Position Specification

University College, Oxford

Master

Private and Confidential

November 2018

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

University College, Oxford

About the College Thank you for your interest in the role of Master of University College, Oxford. The College is seeking to elect a Master to succeed Sir Ivor Crewe, who became Master on 1 August 2008. He is due to retire on 31 July 2020, and the Fellows of the College hope to pre-elect a new Master in June 2019 in the expectation that she or he can take up the post following Sir Ivor’s retirement.

This specification should be read in conjunction with information on the University College website at www.univ.ox.ac.uk

Background Founded in 1249, University College (or ‘Univ’ as it is known) is one of the oldest educational foundations in Oxford. It combines an ancient heritage with a thoroughly modern approach to fostering excellence in teaching and research. Its overriding focus is on academic endeavour at the highest standard; strictly merit-based admission of students; tutorial teaching of undergraduates; a closely integrated graduate community; and a strong commitment to research in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences.

The College’s academic objectives are to: . provide an excellent education for high-ability undergraduates; . promote the research and scholarship of its Fellows and graduates; . encourage undergraduate applications from a wide and diverse range of social and educational backgrounds through a strong programme of access initiatives;

1 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

. develop its position as a college of preference for graduates by the provision of scholarships, excellent accommodation and a stimulating intellectual community; and . establish and maintain links with all those interested in supporting its educational activities.

Every year about 110 undergraduates and 85 graduates are admitted to Univ. Around 600 junior members – 370 undergraduates and 230 graduates – are in residence at any one time. The Governing Body of the College currently comprises 52 Fellows. In addition, there are numerous other Supernumerary, Honorary and Emeritus Fellows and lecturers, and approximately 120 non-academic staff working in various administrative, domestic and maintenance roles.

The College has taken a number of pioneering initiatives to further its objective of providing an outstanding scholarly environment.

Recent Initiatives The College has made substantial innovations in recent years, thanks largely to the commitment and generosity shown by our Old Members. Univ’s successful undergraduate Opportunity Programme (to expand the number of UK students from disadvantaged backgrounds) is in its second full year of operation, and our repertoire of postgraduate scholarships has continued to grow – confirming Univ as one of Oxford’s leading colleges for postgraduate study. We also have an emerging strategy for our North Oxford site that is both ambitious and transformative.

The Opportunity Programme Three years ago, Univ launched a pioneering scheme – the Opportunity Programme – to expand the number of UK students from disadvantaged backgrounds at the College. The College is committed to creating extra undergraduate places and offering targeted academic support in the form of a summer bridging course to ensure that these students are able to transition effectively to high-level university study.

These new places are filled through the University’s normal competitive admissions process, but are available only to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The additional students are selected in the usual way and according to the usual academic criteria. The aim of the scheme is simple: to ensure that very deserving students of high potential who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, but who might otherwise miss out on a place at Oxford due to the sheer number of applications, have the chance to study here.

Details are available at: www.univ.ox.ac.uk/learn-at-univ/opportunity-programme/

2 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

Undergraduate Bursaries Univ currently offers bursary support to any undergraduate student coming from a household with an income of £52,000 or less, providing a crucial top-up for those students with a household income above £42,000, which is the threshold for support from the University. This provision reflects the changing landscape of bursary support at Univ. Students from the least affluent backgrounds often require less support from Univ because they are in receipt of University or government-funded financial packages. The College, therefore, increasingly aims to ensure that students from middle-income families, often ineligible for University support, also have the resources they need to live in Oxford and enjoy everything that a Univ education has to offer.

Postgraduate Scholarships Thanks to the overwhelming support of Old Members, £18m was raised in the nine years to 2016 for postgraduate scholarships, which leveraged more than £12m in matching funds from the University. This expanded endowment has allowed Univ to offer over 35 full scholarships annually. This has transformed Univ into one of Oxford's leading colleges of preference for postgraduate study.

Through the Oxford–Radcliffe Benefaction scheme many of our current scholarships for graduate study are in the sciences and economics. The College aims to balance this with new offerings in humanities subjects: Univ has responded to a bid from the University to secure matched funds via the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Tutorial Enhancement Univ’s ambition to preserve and protect its world class tutorial system is a priority for the immediate future. Recently, thanks to the extraordinary support of individual and collective benefactors, we were delighted to announce new Fellowships in Czech Language and Literature, and in Computer Science.

The College is also committed to establishing up to five Early Career Fellowships over the next six years. These young scholars, seen as potential leaders in their fields, will be employed directly by Univ on a fixed-term, three-to-four-year basis. The fixed nature of these posts will ensure that there is an expanded stream of enthusiastic young scholars within our community.

Univ in North Oxford In the early 1970s, the College completed a 98-bedroom satellite to its main High Street campus on a site in North Oxford. This site sits between the arterial roads of Banbury Road and Woodstock Road, and is just over a mile from the city centre. After acquiring further acreage from the Fairfield Care Home in 2016, the College secured planning permission to build a new cluster of study-bedrooms. We also supported the construction of a new care home for the elderly on the site, which is complete and has been in operation since Summer 2018. The College is now exploring the merits of a plan to

3 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

transform the site into an effective campus that will be both a genuinely collegiate and complementary satellite to its High Street premises. Any new facilities, situated as they are in a Victorian Suburb Conservation Area, must be sensitively designed and delivered. The intention is that this development will further enhance the College’s attractiveness to future members, and assist in its appeal as a college of choice.

College Governance The Master and Governing Body Fellows are the College’s charitable trustees and meet three times a term during each of the three academic terms. Ultimate authority for the running of the College rests with the Governing Body, acting as a collective. The Governing Body is supported by a number of statutory and ad hoc committees. The principal committees are the Academic Committee, Finance Committee, General Purposes Committee, and Development Committee. A small number of Fellows sit on each committee, together with the relevant College officer who has responsibility for the business of that committee. Student representatives sit on Governing Body and all committees, with the exception of Finance Committee.

The key College officer posts of Senior Tutor, Finance Bursar, Domestic Bursar and Development Director are all full-time professional roles. The holders of these posts are full members of Governing Body. The Senior Tutor, Finance Bursar and Development Director service the main business for their respective committees. The College has a full-time Chaplain, who also acts as Welfare Fellow.

4 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

Financial Information University College is well endowed, sitting typically in the top third of Oxford University’s colleges’ and halls’ wealth tables after having added more than £130m of total net assets to its balance sheet over the past 15 years. A combination of generous benefaction from our supporters, and the execution of an effective investment strategy, has enabled the College to expand its delivered impact, and build its aspirations; with much of this resource invested in Univ’s functional premises. This pattern is expected to continue into the future.

The size and careful management of its endowed investments (allocated typically as 40–50% in property and the remainder in equities, bonds and cash equivalents) is important because the distributions and yield from these investments are essential to meet the material gap between the College’s annual expenditure and the income it receives from government funding, and student fees and rents.

The accounts for the academic year ending 31 July 2018 record income of £16.8m, total expenditures of £(14.4)m, and net income (including gains from investments) of £8.5m. The College’s total net assets, after subtracting its £50m bondholding, were £206.9m. The College was the first of the Oxford colleges to issue a public bond, and is prepared to be innovative in pursuit of its academic objects. The Old Members’ Trust fund also contributes to the College’s resources with assets under independent governance of approximately £10m.

In 2016, the College completed its ‘Univ 20/20 Campaign’, which ran for nine years and raised over £55m to support a range of initiatives, including post-graduate scholarships, undergraduate bursaries, college Fellowships, undergraduate access, and to support the general fabric of the College. Our new campaign, fundraising for a number of initiatives, has started well, with more than £7m committed since 2016. In addition to undergraduate bursary provision, postgraduate scholarships continue to be a focus. In the near term, we also expect to deepen our fundraising for Early Career Fellowships and for the material development of our accommodation offer on the North Oxford campus.

5 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

The Role The Master chairs Governing Body meetings, and also presides at or attends most of the other College committee meetings. S/he contributes substantially to the strategic direction the College takes, and is 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 the consensus view. 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 College meetings. Additionally, to maintain the smooth running of the College, the Master typically meets weekly in term time with the four senior College officers as a group, and periodically with each of them individually. The Master also meets all students annually, both undergraduate and graduate, to review their progress with their Tutors or College Advisers.

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 acting as an ambassador for the College to the wider public. S/he also serves 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 assist the Development Director and the wider Fellowship in fundraising. The College is fortunate to have one of the most engaged and generous of Old Member communities of any Oxbridge college, fostered in large part by the personal relationships established between the Master and Fellows of the College and our alumni. Beyond this, the College has established wider links with external bodies to advance its scholarly activity, such as the recent creation of the Blockchain Research Centre.

For more information about the College’s Blockchain Research Centre, please follow this link: https://blockchain.univ.ox.ac.uk/

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, 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 develops fundraising strategies for the college, and maintains and enhances relationships with

6 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

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 external to it.

. 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 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. S/he 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 engage in activities with the wider public world, provided they do not have a significant impact on the role of the Master, which should be regarded as a full-time position during term time.

7 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

Person Specification and Qualities

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 important:

Experience:

. a distinguished record of achievement which carries a high level of recognition; . significant experience of, or affinity with, the world of academia, with a strong intellectual background; . experience of fundraising and development work; . significant leadership and management experience; and . experience of engaging with multiple stakeholders and objectives.

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 in the breadth of scholarly activity in which members of the College engage; . demonstrable interest in access and widening participation in higher education; . the ability to create strong relationships with others, showing emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively; . public speaking skills and the ability to adapt the style of delivery to a wide range of audiences; . an ability to inspire trust and confidence in others through gentle persuasion, personality, and a clear commitment to the College and what it represents; . sympathy with the ethos of the College and its values of openness, diversity, and innovation; . 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; . the ability to foster a unity of purpose within the College and an understanding of the democratic nature of the Governing Body; . strategic leadership ability, coupled with the capacity and willingness to deal with the detail of implementation; . the ability to provide robust financial, administrative, and risk oversight; and . the ability to recruit, retain, and work successfully with the College’s non-academic staff.

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.

If the Master has a partner and/or children, the College would be pleased to welcome them. The role, if any, of the Master’s partner within College is a matter solely for his or her own discretion, the College has no expectation of a commitment. A partner may be proposed for membership of the Senior Common Room in his or her own right.

8 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

Terms and Conditions

. Lodgings. The Master’s Lodgings (on the main College site) are furnished and provided free of rent, property-based taxes, utilities, and agreed costs of internal decoration. The College will make provision for reasonable removal expenses, the cost of domestic service, and entertainment. . Date of Appointment. The appointment will be made with a start date of 1 August 2020; a slightly earlier or later start date may be negotiated. The appointment will be offered subject to satisfactory references and proof of the right to work in the UK. . Salary. The salary on appointment will be in the region of £100,000 - £110,000 and will be kept under periodic review by the College’s Remuneration Committee. . Hours of Work. This is a full-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 Master is required by the College statutes to reside in College for at least seven months of the year, including at least six weeks of every term. . Dining Rights. The appointee will enjoy the rights, privileges and trustee obligations of Fellowship, and full Common Room rights, including the right to lunch and dine in College when the kitchens are open. . Holidays. The appointee will be entitled to 30 days paid annual holiday, together with normal statutory public holidays. Nine days of this annual leave will normally be taken at Christmas and Easter during the periods of College closure. Holidays must normally be taken outside the academic term and other periods when the Master’s presence is essential. . Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Sick Leave. The College has adopted the schemes of maternity, paternity, parental and sick leave laid down by the University of Oxford from time to time. . Pension Scheme. Membership of the USS Pensions Scheme is available, which would currently require a contribution of 8% of salary while the College would contribute 18% of salary. . Health Insurance. The College will pay the appointee’s membership fee of its medical insurance plan, currently held with BUPA, for as long as the College elects to remain in the scheme. This is a taxable benefit that covers members of the appointee’s immediate family. . Retirement. The College statutes provide that the retiring age for the Master is 31 July following her/his 70th birthday, although the Regulations provide for extensions to be applied for. The Fellows envisage an agreed term of office in the order of seven to ten years regardless of the Master’s age at appointment. . Executive Personal Assistant. The College will provide the services of an Executive PA.

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 (preferred) to [email protected]. Please quote the role title and reference code 1810-092L in the subject heading of the email. All applications will be acknowledged.

Alternatively, if you wish to apply by post, please address this to: Simon Kingston, Russell Reynolds Associates, Ref: 1810-092L, Almack House, 28 King Street, London, SW1Y 6QW.

9 of 10

Position Specification Ref: Master University College, Oxford

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Russell Reynolds Associates on 020 7198 1886. Candidates are also welcome to contact the Vice-Master at Univ, Prof. Peter Jezzard ([email protected]).

Note that dates for shortlisted candidates to visit the College for a first interview have been identified as the weeks of 29 April 2019 and 6 May 2019. The dates for the second round of interviews are likely to be Tuesday 11 June and Thursday 13 June 2019. The first interview will focus on each candidate’s career-to-date, and will also involve an opportunity for the candidate to meet a wide spectrum of College members and learn more about the College. The second interview will focus on the candidate’s aptitude for becoming Master and her or his vision for the role. Additionally, candidates will be invited to meet a small group of Old Members of the College, ideally in person in London, on either Wednesday 5 June 2019 or Thursday 6 June 2019.

Applications are invited by Friday 22 February 2019.

Equal Opportunities The College is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all candidates and strongly encourage applications from women and black and ethnic minority groups. No applicant will be treated less favourably than another because of his or her sex, marital status, race, ethnic or national origin, disability or sexual orientation.

Data Privacy Please note that any personal data submitted to the College as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation. For further information, please see the College’s Privacy Notice for Job Applicants and our Policy on Data Protection at https://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/policy-documents/.

10 of 10