High Impact Support Role: Archdiocese of Brisbane

Does this sound like you?

• Have you obtained a PhD or Masters?
• Are you personally committed to the Catholic Church?
• Would you be excited by a role which aligned your faith life with work life?
• Can you see yourself in a newly created service/support role which will impact “the big issues of our time” while working with one of the largest employers in Queensland?
• Will you thrive in a position with role accountabilities which mix: the routine with the high-level; a local, national and an international focus?
• Would you consider a role where no position title can capture its impact and scope?
• You love to call Brisbane home?

If you can associate with the above, then we encourage you to explore the opportunity available in this high impact support role.

An Introducton to the Archdiocese of Brisbane

Initially you are invited to watch this 3-minute video with Archbishop Mark Coleridge encouraging visitors to learn about the Archdiocese of Brisbane – the Catholic Church in South East Queensland.

Episcopal Offices, Archdiocese of Brisbane

Archbishop Mark Coleridge leads the Archdiocese of Brisbane and requires a person for this newly created role. You will join a supportive, high-performance team based at the Episcopal Offices.

The Episcopal Offices are located within the Francis Rush Centre, 277 Elizabeth Street, which is part of the Cathedral precinct in the Brisbane CBD. The Episcopal Offices consist of the Archbishop, Auxiliary Bishops and the Vicar General supported by a number of Project Officers, Executive Assistants and administrative employees. Current support staff is 10.  The Administrative staff report to an Office Manager/Project Officer.

A Short Biography to Introduce Archbishop Mark Coleridge

Archbishop Mark was ordained a priest in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne on 18 May 1974. After Ordination, he worked as an assistant priest in various Melbourne parishes for a few years before studying Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. After four years in Rome and Jerusalem he returned to Melbourne to teach Scripture. Three years later he was again back in Rome for doctoral studies, after which he returned to teach in Melbourne and was eventually made the Master of Catholic Theological College.

In 1997 he was invited to work in the Vatican Secretariat of State. Four years later he returned to Australia and was episcopally ordained Auxiliary Bishop for Melbourne. In 2004, he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture and Chair of the Roman Missal Editorial Committee of the International Committee for English in the Liturgy. He was subsequently named Chair of the International Commission for the Preparation of an English-language Lectionary.

In 2006, he was appointed as Archbishop of the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese. In 2011, he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.  He been elected as a delegate of the Australian Bishops to two Synods of Bishops – in 2008 on the Word of God and in 2015 on Marriage and the Family.

On 2 April 2012, he was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane. Archbishop Coleridge’s move to Brisbane has elevated him to the role of Metropolitan – i.e. the head of a See with suffragan dioceses. Although all bishops are deemed to be on equal footing, the Metropolitan See of Brisbane makes Archbishop Coleridge the head of the province of Queensland (which also comprises the suffragan dioceses of Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns).

This year he has been appointed Chair of the Steering Committee for the Plenary Council proposed by the Australian Bishops for 2020, an episcopal member of the Company of the newly established Catholic Professional Standards Limited and Vice- President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in which he also serves as Chair of the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation and a member of the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry.

In reflecting upon his four decades as a priest and a Bishop, Archbishop Coleridge has noted that almost nothing had turned out as he expected, but invariably events had turned out better than they would have had he planned them himself. As he has been moved to reflect “Jesus often surprises, but he never disappoints.”

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed on the Archdiocese of Brisbane website located at https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/

Position Overview

Position Title:  Private Secretary to Archbishop

Reports to:      Archbishop of Brisbane and the Vicar General for specific matters

Reason for Vacancy

Variations of this role have existed previously, but in a part-time capacity. This full-time executive role has been created in recognition of the Archbishop’s increasing commitments, both locally and internationally.

The Role

The Private Secretary to the Archbishop will play a key role in providing high-level effective, executive, research and administrative support and general assistance to the Archbishop of Brisbane. The role operates in conjunction with the Archbishop’s Executive Assistant.

Specifically, this role is required to develop a clear understanding of the activities of the Archbishop, assist him with the management of his affairs where necessary and coordinate his communications with clergy, employees, agencies, parishes and external bodies.

The role also includes being the primary support person to the Archbishop in his pastoral and administrative work, by undertaking research in various areas, preparing papers and briefs, assisting with correspondence and enabling the Archbishop to carry out effectively his roles in mission leadership, teaching functions and presentations within the Archdiocese and beyond.

Key Accountabilities

This is an evolving, newly created role with the following accountabilities intended to provide a sense of the nature of the position. Perhaps just as relevant is to understand what is NOT a part of this role and Trak Search will discuss this aspect as we move through the process.

The accountabilities include:

• Overseeing the Executive Assistant’s management of diaries and work schedules and containing their effect on personal time and engagements
• Drafting replies to correspondence and emails and ensuring matters are dealt with in a timely manner
• Actively anticipating the Archbishop’s needs and requirements
• Driving the Archbishop’s agenda in dialogue with internal structures, employees and with other collaborators
• Overseeing communications with offices and projects for which the Archbishop has requested particular care
• Contributing to the evangelistic shape of the Archbishop’s priorities and interests in the Archdiocese as appropriate
• Monitoring deadlines for the Archbishop’s writing and speaking commitments and providing for time and resources such that these can be met successfully
• Liaising with colleagues as requested by the Archbishop on responses to media enquiries
• Coordinating arrangements for aspects of meetings and appointments and ensuring the Archbishop is properly prepared
• Preparing documents and other materials in liaison with the Executive Assistant as required by the Archbishop for his meetings
• Managing high-level relationships with the ability to arrange appointments with people of interest
• Summarising papers and documents and preparing briefing notes and reports as required
• Research, editing and writing
• OH&S for self and others as per Archdiocesan Policies and Guidelines.
• Any other duties requested.

Key Relationships

External

• Holy See /Nunciature
• Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
• Truth Justice and Healing Council
• National Committee for Professional Standards
• Catholic Professional Standards Limited
• External bodies including: international Church bodies, ecumenical and interfaith representatives
• The community of the Archdiocese of Brisbane
• Other Queensland Dioceses
• Other Catholic bodies within and external to Brisbane
• Government representatives
• Media
• Research providers
• Guests of the Archbishop

Internal

• Archbishop
• Auxiliary Bishops
• Vicar General
• Priests, Deacons, religious and parishes of the Archdiocese of Brisbane
• Dean of St Stephen’s Cathedral
• Episcopal Office employees and clergy
• Wynberg Employees
• Executive Directors of Agencies, including Financial Administrator
• Communications Office
• Clergy Support Office
• Employees

Initial Priorities and Project Areas

• Support for the Archbishop in his various roles in the area of professional standards.
• Preparation for the 2020 Plenary Council for which the Archbishop is Chair of the Steering Committee

Challenges of Role

• Prioritising urgent matters
• Balancing priorities
• Dealing with workload within limited timeframes and resources

Commencement

The commencement date is negotiable but anticipated to be August/September 2016.

Conditions of Employment

• The remuneration package reflects the seniority of this appointment and will be discussed as we progress through the process
• While not onerous, the nature of this role could require some out-of-hours commitment, at times with short notice.

Selection Criteria

We anticipate that people interested in this role will be able to demonstrate:

• A personal commitment to the teachings & practice of the Catholic faith, ideally with an understanding of the ecclesial structure and mission of the Church
• Desire to work in a service/support ‘back office’ role having experience in mixing the routine/mundane with high-level and complex tasks
• The range of skills and capabilities to thrive and deliver in a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment
• Capacity to work positively and cooperatively within a team setting
• Strong written communication skills with a background in research and writing
• Interpersonal skills to liaise with all stakeholders, including clergy and dignitaries
• Relevant tertiary qualifications, ideally at a Doctoral or Masters level

 Are You Interested in this Opportunity?

If you are interested in this role, there are two options for you to proceed:

1. If interested, but have questions requiring a response before deciding whether to progress, then either (a) telephone our Director John Chesher (0417 068 220) or (b) email our office via mail@traksearch.com or from this page of our website with your question(s).
2. If and when you have enough information to start this process, then simply email us with your resume to mail@traksearch.com or from this page of our website stating your interest in this role, ref number TS1336; also providing a contact telephone number.

At this stage we do NOT ask for you to labour over selection criteria or provide any application document – just a one-line email with resume to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘Archdiocese of Brisbane TS1336’; and providing your contact telephone number. The timeline and details for this project are outlined below. All emails and applications are acknowledged within 48 hours.

The Selection Process

Key dates are as follows:

Trak Search has been instructed to provide a process that is welcoming for people interested in this role. Significant aspects include:

• Throughout the process, Trak Search is available for confidential discussions and to provide information to allow you to explore this opportunity and determine your interest in the role.
• A range of additional information will be provided to you as we progress through this process.
• At the outset you will not be required to: complete an application form or lengthy, comprehensive document to address the selection criteria; or provide any referee details. However, you will be invited to supply us with additional information (verbally and in writing) as you progress through the process.
• A late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the schedule. Please be aware however that any application received after close of business on the date noted above is more likely to be returned to you.
• At the appropriate time (refer above) we will seek written consent to speak with referees – listing referees on your resume does not signify consent.
• We expect to contact one work related referee prior to short listing, with additional references (including with a Priest referee) completed later in the process.  You should always expect that prior to reaching the final stage of the project, we will ask to speak with at least one person who has: directly managed you; recently; and for a significant time period.
• All information provided to Trak Search will be made available prior to short listing, in confidence, to the Archbishop and Vicar General unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.

You are also encouraged to view our Collection Statement which provides details on the manner in which we collect and use information obtained from you during your engagement with Trak Search.