this role. We reserve the right to close applications and/or shortlist at any time. As such, we recommend applying for this role at your earliest convenience.
We will inform you as to whether or not you will be invited for interview within 5 full working days of applications closing.
Interviews will be held in person at River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ.
Please bring your passport (and, if necessary, proof of right to work in the UK) and a document showing proof of your home address, such as a utility bill or bank statement, to your interview.
Please note that any offers made are subject to: the receipt of satisfactory references; satisfactory completion of a DBS check, safeguarding training, and any other training necessary for the role; proof of right to work in the UK; satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period; and agreement to adhere to the policies and procedures of River Church.
When you apply for this role, please also complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form at the bottom of this page.
KIDS PASTOR
Head up our thriving and growing ministry to 0-11s and their families, and help make River Kids the highlight of their weeks!
Full-time (37.5 hours) | Up to £25,213
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Job title: Kids Pastor
Department: Rising Generations
Reports to: Senior Leaders
Principal location: River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ
DBS check required: Yes
Special conditions of employment: There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.
Start date: As soon as possible
Working days/hours: Full-time
Rate of pay: Enquire for salary details
Travel: May be required on occasion
Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata)
Probation period: 6 months
Contract length: Negotiable
Other expectations: Whilst the role will usually be Sunday to Thursday, the role holder will need to be available to work some other key dates, such as special services (Christmas, Easter etc.), annual meetings, and Focus (our annual one-week church holiday in the summer). It is expected that staff members will be active members of River Church—praying at prayer meetings, serving on team, giving financially, and growing as part of a Hangout.
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● Oversee River Church’s mission and ministry to Kids (0-11s) and their families, leading significant growth in number and depth of discipleship
● Lead, pastor, co-ordinate, train, and grow the River Kids Team
● Oversee, plan and lead kids-focussed aspects of Sunday services, working to expand capacity and grow numbers of children and families involved
● Plan and lead midweek groups, activities, courses, and events aimed at children and families, such as Baby Love (our group for parents, babies, and toddlers), the Parenting Course, and other future groups (including a new service for kids and families)
● Lead kids ministry within local primary schools and nurseries, such as taking assemblies, leading after-school or lunch clubs, RE lessons and similar activities, as opportunities arise, building on existing contacts and developing new partnerships
● Make contact and build relationships with unchurched and de-churched kids and families in Ipswich, and lead them on a pathway of discipleship, equipping the Kids Team to do the same
● Inviting parents and carers to Alpha and creating opportunities to run Alphas suitable for this demographic (i.e., through providing childcare or at strategic times and locations)
● Collaborate with the Social Transformation department where their work serves children and young families, to build their connection with River Church
● Train, mentor, and prepare members of the Kids Team to ensure the provision of excellent kids worship, mission, and ministry, and to release team members into leadership where appropriate
● Work with Senior Leaders and other ministry staff to plan events, meetings, and services
● Manage the kids department budget
● Manage and mentor Kids Team River College Students (interns), releasing them into appropriate levels of leadership
● Lead and contribute to Alpha, Staff Meeting, Department Meetings, Prayer Meeting, Hangouts, Focus, and Sunday Services (including some preaching and/or teaching)
● Collaborate with the Communications and Media Manager to curate River Kids social media channels
● Work with the Student Pastor to assist in River Church’s ministry to young people (11-18), and to ensure a smooth transition from River Kids to River Youth
● Ensure that kids team volunteers are recruited safely, following the safer recruitment policy, and that all regulatory requirements regarding safeguarding and health and safety are met, attending training as required
● Manage DBS checks and safeguarding training across River Church, working closely with the Safeguarding Officer
● Ad hoc tasks and other project work which enhances the ministry and mission of River Church
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Personal qualities and beliefs
It is essential that the role holder:
● has a mature, personal faith in and relationship with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
● believes and embodies the orthodox Christian teaching revealed in the Bible and attested to by the historic formularies of the Church of England
● is committed to the dream, purpose, and goals of River Church, and passionate about seeing people coming to know Jesus in Ipswich
● has a passion for reaching children with the gospel and to seeing them grow into all that God has created them to be in Christ
● has the capacity to provide spiritual leadership within the kids team and to contribute to the spiritual direction of the wider church
● is theologically astute
Personal skills and abilities
It is essential that the role holder:
● has the ability to teach, train and develop kids team volunteers
● has excellent teamwork and team-building skills, and is able to manage, motivate, and encourage others
● has excellent organisational skills and time management
● is self-motivated
● has excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to connect with children
● has outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal
● has a high attention to detail and high production values
● is able to manage a departmental budget
● is flexible, with a can-do attitude
● is teachable, has a desire to learn and grow, and is willing to undergo any necessary training
● understands the importance of confidentiality and has good self-awareness
● has enthusiasm, energy, commitment, and a sense of humour
Knowledge, qualifications, and experience
It is essential that the role holder:
● has experience in leading services, prayer, and worship for kids
● has outstanding ability to communicate Christian teaching to kids
● has confidence ministering in the Holy Spirit
● has a thorough understanding of statutory Child Protection/Safeguarding requirements
It is desirable that the role holder:
● has relevant degree-level qualifications connected to children, education, and/or theology
● is experienced in and/or has the ability to learn to use Mac OS X, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and ChurchSuite
● has an eye for design and aesthetics
● is able to use digital technology and social media to contribute to kids ministry
● is able to preach to and teach adults, as well as children
● has other skills which could contribute to the wider life and ministry of River Church
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We particularly welcome applications from candidates whose ethnicities are underrepresented in the Church of England. We would welcome informal conversations with anybody considering applying for this position. Email matt.key@riverchurchipswich.org to get in touch. When completing the application form, please feel free to continue your answers on separate pages if you require more room.
There is no specified closing date for applications for this role. We reserve the right to close applications and/or shortlist at any time. As such, we recommend applying for this role at your earliest convenience.
We will inform you as to whether or not you will be invited for interview within 5 full working days of applications closing.
Interviews will be held in person at River Church Ipswich, Key Street, IP4 1BZ.
Please bring your passport (and, if necessary, proof of right to work in the UK) and a document showing proof of your home address, such as a utility bill or bank statement, to your interview.
Please note that any offers made are subject to: the receipt of satisfactory references; satisfactory completion of a DBS check, safeguarding training, and any other training necessary for the role; proof of right to work in the UK; satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period; and agreement to adhere to the policies and procedures of River Church.
When you apply for this role, please also complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form at the bottom of this page.
ORDINAND PLACEMENTS
We have exciting opportunities for those training for ordained ministry in the Church of England to undertake their training placement with us as an Ordinand, alongside their studies at a theological college. If you are interested in doing your placement at River Church, please contact Amy Key using the button below.
We will be recruiting for more exciting roles in the near future, so keep a close eye on this page.
If our current vacancies aren’t what you’re looking for, why not check out our River College internship programme?
RIVER COLLEGE (INTERNSHIPS)
Are you aged 18-30? Spend a year going deeper in your discipleship, growing in your leadership, and gaining first hand experience of ministry on one of our eight streams: Kids & Youth; Comms & Media; Operations; River Coffee; Football; Social Transformation; Students; or Worship & Production.
2025-26 applications are now open!