VACANCIES

KIDS PASTOR

We’re searching for a Kids Pastor to oversee our thriving and fast-growing ministry to 0-11s and their families, and help us make River Kids the highlight of their weeks!

Full-time (part-time applicants will be considered) | Up to £32,500

Closing date: 1st July 2026

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Role Profile

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: Up to £32,500 depending on experience

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.

For a candidate with the right skillset and character, this role could be combined with another role currently vacant.

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Key Responsibilities

• 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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Person Specification

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 in accordance with the CEEC basis of faith and declarations

• 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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Notes for Applicants

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.

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 once applications have closed.

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.

Sports Ministry Lead

The Sports Ministry Lead will oversee River Active, our fast-growing sports outreach ministry, sharing the Gospel through Bridge the Gap football, running groups, and our student-only gym, providing pastoral care and discipleship to participants, and supporting our wider student ministry at the University of Suffolk.

24-30 hours | Up to £29,250 pro rata

Closing date: 1st July 2026

Role Profile

Job title: Sports Ministry Lead

Department: River Active

Reports to: Head of Operations

Direct reports: River Active and Bridge the Gap volunteers

Principal location: River Church Ipswich; MOVE Gym; Portman Road Stadium

DBS check required: Yes

Special conditions of employment: As a minister of religion role, there is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.

Start date: August/September 2026

Working days/hours: 28-35 hours (flexible, Sun-Thu)

Salary: Up to £29,250 pro rata (depending on experience)

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 (extension 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 (praying, serving, giving, and growing).

For a candidate with the right skillset and character, this role could be combined with another role currently vacant.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with Senior Pastors to develop and implement strategy for our sports ministry, ‘River Active’ in line with the dream, purpose, and goals of River Church

• Oversee the Bridge the Gap Ipswich, delivering football sessions for young men, based at Portman Road Stadium (Ipswich Town FC), inviting participants to Alpha and Sundays, and sharing faith in Jesus

• Work to expand to Bridge the Gap to offer youth sessions, in partnership with River Youth

• Manage ‘MOVE’, our gym exclusively for University of Suffolk students, including subscriptions via Squarespace and twice-weekly safety checks

• Liaise with the University of Suffolk and Student Union to deliver inductions, sessions, and other support to users of MOVE gym

• Ensure that all safeguarding and health and safety requirements are met across River Active

• Deliver River Active running sessions for varying abilities alongside the existing volunteer team

• Actively disciple and pastor those attending River Active sports sessions, sensitively sharing the Gospel with those who are not yet Christians, making frequent invitations to Alpha and Sundays

• Oversee, recruit, train, and pastor the River Active volunteer team

• Manage River Active departmental budget

• Contribute to other River Church events including Alpha and Sundays

• Support other areas of Student and Collective (young adults) ministry as required

• Work with Comms and Media Manager to curate River Active and Bridge the Gap Ipswich social media accounts and webpages

• Track impact data and report to Head of Operations, as well as external partners and funders

• Explore and implement opportunities to expand River Active provision

• Attend and contribute to Staff Meeting, and Tuesday morning Prayer Meeting, and other River Church events such as Focus

• Regularly pray for all River Active ministries

• Ad hoc tasks and other project work

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 demonstrably committed to their own discipleship (i.e., praying, serving, giving, and sharing faith)

• is passionate about football, sports, and evangelism

Personal skills and abilities

It is essential that the role holder:

• has excellent teamwork and team-building skills, and is able to manage, motivate, and encourage others

• has good organisational skills and time management

• is self-motivated

• has good communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, including an excellent level of English spelling, punctuation, and grammar

• has good attention to detail and high production values

• is able to manage an 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, or is willing and able to undertake prior to starting the role, fitness instructor and/or PT training qualifications, and first aid training

• has good IT skills, and experience in and/or the ability to learn to use Mac OS X, ChurchSuite, Squarespace, and Expense Plus

• has prior experience in sports ministry or bringing together faith and sport in another context

• has a good understanding of sports and fitness equipment and facilities

• has a thorough and up-to-date understanding of statutory child protection and safeguarding requirements, health and safety legislation, and other legal aspects of operations

It is desirable that the role holder:

• holds a bachelors degree (or higher level qualification), ideally in a field related to the role

• has prior experience of Bridge the Gap football

• 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 prior experience working in a gym or sports setting

• has other relevant qualifications in a field related to the role

• has an eye for detail and aesthetics

• has other relevant experience or skills related to the role or other areas of ministry

Our River College Internship Year is an opportunity to go deeper in your discipleship, grow in your leadership, and gain first hand experience of ministry.

Choose one or more of our 8 ministry streams:

• Coffee

• Kids

• Media

• Operations

• Social Justice

• Sports

• Worship & Production

• Youth & Students

At River College we want to help release life-changing leadership in our interns. Over our one-year course, through a mixture of classroom teaching in theology and Biblical studies, training in Christian leadership, mentoring from our senior staff team, and practical experience on one of our internship streams, River College interns will discover and develop their God-given gifts, ready to transform our church, our town, our nation, and beyond.

Interns will also benefit from teaching from a wide variety of expert contributors, have opportunities to train and work as baristas at our award-winning coffee shop, Applaud Coffee, receive free books, and get team tickets to HTB Focus (our annual church festival) and other HTB Network events. River College is completely free because we are passionate about investing in young Christian leaders, and we’ll be able to cover some of your living costs, and offer some paid hours at Applaud Coffee (subject to interview and availability), too.

River College starts on 21st September 2026!

Find out more or apply at river.church/college