Chief Operating Officer and Chapter Clerk | Hereford Cathedral

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Chief Operating Officer and Chapter Clerk Hereford Cathedral

An exceptional opportunity to become the next COO of Hereford Cathedral, a historic institution and place of worship and hospitality since the 8th century. The Cathedral houses a remarkable collection of internationally renowned artefacts, making it a unique heritage organisation.

• Location: Hereford

Hereford Cathedral seeks a creative, visionary Chief Operating Officer to strategically shape its future, co-lead on growth and inspire the team behind its incredible vision.

Who we are.

Hereford Cathedral, located in the heart of the Diocese of Hereford, welcomes over 130,000 visitors a year who come as worshippers, tourists, and pilgrims. As a centre of spiritual, cultural, and historical significance, its influence extends beyond local boundaries, embracing diverse communities and faiths across the region. They are now seeking to engage a new Chief Operating Officer to use their creativity and vision to strategically deliver the next phase of Hereford Cathedral’s future, to lead change, inspire cultural growth, and unite its community.

About the role.

Strategic Leadership

As COO, you’ll work with the Dean/CEO to deliver cultural change, community engagement, and inter-departmental collaboration aligned with the cathedral’s mission. You’ll lead the execution of strategic goals, ensuring excellent staff management and outcomes. Balancing the needs of a significant worshipping and missional community with the cathedral’s potential as a visitor attraction, artistic venue, and historical site, you’ll facilitate strategic planning and coordinate operations.

A key focus will be securing the cathedral’s financial health. You’ll lead commercial activities, fundraising, and property management to ensure financial stability and growth while overseeing investments for long-term resilience.

Operational Management

You’ll manage daily operations, ensuring alignment with the Chapter’s priorities and budget. You’ll streamline structures, collaborate with the CFO on financial management, and champion efficiency through effective risk management, regulatory compliance, and staff development.

Governance and Administration

As Chapter Clerk, you’ll ensure compliance with governance and regulatory standards. You’ll support statutory obligations, oversee policy reviews, and manage health and safety, data protection, and advisory committees, ensuring efficient execution of decisions.

Safeguarding

As Designated Safeguarding Lead, you’ll lead on best practices and ensure the highest protection standards across the cathedral, modelling exemplary safeguarding policy implementation.

Staff and Volunteers

You’ll cultivate a values-driven workplace culture fitting for a Church organisation alongside the Dean and Chapter. As a leader, you’ll oversee recruitment, training, and development, always fostering diversity and seeking to empower staff and volunteers.

Who we are looking for.

The COO of Hereford Cathedral is 2IC to the Dean. Working in close partnership and collaboration, they are the principal leader, administrator, and officer, with wide-ranging responsibilities to support and lead the community of staff and volunteers and the day-to-day operation of Cathedral life. The COO supports the board of trustees (‘Chapter’) to assist its strategic planning and is responsible for the implementation of its decisions.

Responsible for the delivery of operational and commercial aspects of Cathedral life, they lead the estates, finance, supporting and facilitating fundraising, governance, human resources, health and safety, insurance, IT, safeguarding, marketing and communications, and the cathedral’s enterprises (shop, café, events, and exhibitions).

The COO is responsible for working with the Executive Management Group (EMG comprising departmental heads) to develop and implement the delivery of strategy and policy for ensuring the effective governance and management of the practical business of the cathedral’s life and work and for monitoring its overall development.

Working closely with the Dean, the COO is a major influence in delivering the culture that befits a forward-looking twenty-first-century cathedral.