Portsmouth Cathedral Choir and The Portsmouth Grammar School offer unique opportunities for young counter-tenors , tenors and basses for the academic year 2023/24.
Join the team leading the iconic Cathedral of the Sea. As Portsmouth Cathedral’s COO, you will deliver the Chapter’s strategy, oversee day-to-day operations, and ensure the Cathedral thrives as a centre of ministry, mission, heritage and events.
We seek a dynamic Chief Operating Officer to join the Cathedral leadership team and play a pivotal role in shaping its future. As the senior operational manager, you will help develop its role as a place of worship, a loving community, and a heritage site of awe-inspiring historic significance.
Portsmouth Cathedral, known as the Cathedral of the Sea, has been a beacon of faith, community and heritage for over 800 years. From its humble beginnings in 1180 as a chapel dedicated to St. Thomas Becket, it has grown into a vibrant centre of worship and civic life, becoming a Cathedral in 1927.
Renowned for its exceptional music, Portsmouth Cathedral has a strong choral tradition, offering a wide range of musical performances and supporting the development of young musicians. Music is at the heart of its worship and cultural offerings, inspiring all who visit.
In addition to its spiritual mission, the Cathedral plays a vital role in the city, hosting services for the Royal Navy, local charities, schools, and the wider community — alongside educational workshops, concerts, art exhibitions and an increasingly wide range of events and commercial activities. Portsmouth Cathedral continues to be a symbol of hope, connection, and inspiration.
As Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will be a key member of the Cathedral leadership team, reporting to the Dean and being accountable to the Chapter – as well as representing the Cathedral to Diocesan and Civic communities.
The COO has wide-ranging responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of Portsmouth Cathedral’s life and work.
You will lead the operations team in developing and implementing strategy and policy, ensuring effective governance and management of the Cathedral’s practical business and mission.
You will be pivotal in preparing and delivering the Cathedral’s strategic plan, securing its financial sustainability, and maintaining compliance with governance and regulatory requirements.
Key responsibilities include:
Strategic Leadership:
Develop and execute strategy and business plans with realistic goals and timeframes.
Identify sustainable income streams and new opportunities for growth.
Operational Management:
Oversee day-to-day operations, including staff, volunteers, property, and resources.
Strengthen visitor engagement, heritage presentation, and commercial activities.
Governance and Compliance:
Ensure compliance with ecclesiastical, charity, and statutory regulations.
Maintain robust risk management, safeguarding, and health and safety practices.
As COO, you will be the designated member of the Cathedral staff serving as the overall licensee.
This is a perfect role for a collaborative leader eager to guide the Cathedral’s operational success and contribute to its future as a place of worship, community, and historic significance.
We seek an experienced, confident, and values-driven leader to join Portsmouth Cathedral as our Chief Operating Officer (COO). With a strong track record in operational management, financial sustainability, and strategic leadership, you will have experience overseeing complex organisations, ideally within a faith-based, heritage, or non profit setting. You will be able to manage the Cathedral’s unique blend of spiritual mission, heritage, and commercial activities. With strong emotional intelligence and adaptability, you will excel in fostering collaboration, engaging stakeholders, and leading diverse teams.
Your financial acumen will ensure effective budgeting and long-term sustainability, while your operational expertise will help you manage large-scale projects and optimise performance.
As a strategic thinker, you will navigate governance challenges with agility and align teams around shared goals. At the same time, you will be an inspiring and empowering leader, promoting a culture of trust, open communication, and teamwork.
Resilient and adaptable, you will balance high-level vision with the practical demands of Cathedral life, ensuring its continued growth while upholding its values and traditions.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Clare Chesworth | clarec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07904 158737
Anindita Kurup | anindita@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
In late 2023, the Cathedral adopted a new governance structure under the Cathedrals Measure 2021. We will become a registered charity with the Charity Commission in March 2024 and all members of Chapter will become Trustees.
We’re looking for two new members to join our Fabric Advisory Committee which acts under the Care of Cathedrals Measure and is responsible for:
Advising the chapter on matters relating to the care, conservation and development of the cathedral
Determining applications for approval of works specified in the Measure
Compiling and maintaining an inventory
Nominations are invited to become an elected non-executive member of Chapter. In late 2023, the Cathedral adopted a new governance structure under the Cathedrals Measure 2021 and became a registered charity with the Charity Commission in March 2024.
Portsmouth Cathedral seeks enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to join our team as part-time Visitor Experience Assistants. This role is integral to enhancing the experience of our visitors, with a focus on encouraging donations and supporting our volunteer welcomers and guides during peak times.
We are looking for an outstanding Assistant Verger and Precincts Officer to work with colleagues and our volunteers to provide a safe, warm and welcoming place of worship and pilgrimage. We have two options available for this post including a 30 hours per week permanent position, or a 40 hours per week maternity cover position.
We are looking for a part-time (21 hour per week) permanent Finance Assistant.
Your work will include day-to-day finance activities ranging from cash counting and raising customer invoices to paying supplier invoices and maintaining the cashflow forecast.
We are looking for a new Chair of Finance, who is also an ex-officio non-executive member of Chapter, our governing body, due to the retirement of our current Chair.
We are looking for a new Chair of Finance, who is also an ex-officio non-executive member of Chapter, our governing body, due to the retirement of our current Chair.
We are pleased to be offering an exciting, paid apprenticeship opportunity at Portsmouth Cathedral, offering a marketing qualification from HSDC college.
In late 2023, the Cathedral adopted a new governance structure under the Cathedrals Measure 2021. We will become a registered charity with the Charity Commission in March 2024 and all members of Chapter will become Trustees.
In late 2023, the Cathedral adopted a new governance structure under the Cathedrals Measure 2021. We will become a registered charity with the Charity Commission in March 2024 and all members of Chapter will become Trustees.
Multiple opportunities | Closing date: 21 Jan 2024, 11:59pm
Underlining our commitment to grow in service to our Diocese, city and beyond while ensuring our long-term sustainability we are looking for an outstanding fundraiser with the drive, experience, skills and flair to build on the work of our previous Head of Fundraising and transform the Cathedral’s income generation.
Closing date for applications: 11:59pm Sunday 26 November
Portsmouth Cathedral is looking to recruit members of a new Nominations Committee. The Committee will advise and support the Chapter (which is the governing body of the Cathedral) in recruiting non-executive members to both the Chapter and its Committees and in helping to ensure that the membership is skilled, experienced and diverse.
We’re looking for a Cathedral Archaeologist to act as the professional advisor to the Chapter.
The Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean is an appointment made by the Bishop of Portsmouth, in close consultation with the Dean of Portsmouth and the Cathedral Chapter. The successful candidate will report to the Dean, and is responsible to the Chapter.
Portsmouth Cathedral are looking for our first Visitor Experience Manager.
Full time | Closing date: Tuesday 20 September 2022
Part-time - 21hrs p/w £16,600–£18,000 (£27,666–£30,000 FTE)
Closing date: Sunday, 8 January 2023, 11:59pm
We are looking for an outstanding Assistant Verger and Precincts Officer to work with colleagues and our volunteers to provide a safe, warm and welcoming place of worship and pilgrimage. We have two options available for this post including a 30 hours per week permanent position, or a 40 hours per week maternity cover position.
We are looking for an outstanding Assistant Verger and Precincts Officer to work with colleagues and our volunteers to provide a safe, warm and welcoming place of worship and pilgrimage. Your work will also include care for the fabric of the Cathedral and Cathedral buildings to help ensure they are used to their full potential.
Underlining our commitment to grow in service to our Diocese, city and beyond while ensuring long term sustainability, we are looking for an outstanding Visitor Experience and Volunteer Manager to lead our efforts in developing the visitor experience and supporting our amazing volunteers.
We are looking for a dedicated records and information governance professional to work with us over the next 12 months or so to review how we hold information, and to help us to put in place effective data management policies and systems, enabling information-driven decision making.
We are looking for a dedicated records and information governance professional to work with us over the next 12 months or so to review how we hold information, and to help us to put in place effective data management policies and systems, enabling information-driven decision making.
Responsible for wider aspects of sound requirements at the Cathedral including planning and operation for services, events, as well as having an overview of ongoing maintenance of our hardware.
For all our congregation at home, providing a good quality livestream of services has never been more important.
The Guild of Guides is now over 50 years old. The Guides are the first point of contact for many people who visit our historic building. They work closely together to give the visitor a friendly, helpful and memorable experience.
Our Cathedral Lunch Club is 40 years old and continues to provide a hot meal to elderly and vulnerable people each week.
A group of faithful volunteers who meet regularly (usually Monday mornings) to polish, dust and generally tidy up the Cathedral.
