Programme Administrator - Latin American Studies

The Oxford School of Global and Area Studies

Oxford’s School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) is one of the largest communities of Area Studies scholars anywhere in the world. This vibrant and dynamic University department has research and teaching programmes dedicated to Africa, China, Latin America, the Middle East, Japan, Russia and Eastern Europe, South Asia and Comparative Area Studies. The School welcomes students from all around the globe and offers seven MSc Degrees, six MPhil degrees, a DPhil in Area Studies, as well as the Oxford 1+1 MBA with Saïd Business School.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join OSGA as the Programme Administrator for the Latin American Centre on a permanent full- time contract basis.

About the Role:

Since its founding in 1964, the Latin American Centre (LAC) has offered courses for graduates interested in gaining a deeper knowledge and understanding of Latin American Studies through study across a range of disciplines including history, politics, economics, international relations and sociology of the region. The LAC also acts as a hub for the study of Latin America across a wide range of disciplines in Oxford, including anthropology, geography, music and literature.

The Programme is now seeking a talented, versatile and conscientious full-time administrator responsible for the smooth day-to-day administration and delivery of the MSc in Latin American Studies, the MPhil in Latin American Studies and, through OSGA, a DPhil in Area Studies (Latin America) and for supporting the academic activity in Latin American Studies more broadly.

The post-holder will be responsible for the smooth day-to-day administration and delivery of the educational programmes in the LAC through providing consistent service to students, staff, and visitors through sharing their Programme knowledge and expertise, offering accurate information and advice, delivering clear and appropriate communications, managing competing priorities and adopting a flexible approach.

The post is offered with wide-ranging responsibilities from supporting the Programme Director, the School’s Education team and Professional Services team, to liaising closely with academic colleagues and students within the Latin American Studies Programme and beyond. The administrator will be the first point of contact for providing student support and managing student enquiries, facilitating examinations and assessments, ensuring financial policies and processes are correctly followed and working closely with HR to help resolve Programme related HR matters. This post has a 0.2fte time commitment to supporting the DPhil programme in OSGA and involves close collaboration with the Admissions officer who provides 0.2fte support to the LAC.

About You:

The post is very varied and stimulating, hence it will suit an individual who enjoys being part of a busy office in an environment of competing priorities. Applications are welcome from candidates with previous experience in academic administration, who are able to demonstrate a sufficient level of computer literacy, good communication skills and an ability to produce high-quality, accurate, independent work with little supervision. Previous experience of events administration and servicing committees is also desired.

Application process: 

When applying to this position, you will be required to upload a CV, the names of three referees and a supporting statement of no more than two pages addressing how you meet each of the selection criteria, as listed in the job description. Further details regarding the selection criteria and details on how to apply can be found in the attached job description.

Informal enquiries are welcome: please email [email protected] . Any queries or matters that are not referred to in the job description/further particulars will be passed to Sarah Dewick, OSGA Education Manager and Admissions Lead (Deputy HAF). Please quote the vacancy reference 172145 in all your correspondence.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 10th May 2024. Applications received after the closing date cannot be considered.

Interviews will be held in person on 24th May 2024.

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 and electric or ultra-low emission vehicle 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 current expectation of at least 50% on-site work. The OSGA Professional Services offices are located in Oxford city centre, surrounded by its stunning architecture, history and culture.

The University of Oxford holds an institutional Silver Athena Swan award, acknowledging the progress made in addressing a number of gender gaps across the University. Applications are particularly welcome from men and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in professional services in Oxford.