Graduate Access and Widening Participation Project Manager

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

Department

Graduate Admissions and Recruitment supports the collegiate University in all activities related to the recruitment and admission of graduate students, facilitating the recruitment and retention of the most academically-able applicants and delivering ground-breaking graduate access initiatives to support equity and diversity.

We are looking for a committed and experienced project manager on a 5-year fixed-term basis. This is a pivotal role with responsibilities for the development and delivery of innovative and ground-breaking access and widening participation strategies and initiatives in graduate study. As this is an emerging area of interest for the collegiate University, this is an exciting time to be involved in these projects. 

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

•               An excellent contributory pension scheme

•               38 days annual leave

•               A comprehensive range of childcare services

•               Family leave schemes

•               Cycle loan scheme

•               Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

•               Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs 

This role also offers the opportunity for hybrid working, with a balance of about 3 days in the office.

About the Role

The post-holder will be responsible for two key workstreams. The first will be the expert management and delivery of our Close the Gap project, partly funded by the Office for Students and Research England and run jointly with the University of Cambridge. The project aims to improve access to postgraduate research for ethnically minoritised students, and to propose and test alternatives for the selection of research students. The post holder will also line-manage the Project Communications Officer (Grade 7), and oversee the internal and external communications strategy and plan for the project. The project is in its third year and will run until December 2025.

The second workstream will be Oxford-specific, and will include the development and management of some of Oxford’s initiatives in graduate access and widening participation, ensuring alignment with the Close the Gap project where appropriate. The post-holder will also play a critical role in establishing and delivering a Graduate Recruitment and Access Strategy and action plan, supporting the vision and aims of the collegiate University in this area. 

About You

This would be an excellent opportunity for candidates who have a genuine interest in, and commitment to, access and widening participation work, and who can demonstrate excellent organisational skills with day-to-day project management experience on large or multi-stakeholder projects.

We will also expect the post-holder to have experience in shaping and delivering strategies and new activity, as well as engaging and influencing stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of agreed initiatives.

Outstanding interpersonal as well as oral and written communication skills are essential, together with the ability to work proactively and collaboratively with a range of colleagues in different teams.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 2 May 2024. 

Interviews will take place on Monday 20 May and Wednesday 22 May 2024 and will be face to face.