VACANCIES
Thank you for visiting our vacancies page. We are currently recruiting for a number of exciting roles at Iona Abbey.
We look forward to welcoming applications from those interested in joining our Iona Abbey team.
Iona Abbey Vacancies
We are recruiting to the following vacancies on the Isle of Iona:
Iona Abbey Warden
Location: Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona (residential)
Allowance: £9,350 per year (£779.17 per month), with all rent, bills and food included
Hours: 35 hours per week, plus Common Life commitments
Contract: Fixed term, up to a maximum of 5 years
Holidays: 37 days, including public holidays
Pension: Nest Pension scheme
Closing date: 23:59 UTC/GMT, Sunday 10 January 2027
The Iona Community is seeking a committed Christian to lead our residential and religious community at Iona Abbey.
Working as part of the Resident Team is more than a job; it is a way of life. As Abbey Warden, you will provide leadership, pastoral care and spiritual support to the Abbey’s staff and volunteers, nurturing a vibrant and healthy community for all who live, work and visit here.
You will ensure that the Abbey is a place of welcome, rest, hospitality and challenge, maintaining the daily rhythm of worship and supporting creative, meaningful programmes. As a member of our Senior Management Team, you will help to shape the work of the wider Community, and you will be our senior public representative on Iona and Mull.
We are looking for someone with:
- A good knowledge of the Iona Community and a deep commitment to the Common Life, including the ministry of radical hospitality
- Significant experience of team leadership and of planning and leading worship
- Experience of providing pastoral or spiritual support and of delivering creative programmes
- Emotional intelligence, compassion, warmth and flexibility
- A willingness to live in a residential community
Being a committed Christian with a clear passion for, or understanding of, the Iona Community’s commitment to incarnational spirituality is an occupational requirement for this role.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The post-holder must be, or become, a member of Scotland’s Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme.
Key dates
- Closing date: 23:59 UTC/GMT, Sunday 10 January 2027
- Online interviews: 26 or 27 January 2027
- Contract start date: by negotiation but no later than 27th May 2027
How to apply
Please read the:
Abbey Warden recruitment pack and
Working For The Iona Community on Iona
Apply by completing the Application Form, then email it to [email protected].
If you would like an informal chat with our current Warden as part of your discernment process, please contact us at the same address.
Abbey Worship Co-ordinator
Location: Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona (residential)
Allowance: £9,350 per year (£779.17 per month), with all rent, bills and food included
Hours: 35 hours per week, plus Common Life commitments
Contract: Three years
Holidays: 37 days, including public holidays
Pension: Nest Pension scheme
Closing date: 23:59, Friday 27 November 2026
The Iona Community is seeking an Abbey Worship Co-ordinator to help make worship at Iona Abbey welcoming, well supported and accessible, both in the Abbey Church and online.
Working as part of the Resident Team is more than a job; it is a way of life. You will live and work alongside colleagues and guests, sharing in daily tasks, worship and recreation.
You will support those leading and taking part in services, and ensure that individuals, groups and day visitors feel welcome in the Abbey Church. You will also maintain and operate the sound and audio-visual systems, train staff and volunteers to use them safely, and manage recordings and live-streams of services, including our daily YouTube services. The role also involves looking after Abbey Church resources, supervising the Abbey Church volunteer and contributing to shared team responsibilities. Early and late shifts are part of the rhythm of Abbey life.
We are looking for someone with:
- A strong commitment to the ministry of hospitality and the common life, and a welcoming, pastoral approach to people of all backgrounds and circumstances
- Practical experience of operating sound and audio-visual systems in a live setting, and of resolving routine technical problems
- Experience of helping others use technical equipment safely and confidently
- Experience of supervising and supporting people in their work
- Good organisational and IT skills, with the ability to stay calm and flexible when the unexpected happens
- Emotional intelligence, compassion and warmth
- The ability to undertake the physical aspects of the role, including manual handling and moving furniture and equipment
- A willingness to participate in residential community life and provide cover for colleagues
Experience of preparing for worship and familiarity with equipment such as the Allen & Heath QU-16 digital mixing console would be welcome, but are not essential.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The post-holder must be, or become, a member of Scotland’s Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme.
Due to the nature of this post, it will not be possible to consider applicants who do not already have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
Key dates
- Closing date: 23:59, Friday 27 November 2026
- Online interview: Friday 4 December 2026
- Contract start date: 1 February 2027
How to apply
Please read the:
Abbey Worship Co-ordinator Recruitment Pack and
Working For The Iona Community on Iona
Apply by completing the Application Form, then email it to [email protected].
Abbey Housekeeper
Location: Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona (residential)
Allowance: £9,350 per year (£779.17 per month), with all rent, bills and food included
Hours: 35 hours per week, plus Common Life commitments
Contract: Three years
Holidays: 37 days, including public holidays
Pension: Nest Pension scheme
Closing date: 23:59, Friday 27 November 2026
The Iona Community is seeking an Abbey Housekeeper to lead our housekeeping team and help make Iona Abbey a clean, well-organised and welcoming home for guests, staff and volunteers.
Working as part of the Resident Team is more than a job; it is a way of life. You will live and work alongside colleagues and guests, sharing in daily tasks, worship and recreation.
Working with a Deputy Housekeeper and up to four volunteers, you will take part in all cleaning duties and ensure that the Abbey accommodation, Welcome Centre toilets and other Community properties on Iona are kept to a high standard. You will also ensure the smooth running of the Refectory and Scullery, working with the Kitchen Team.
This is also an important guest-facing role. For many guests, the housekeeping team is the most visible team at the Abbey, and you will often be the first person they turn to with a question between programme activities. The post involves early and late shifts in line with the flow of Abbey life.
We are looking for someone with:
- A strong commitment to the ministry of hospitality and the common life, and a pastoral nature that welcomes people whoever they are
- Experience of cleaning, ideally in a hospitality setting
- Proven ability to supervise and support people and to lead by example
- Well-developed organisational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal skills, ideally from a customer-facing environment
- A good understanding of Health & Safety and environmental regulations
- The ability to work well under pressure, adapt to change and take independent initiative
- The ability to undertake a hands-on role involving some physical work and manual handling
- A willingness to live in a residential community and cover for colleagues when necessary
- Awareness of, and sympathy with, the Iona Community’s Christian commitment, purpose and values
Experience of managing volunteers and good computer skills, including Microsoft 365, would be welcome but are not essential.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The post-holder must be, or become, a member of Scotland’s Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme.
Due to the nature of this post, it will not be possible to consider applicants who do not already have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
Key dates
- Closing date: 23:59, Friday 27 November 2026
- Online interviews: Between 1 and 16 December 2026
- Contract start date: 1 February 2027
How to apply
Please read the
Abbey Housekeeper Recruitment pack and
Working For The Iona Community on Iona
Apply by completing the Application Form, then email it to [email protected].
Abbey Administrator
Location: Iona Abbey and Welcome Centre, Isle of Iona (residential)
Allowance: £9,350 per year (£779.17 per month), with all rent, bills and food included
Hours: 35 hours per week, plus Common Life commitments
Contract: Three years
Holidays: 37 days, including public holidays
Pension: Nest Pension scheme
Closing date: 23:59, Friday 27 November 2026
The Iona Community is seeking an Abbey Administrator to provide the efficient administration and communication that keep our activities on Iona running smoothly.
Working as part of the Resident Team is more than a job; it is a way of life. You will live and work alongside colleagues and guests, sharing in daily tasks, worship and recreation.
You will provide administrative support across the Abbey Team and be an initial point of contact for general enquiries by phone, by email and in person. Working with the Bookings Co-ordinator, you will help manage guest bookings, room allocations and guest lists, ensuring that arrangements are in place to meet guests’ needs.
The role also includes working with the Finance Team to process island financial transactions and keep accurate records, and supporting the Iona Community Prayer Circle. You will work closely with colleagues on the island and on the mainland, and will have considerable day-to-day autonomy.
We are looking for someone with:
- A strong commitment to the ministry of hospitality and the common life, and a pastoral nature that welcomes people whoever they are
- A proven track record of providing quality administrative support in an office environment
- Excellent IT skills, particularly in Microsoft 365
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proven organisational and numeracy skills, with close attention to detail
- The ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
- The ability to maintain a high degree of responsibility and confidentiality
- The ability to handle competing demands, adapt to change and work well under pressure
- Emotional intelligence, compassion and warmth
- A willingness to live in a residential community and cover for colleagues when necessary
- Awareness of, and sympathy with, the Iona Community’s Christian commitment, purpose and values
Experience of customer service, managing financial transactions (including cash handling) and software such as Canva, Xero, CiviPlus or Freetobook would be welcome, but is not essential.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The post-holder must be, or become, a member of Scotland’s Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme.
Due to the nature of this post, it will not be possible to consider applicants who do not already have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
- Closing date: 23:59, Friday 27 November 2026
- Online interviews: Between 1 and 16 December 2026
- Contract start date: 1 February 2027
How to apply
Please read the
Abbey Administrator Recruitment pack and
Working For The Iona Community on Iona
Apply by completing the Application Form, then email it to [email protected].
Programme Planning Co-ordinator
Location: Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona (residential)
Allowance: £9,350 per year (£779.17 per month), with all rent, bills and food included
Hours: 35 hours per week, plus Common Life commitments
Contract: Three years
Holidays: 37 days, including public holidays
Pension: Nest Pension scheme
Closing date: 23:59, Friday 27 November 2026
The Iona Community is seeking a Programme Planning Co-ordinator to shape the guest programme at Iona Abbey, planning creative and inclusive weeks that affirm and challenge people of all ages and inspire them to share their experience with the wider world.
Working as part of the Resident Team is more than a job; it is a way of life. You will live and work alongside colleagues and guests, sharing in daily tasks, worship and recreation.
Our guest programme runs from March to November, with themes ranging from particular concerns of the Iona Community to more flexible “Time and Space” weeks. Some weeks are led by staff and others by external leaders, including islanders and members of the Iona Community. Every year also includes a YouthFest, a Columba Week and an Easter Week.
You will plan these weeks three years ahead, in line with the Iona Community’s purpose, work and concerns, considering the balance of the programme, the availability of leaders and how best to maximise occupancy. You will also evaluate each week’s programme and work with the Programme Delivery Co-ordinator, external leaders and the Abbey Team to support its delivery, including providing holiday cover.
We are looking for someone with:
- A strong commitment to the ministry of hospitality and the common life, and a pastoral nature that welcomes people whoever they are
- Experience of forward planning a wide range of programmes
- Experience of facilitating creative and inclusive programmes for a variety of groups
- A creative, spontaneous and innovative approach to programme design, including the use of technology
- The ability to work with people from a wide range of ages, backgrounds, abilities, nationalities and languages
- Experience of supervising and supporting people, fostering good teams and delegating
- Good organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise conflicting demands and communicate well
- Flexibility, emotional intelligence, compassion and warmth
- Proficient computer skills, including Word, Excel, email and Office 365
- A willingness to live in a residential community and cover for colleagues when necessary
A qualification in teaching or community development would be welcome, as would experience of working with children and young people, facilitating worship or using social media platforms. These are not essential.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The post-holder must be, or become, a member of Scotland’s Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme.
Due to the nature of this post, it will not be possible to consider applicants who do not already have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
Key dates
- Closing date: 23:59, Friday 27 November 2026
- Online interview: Wednesday 9 December 2026
- Contract start date: 1 February 2027
How to apply
Please read the
Programme Planning Co-ordinator Recruitment Pack and
Working For The Iona Community on Iona
Apply by completing the Application Form, then email it to [email protected].
Volunteer opportunities
We also on the look-out for volunteers. Volunteers are a vital part of our shared common life at Iona Abbey. They come from all over the world and from all walks of life, representing a wide range of experiences, age groups, cultural backgrounds and faith traditions.
Volunteers bring energy and enthusiasm, as well as readiness to contribute skills, talents, experience and time to build and enrich our common life.
Head over to the volunteer page to find out more.
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