Position Specification Christ’s College, University of Cambridge Master
Private and Confidential March 2021
Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
Christ’s College, University of Cambridge
Introduction Thank you for your interest in the role of Master of Christ’s College, Cambridge. The College is seeking to elect a Master to succeed Professor Jane Stapleton, who became the College’s 38th Master on 1st September 2016. Jane’s tenure comes to an end in August 2022, and the Fellows of the College hope to pre-elect a new Master in late 2021 in the expectation that they will take up the post following her retirement.
About the College The primary aim of the College, as an independent foundation within a collegiate university, is the provision of education leading to degrees awarded by the University of Cambridge. Christ’s provides a friendly, supportive, and diverse community in which students achieve exceptional academic standards, and also supports research by Fellows and students. The College creates public benefit in these ways, for both individual members and more broadly for society. While excellence in scholarship is especially prized at Christ’s, all members are encouraged to explore a wide range of other interests, and numerous extra-curricular activities flourish: sport, music, drama and films, debating, and many more. The College is small enough to be friendly and personal, yet large enough for all members to be able to find others with interests to match their own. The 500-year-old College site contains much that is uniquely important in the nation’s architectural heritage. The College maintains these buildings and gardens, and allows public access to the gardens for most of the year. The benefits afforded by collegiate life in the Cambridge system lie in the interactions fostered within a relatively small but diverse community – both academically, across disciplines, and also socially, between students and Fellows (who are leading scholars and researchers
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Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
in their fields). A high proportion of students live in or close by the College, take meals in College and participate in College clubs, societies, and sporting activities; some Fellows are resident in College, and many are present in College during the day in term time, to teach, to participate in College business or because it is their base from which to carry out research. The drop-out rate among the College’s undergraduates is extremely low compared to the national average. This is attributed to the care taken in the selection of undergraduates for admission, the provision of pastoral care, the attention paid to teaching in small groups (supervisions), the steps taken to monitor each individual student’s progress, and the financial support available through bursaries in cases of hardship. The academic progress of graduate students reading for higher degrees is primarily the responsibility of the faculty or department of the University in which they work. The College provides considerable other support for these students: pastoral care, residential accommodation for many in College flats or houses, opportunities for social and sporting activities and interactions with the Fellowship, access to research and travel grants, and other financial assistance.
History of the College Christ’s College was first established as God's House in 1437 by William Byngham, a London parish priest, for training grammar school masters. Shortly after receiving its Royal Licence from Henry VI in 1446, God’s House was forced to move from its original site as this was needed for the King’s new project (what was to become King's College). God’s House moved to its present site in 1448 and in the same year received a second Royal Licence. This licence may be regarded as the Foundation Charter. Following the death of her third husband, and the accession of her son as King Henry VII, the Lady Margaret Beaufort turned her energies to good causes. No doubt at the suggestion of her confessor, Bishop John Fisher, she decided to enlarge God’s House. In 1505, with a royal charter from the King, the College was re-founded as Christ’s College. Lady Margaret has been honoured ever since as the Foundress. Surviving the twists and turns of the Reformation, Christ’s became one of the leading Puritan colleges of Elizabethan Cambridge. In 1625 it admitted the young John Milton, who would become a leading Puritan apologist of the Civil War and one of the greats of English literature. The Garden still boasts what is known as ‘Milton’s Mulberry Tree’. The boom in student numbers in the 17th century required new accommodation, beyond the original College, around what is now ‘First Court’. The result was the beautiful Fellows’ Building, built in the early 1640s after an appeal to Fellows and Old Members. This raised some five million pounds in today’s money and we still have the list of donors. Over the next century or so, Christ’s was noted for several eminent scholars who sought to harmonise traditional Christian faith with the new truths of natural science. These included Cambridge Platonists such as Ralph Cudworth, and William Paley, whose Evidences of Christianity (1794) remained set reading in Cambridge until the 20th century. But Paley’s synthesis of religion and science was soon to be overturned by another Christ’s student – Charles Darwin, who arrived in 1828, and lived in Paley’s old rooms in First Court. On the Origin of
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Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
Species was published some 30 years later, but the young Darwin’s interest in botany and geology was nurtured at Christ’s. Like the rest of Cambridge, life at Christ’s was transformed by the Victorians, with more rigorous exams, the rise of experimental science and the opening of the University to non-Anglicans. The first half of the 20th century was scarred by two world wars, whose effect is movingly commemorated on the plaque in the Chapel. After 1945, Christ’s shared in the general boom in higher education, with new blocks to complete Third Court and then New Court designed by Sir Denys Lasdun. Among its intellectual dynamos were Lord Todd, the Nobel prize-winning chemist; James Meade, a Nobel laureate in economics; and Sir John Plumb, the celebrated historian. This is only a taste of the College’s past. Those with bigger appetites should consult the quincentenary history edited by David Reynolds, Christ’s: A Cambridge College over Five Centuries (Macmillan, 2004) with contributions from distinguished Christ’s historians such as Simon Schama, Quentin Skinner, Roy Porter and David Cannadine. Further information on life at Christ’s can be obtained from the following short videos: Christ’s College Video – Christ’s College (cam.ac.uk) Christ’s College Students Q&A - YouTube
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Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
Access and Outreach The College commits significant resources to various outreach activities designed to encourage undergraduate applications by able candidates from all backgrounds and schools. This supports the University’s Access and Participation plan, which has been agreed with the Office for Students. We measure inter alia the proportion of UK undergraduates admitted from maintained schools and from underrepresented backgrounds. Financial aid is also provided to students. The College typically provides access bursaries, awarded on the assessment of financial need, for over 25% of UK/EU undergraduates and over 100 scholarships and prizes, awarded on performance in University examinations. The College also offers studentships and grants towards travel and research expenses for academic purposes.
Bridging Course The Bridging Course is a new initiative for incoming students, in collaboration with King’s College and Gonville & Caius College. Designed for individuals who have demonstrated their potential at interview, but have been held back due to background factors, the course’s aim is to get these students feeling confident and prepared to begin their degree. Participants experience a series of lectures and supervisions, to get them used to the teaching style, alongside sessions on topics such as ‘Dealing with Cambridge’, and are supported by an undergraduate mentor. It also includes more social aspects too, from helping students find their way to departments, to tours of Cambridge, including the Master’s Garden.
Research Activities The College provides a variety of financial support to Fellows and students for research, with a number receiving recognition of their achievements during the last academic year, including two current Fellows elected in July 2020 as Fellows of the British Academy. The College also provides Fellowships for early career academics, both as Junior Research Fellows and as College Teaching Officers. In 2019/20 there were in total 16 such Fellows, including two on leave, and five new elections were made during the year.
College Governance Christ’s College is a self-governing corporate body, established by royal charter. The College is a registered charity and subject to regulation by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Statutes & Ordinances govern the activities of the College. The Governing Body comprises the Fellows of the College, a list of whom is published on the College website. Undergraduate and postgraduate student representatives are also co-opted members of the Governing Body. The members of the College Council are the charity trustees and are responsible for ensuring compliance with charity law. The College Council is responsible for oversight of the management of
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Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
the assets, income, expenditure and educational business of the College, in accordance with the directions and subject to the limitations laid down in the College statutes. The College Council consists of the Master, the Bursar and the Senior Tutor, ex officio, and ten members elected on a rotating basis from the membership of the Governing Body.
Financial Information The College’s main sources of funding are income generated from its charitable activities and its investments. Income from residences and catering was significantly reduced because of the pandemic, with many student rents waived for the Easter Term. We expect a further impact in 2020/21, with a major reduction in conference and other ‘external’ income already seen during the first quarter. The College also receives donations (including capital grants) and new endowments. It relies on investment income, bequests, and donations to undertake its charitable activities, and in particular for: ▪ additional support for undergraduate and graduate students ▪ provision of teaching Fellowships, and ▪ additional accommodation for graduate students and improvement of other College facilities.
The College was fortunate to receive generous donations and bequests last year, including a donation of £5 million for the construction of new student accommodation, a project which has now commenced. The College makes long-term investments to generate income to support its charitable activity, while also seeking to preserve the real value of its capital (after inflation) to maintain inter-generational equity between current and future beneficiaries. The main elements of the College’s investment policy are: ▪ Asset allocation to achieve through diversification an appropriate balance between expected risks and returns – the main classes of investment currently held are equities, directly owned UK property and various non-equity ‘alternative investments’ including credit and hedge funds. ▪ Investment through or on the advice of carefully selected professional managers. The College’s external managers take ESG factors into account in their investment processes. ▪ Oversight on behalf of the Trustees by an Investments Committee comprised of Fellows and members of the College with relevant professional experience.
The balance sheet remains strong, with total reserves of £200 million.
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Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
The Role The Master chairs Governing Body and Council meetings, and also presides at or attends many of the other College committee meetings. Masters contribute substantially to the strategic direction the College takes, and are encouraged to suggest new initiatives. Since decisions must be reached by the Fellowship, a key role of the Master in meetings is to help guide the discussion and seek consensus. In this regard, the Master must believe strongly in rigorous deliberative debate, and must recognise that ultimate decision-making power rests with the Governing Body as a whole, and not with the Master and College officers alone. In support of collective governance, the Master also consults with Fellows and with other members of the College outside formal meetings. As well as these internal duties that focus on the students, Fellows, staff and the wider College community, the Master is also the outward-facing leader of the College, both within the University, and an ambassador for the College to the wider public. They also serve as a point of contact for the College’s Old Members (alumni). This element of the role involves hosting numerous events and social gatherings, both with individuals and with larger groups. A final significant role of the Master is to work with the Development Director and her team, members of the Development Board, and the wider Fellowship, on fundraising. The College is fortunate to have a very engaged and generous Old Member community, and the personal relationships established by the Master play an important part in this. As outlined above, the key duties of the Master include: ▪ Academic leadership. The Master works together with the Fellows to develop and implement academic strategy, and to foster an environment of academic excellence in both education and research. The Master is expected to support and encourage the academic activities and ambitions of the College – undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral researchers, and Fellows. ▪ Running of the College. The Master, in conjunction with the College officers and College Council, has oversight of the College finances, administration, governance, buildings, and domestic arrangements, and ensures that it serves its aims as a registered charity. ▪ Fundraising and development. With the support of the Development Director, the Master is involved in fundraising strategies for the College, and maintains and enhances relationships with alumni and potential donors. The role involves the mediation of the College’s academic and other priorities and achievements, and personal engagement with Old Members and other potential benefactors, including overseas visits, entertainment within the College, and attendance at a variety of events, both in the College and elsewhere. ▪ Advocacy for the College. The Master promotes the College’s interests at University level, including at meetings of the heads of colleges and on University committees, and also acts as the primary representative of the College to the wider public and to other institutions. ▪ College community. The Master is responsible for fostering the strong sense of community in the College, engaging with students, staff, and Fellows at all levels, and taking an active interest in the progress of students and their welfare. The Master’s role within the College is very visible, involving participation in a range of academic and social events for students, staff, Fellows, and alumni, both formal and informal. They must also foster an atmosphere in which the consensual decision-making processes in committees and Governing Body can proceed effectively.
In addition to these College activities, the Master is encouraged to maintain other professional or academic interests. However, the Mastership is a substantial role and must be the holder’s primary commitment.
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Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
Person Specification and Qualities The Master must first and foremost win and maintain the trust and consent of the College Fellowship. They must understand the patterns of College life and the Master’s position as first among equals. Sophisticated leadership skills are critical, as the Master must lead the whole College community amid an increasingly fluid environment; the College’s relationship with the University is never static and the wider funding and policy environment will continue to evolve. The Master must therefore act as a compelling advocate and effective communicator for Christ’s College within the University and to the wider world. The College invites applications from candidates with varied and diverse professional backgrounds. As such, there is a broad set of qualifying criteria. The Fellowship would, however, highlight the following experience, skills, and personal characteristics as particularly important:
Experience: ▪ A distinguished record of achievement which carries a high level of professional recognition. ▪ Significant experience of, or affinity with, the world of academia, with a strong intellectual background. ▪ Significant leadership, administrative, and management experience. ▪ Experience of engaging with multiple complex stakeholders and objectives. ▪ Experience of, or affinity for, fundraising and development work.
Skills and Personal Characteristics: ▪ A profound commitment to the academic values and the purpose of the College, and a keen interest in developing the intellectual life of its Fellows and students. ▪ The intellectual stature to command the respect of the Fellowship and wider College. ▪ Generosity of spirit and suppleness of mind and, consequently, an interest and curiosity in the breadth of scholarly activity in which members of the College engage. ▪ The ability to foster a unity of purpose within the College and an understanding of the democratic nature of the Governing Body. ▪ Deft leadership ability based on persuasion, personality, strength of argument, and reaching positive outcomes. ▪ Comfort with diversity of thought and the ability to chair Governing Body in a purposeful and inclusive manner that manages conflict, encourages productive debate, and reaches the broadest possible level of consensus. ▪ Ability to lead strategically, coupled with the capacity and willingness to deal with the detail of implementation. ▪ Engaging and approachable, with the ability to create strong relationships with others, showing emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. ▪ Excellent public speaking skills and the ability to adapt the style of delivery to a wide range of audiences. ▪ The ability to inspire students and act as a role-model; someone who enjoys interacting with young people and also learning from them. ▪ A commitment to embrace and advance the College’s vision as a diverse community, with a track record of improving diversity outcomes in other settings. ▪ Demonstrable interest in access and widening participation in higher education. ▪ Energy, resilience and the ability to deal calmly and gracefully with difficult and unexpected situations. ▪ Demonstration of impeccable integrity. ▪ The ability to provide robust financial, administrative, and risk oversight. ▪ The ability to recruit, retain, and work successfully with the college’s non-academic staff.
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Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
Additionally, the College notes that the successful candidate will be prepared to undertake periodic national and international travel to further the College’s aims and ambitions.
Terms and Conditions ▪ Lodgings. The Master’s Lodge (on the main College site) is furnished and provided free of rent, property-based taxes, utilities, and agreed costs of internal decoration. There may be a small tax charge in relation to services provided. The Master’s Lodge is regularly used for entertaining members of, and visitors to, the College. ▪ Date of Appointment. The appointment will be from September 2022 or as soon thereafter as possible. The appointment will be offered subject to satisfactory references and proof of the right to work in the UK. ▪ Term of Appointment. The Master of Christ’s is appointed for a single fixed term agreed in advance, typically of five to seven years. ▪ Salary. The salary on appointment will be in the Professorial range and will be kept under periodic review by the College’s Remuneration Committee. This is in line with the median salary of heads of house across the University. Salary will be pro-rated to reflect the time commitment envisaged. ▪ Hours of Work. This is expected to be a part-time post. The Master will be expected to work such hours as are necessary to discharge the duties of the post (this may involve out-of-hours working). The Statute requirement on residence is two-thirds of every Term and 210 days per year. ▪ Dining Rights. The appointee will enjoy the rights and privileges of Fellowship, and full Combination Room rights, including the right to lunch and dine in College when the kitchens are open. ▪ Holidays. It is expected that holidays will be taken outside of the academic term or other periods when the Master’s presence is required. ▪ Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Sick Leave. The College has adopted generous schemes of maternity, paternity, parental and sick leave. ▪ Pension Scheme. Membership of a pension scheme is available or an equivalent contribution to a personal pension. ▪ Executive Personal Assistant. The College provides the services of an Executive PA.
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Position Specification Ref: Master Christ’s College, Cambridge
How to Apply To apply, please send a full CV together with a supporting statement, briefly highlighting your experience and skills against the requirements of the role, via email to [email protected]. Please quote Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, and reference code 2102-062L in the subject heading of the email. Please also ensure you complete and submit a Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire. All applications will be acknowledged. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 25th April 2021. Shortlisted candidates will be offered the opportunity to visit the College and have informal conversations with key stakeholders during the summer before an interview with the selection committee and meeting the wider Fellowship. Election of the Master by the Fellowship will take place in the Michaelmas Term 2021.
Equal Opportunities The College welcomes diversity amongst its students, staff and visitors, recognising the particular contributions to the achievement of the College's mission that can be made by individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The policy and practice of the College require that all the staff are afforded equal opportunities within employment. Entry into employment with the College and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each particular post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job is the primary consideration. Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant or member of staff will be treated less favourably than another because of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, ethnic or national group, or disability.
Note: Photographic images on pages 1, 2, and 8 are credited to Chris Reeve.
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