Appointment of a Bursar September 2021 Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 01 Contents
03 Welcome from the Principal
04 Background
08 The Role
11 Person Specification
12 Terms and Conditions
13 How to Apply and Selection Process Welcome from the Principal
Thank you for your interest in becoming Bursar At Mansfield, we are proud of our history, our at Mansfield College – a role that is vital in the beautiful buildings and gardens, but we are also day-to-day life of the College, influencing and proud of our present. The last few years have working with all areas of the community to transformed the College’s looks and fortunes, drive forward progress and to ensure that our thanks to the generosity of past members and operations run smoothly. benefactors, who are enthused by the College’s imagination and energy, and who want to Since joining as Principal in 2018, I have been contribute to its future. continually impressed by Mansfield’s position as a thought leader on broadening access to Oxford We have our challenges too. Mansfield has one of University as well as by its warm, welcoming and the smallest endowments of any of the Colleges socially diverse student and alumni body. and our relative youth and relatively small alumni base mean we still need carefully to develop and We are known for being central, and beautiful; steward our resources. The COVID-19 pandemic for being small, friendly and fun; for the quality has, of course, significantly disrupted our of our teaching; and for having the highest operations and finances, with our conference and proportion of state school educated students in events business hit particularly hard. Oxford, thanks to Mansfield’s progressive ethos and dedicated outreach work over decades. Over Our new Bursar will therefore join us at an 90% of our undergraduates now come from exciting and challenging time. We are looking state schools, many from the least advantaged for someone who will devise, lead on, and take groups in society. At the same time, our annual an active role in delivering the next phase of academic standing is on the rise, with results well the College’s financial and operational strategy, towards the top of the ranking tables. potentially with a role in helping to finance and facilitate the building of more student and If you ask our students and staff their views teaching accommodation. on Mansfield they will tell you how much they appreciate the close-knit, supportive and diverse We are looking for someone who can share our community we have here. The College is home vision for this agile and forward-looking College to a rich and varied academic and social life, and and support us in the exciting next phase of the we hope that the successful candidate will find College’s journey. ways to contribute to this once life returns to If you are interested in applying, I strongly normal. The College has a happy and cohesive encourage you to get in touch with David Richards Governing Body with a common vision. College of OCT Associates, who is helping us with this staff are loyal and hard-working. A dedicated appointment, to discuss your application Development Team has made progress in [email protected] or 07798 5232422. achieving a more engaged, involved alumni base and in increasing donations in terms of regular Helen Mountfield QC support, participation and major gifts. Principal
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 03 Background
About the University of Oxford, Mansfield teaches a broad range of subjects, with a modern, progressive, outward-looking and Mansfield College approach. We have beautiful buildings, a The University of Oxford, which came top in spacious feel, and a very central but out-of-the- the Times Higher Education World University way site close to the science parks, libraries, Rankings last year for the fifth year in a row, and city centre. is made up of 39 colleges and six permanent private halls. It is a world-leading institution and home to some of the world’s best teaching and ‘Last year one Oxford college research across hundreds of different subjects. admitted 96% of its students Although it is part of the University of Oxford, from state schools’ like each college, Mansfield is self-governed and The Guardian, March 2020 financially independent.
Mansfield is what an Oxford College should be in ‘State school pupils flock to the 21st century: warm, welcoming, and socially Oxford college, and degree and educationally diverse. One of the younger results soar’ and smaller colleges within the University, at The Sunday Times, Feb 2020 Mansfield we pride ourselves on being distinctive, outward-facing, plural and broadminded in our culture, research and education, and in fostering Mansfield has become particularly well known a supportive community in which diverse people for its academic outreach, and our strong and and ideas can flourish. effective work in broadening participation in Led by the Principal, Helen Mountfield QC, the higher education for students from a very College’s Governing Body is made up of some wide range of social backgrounds, where we 40 Fellows, including the Bursar, the majority consistently lead the University of Oxford and the of whom are academics. These Fellows are all Russell Group. Some recent articles in the national Trustees of the College, which is a registered press highlight Mansfield’s access achievements. charity. Links can be found on the College website.
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 04 Background (continued)
The College is also home to the Bonavero College: with results, on average, in the top third Institute of Human Rights, dedicated to fostering of the ranking tables over the last 3 years. world-class research in human rights law. Access to Excellence Mansfield was founded by non-conformists in From the late 20th century, Mansfield has the 1880s and since its foundation has offered undertaken sustained and serious work to ensure under-represented and excluded constituencies that the College is intellectually excellent but access to an Oxford education. The College’s never socially exclusive, and has taken active steps position on broadening access to the University to ensure it attracts and fairly selects candidates of Oxford is now nationally recognised. from diverse backgrounds. Mansfield is The College community significantly ahead of other Colleges at Oxford and Cambridge in terms of achieving a student body The College currently consists of around 250 which broadly represents the society it serves. undergraduate students, 170 graduate students Last year, 96% of its offers to UK undergraduates and 40 visiting students each year. The College were to students from the state sector, and 30% also has a strong and supportive body of were first generation university students. international students. We are proud to be one of the most diverse Colleges in Oxford, in Our historic buildings all senses of the word, and this is what makes Mansfield occupies one of the most attractive us distinctive. The community is relatively sites in Oxford, central and close to all the small, comparatively informal, and particularly libraries and shops, yet in a quiet position near welcoming and friendly. to the University parks and River Cherwell. The Academic mission late nineteenth-century buildings, which house the College’s main public rooms, are regarded The Fellows of the College make significant as amongst the finest work of the important contributions to their academic disciplines and Victorian architect, Basil Champneys. to the wider academic community via world- leading research, publications and teaching. Recent major developments Undergraduates benefit from Oxford’s In 2017, a major £23m project was completed, famous tutorial system, which gives them funded entirely through philanthropy, on time close individual access to some of the finest and on budget, establishing a distinguished teachers in their area of study, while all of our new building (the Hands Building), designed students benefit from the University’s world- by architects MICA Associates. This provided class facilities. The College has a well-stocked, Mansfield with 73 new en-suite student rooms, beautiful, and architecturally important main teaching space, a 160-seat lecture theatre Library, as well as smaller study rooms and (the Sir Joseph Hotung Auditorium), and also subject libraries. founded and endowed the University’s Bonavero Institute of Human Rights (BIHR). We are proud that Mansfield’s intellectual standing has increased significantly in line with The BIHR, whose inaugural director, Professor our reputation as a progressive and inclusive Kate O’Regan, is a former South African
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 05 Background (continued)
Constitutional Court Judge, was opened by Kofi The Hands Building has transformed student Annan in 2018. It is part of the Law Faculty, experience as well as the College’s finances, as it but has a permanent home on Mansfield’s also provides important rental and conference site, and its Director, Research Director and income. Head of Programmes are Governing Body Fellows. We share use of the beautiful Hotung Revenue generating activities lecture theatre. Our link with Bonavero Human Mansfield relies on vital income each year from Rights Institute provides synergy between the our conferencing and events business, the College’s dissenting tradition and the Universal current backbone of which is a regular, annual Declaration of Human Rights: valuing freedom booking from a major US university. Our Visiting of thought, including for minorities (social, Student Programme also makes an important intellectual, ideological); believing all humans are contribution to annual income. Unrestricted born free and equal in dignity and rights, and donations each year also support the College to in a democratic society founded on values of a lesser degree. pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness.
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 06 Background (continued)
Future plans and Strategic Goals
The arrival of Helen Mountfield QC as Principal, in September 2018, heralded a new phase of the College’s life and a renewed vision, in the delivery of which the Bursar will play a key role.
In 2020, the Governing Body adopted a new 20- year strategy for the College, and a new Values and Ethos statement, which can be found on the College website. As part of this future planning, the College has set the following ambitious 5. Reputation and intellectual leadership. To strategic goals: ensure that Mansfield is well-regarded and 1. Academic excellence. To continue, secure known for its academic and social mobility and enhance the development and sharing work in the University, among alumni and of knowledge, ideas and expertise so as supporters, and in the wider world, and to strengthen our core functions: effective provides an exemplar of good practice. By teaching and leading research within one of 2040, Mansfield will have established a high the world’s foremost Universities. profile and name for its academic work, its progressive and imaginative ethos, and its 2. Broadening participation in academic contribution to positive change in the world. life. By 2040, Mansfield will be a known as a beacon for broadening participation in 6. Financial sustainability. By 2040, Mansfield academic and public life. will have achieved the financial security to be a secure, innovative and highly successful 3. Strong community, inclusion and well- long-term academic institution. being. By 2040, we will have well-developed The business planning to work towards arrangements and resources to enable our achieving these goals over the next 5 years students and Fellows to have the confidence is now underway, including plans for further and support to fully enjoy and benefit from redevelopment of the site to provide income- their study at Mansfield, and to make the generating buildings, and new and improved best possible use of the academic and other spaces and facilities for our academic opportunities at Oxford University. community, funded by philanthropy and 4. Robust governance, operational strategic finance. effectiveness and environmental Our new Bursar will be critical to leading and sustainability. To ensure that Mansfield is delivering on these ambitious plans for the run efficiently, sustainably and effectively, College. to maximise use of resources and to better support Fellows in their research and to Much more information about Mansfield, enable people to contribute well to the including its history, is available on the College community. website, www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 07 The Role
The Bursar is the senior administrative To succeed in the role she or he needs to postholder within the College. Much participate not only in the operational but also more than the College’s financial the intellectual and community life of the College and, beyond that, to strengthen connections with lead, this is a broad and challenging other Oxford Colleges acting, with the Principal role that calls for someone who can and Senior Tutor, as the College’s ambassador operate through the lens of a general and advocate in various cross-university bodies. manager with sound core finance In the pursuit of helping to deliver Mansfield’s skills and strong focus on strategic mission, the Bursar will balance careful delivery as well as overseeing day-to- management of resources with an appetite for day operations. The Bursar is a Fellow, calculated risk that seeks to take advantage of a member of the College’s Governing emerging opportunities, and ultimately leave the Body, and chairs its Finance and College on an even surer footing from which to Resources Committee. flourish.
Working closely with the Principal, the Director of Development, and the Senior Tutor, the Bursar is responsible for the management of all staff and non-staff resources to ensure that day-to-day operations meet the needs of the College’s academic objectives. As the College is an incorporated charity and legal entity it has to meet all the relevant national legislation and associated policies and it is the Bursar who has delegated responsibility for this compliance. Whilst the Bursar is ultimately answerable to the Governing Body, which is chaired by the Principal, she or he also plays a leading role in guiding and advising them.
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 08 The Role (continued)
9. Representing Mansfield’s interests on inter- college and University committees.
10. Ensuring compliance with relevant statutory requirements as they apply to the non- academic activities of the College.
Direct Reports
The following staff report directly to the Bursar and are responsible to the Bursar for the services that they provide: Key Areas of Responsibility Domestic Bursar 1. Contributing to the ambitious development Catering and accommodation provision of the College’s plans and strategies to take for students, staff, and the promotion and Mansfield College to a new level of success. administration of commercial events, together 2. Advising on the financial implications with associated personnel management. of proposed courses of action for both The Kitchen Manager, Hall and SCR Manager, academic and non-academic proposals. Accommodation Manager, Head Porter and 3. The drafting of budgets and control of Conference Assistant report to the Domestic expenditure within approved policies. Bursar.
4. Ensuring a cost-effective administrative Accountant structure and staffing for the College in Provision of financial management information, support of provision of services for the preparation of statutory accounts and other College’s academic objectives. statutory returns, provision of sales, purchase 5. Providing a healthy and safe environment and payroll services to the College. conducive to the teaching, research and Maintenance Manager other activities carried out by the College. Day-to-day college maintenance, advice on 6. Overseeing the effective management of longer-term planned maintenance and building the College’s accommodation, services and projects. Contractor commissioning and other facilities. supervision.
7. Ensuring effective management of the Information Technology Manager College estate and of capital projects. Day-to-day IT support, and the maintenance 8. Identifying and implementing opportunities and development of the College IT network and to enhance income through conferences, services. events and other initiatives, and ensuring that costs are routinely monitored and Librarian maintained at appropriate levels. The provision of library services to the College.
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 09 The Role (continued)
Head of Human Resources Liaison Day-to-day HR support, and the development of The Bursar is expected to work closely with HR operational and strategic projects. the Principal, other Academic Officers of the College, and the College Office both on day-to- Personal Assistant day administrative matters and to discuss policy To assist the Bursar with day-to-day issues and the relationship between academic administration, the exact support structure and and non-academic aspects of the College post to be discussed with the new Bursar. operations. The Bursar contributes to the targets, strategy, Further Duties tactics and record keeping of the development (fund-raising) programme by liaison with the In addition to providing leadership to the above Development Director and staff. services, the Bursar performs the following additional duties: Buildings and accommodation Meetings and consultation The Bursar ensures the adequate maintenance of College buildings and plant including forward Regular attendance is required at meetings planning of maintenance requirements and the of the Governing Body, the Academic Policy securing of the work; coordinates and controls Committee, the Joint Consultative Committee, new building and refurbishment; forecasts Finance and Resources and Development student accommodation needs and supervises Committee, and other committees as necessary. the arrangements for any rented property; The Bursar will represent the College on the oversees the maintenance and development of University’s Estates Bursars’ Committee (EBC), a security policy and procedures for the College which meets twice termly. Attendance at these both in terms of personal and property safety. meetings is expected in order to keep abreast In liaison with the Senior Tutor, the Bursar of developments within the Collegiate University ensures that staff and academic staff and to ensure that Mansfield’s interests are accommodation is appropriate to staff needs represented at this level. The Bursar is also and is used on a cost-effective basis. required to participate in the wider work of the EBC, including membership of sub-committees, Legal Compliance joint University and College committees, and specific working groups. The Bursar is the nominated responsible person for a range of legal compliance requirements The Bursar acts as secretary to, and meets as which include data protection, health and safety, required with, the Remuneration Committee, freedom of information, equal opportunities, comprising external members for remuneration carbon reduction commitment, GDPR, student issues relating to Fellows of the College. accommodation, personnel, financial and charity legislation.
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 10 Person Specification
Suitable candidates may come from a wide range of previous experiences and backgrounds, but we would expect applicants to demonstrate most, if not all, of the following essential elements in their career experience:
Experience and qualifications
• Successful senior management experience in a reasonably large and complex organization which covered the areas of finance, human resources, buildings/estates, and income generation. Personal attributes and values
• A record of successful financial planning • Intellectually strong and able to command and budgeting in contexts requiring careful the respect of all members of the College control to safeguard sustainability whilst community. ensuring that opportunity is grasped. • Understanding of the academic purposes of • Personal accountability for meeting a leading higher education institution, and financial targets relating to income and/or empathy with the values and objectives of expenditure. Mansfield College, particularly with regard to widening access and matters of equality, • Evidence of working collaboratively at a diversity and inclusion. strategic level to develop organisational vision, and to help craft financially viable routes to • A willingness to enter wholeheartedly into the bring ambitious plans to fruition. life of the College and an appreciation of the collegiate nature of the University of Oxford. • Experience of the delivery of significant projects, ideally but not exclusively major • A strategic and solutions-oriented approach capital projects. that helps to find ways to make things happen in spite of challenges. • Experience of overseeing and managing legal compliance policies and procedures • An able communicator with excellent and evidence of being able to deal well with interpersonal skills and an ability to lead, individual ‘difficult’ cases as they arise. manage, develop and motivate a wide range of operational and administrative staff in the • A recognised CCAB accountancy qualification delivery of support services to the College, as is desirable, though not essential if an well as to gain the confidence of the College’s alternative business qualification and/or academic staff. significant financial-management experience can be demonstrated. • Strong organisational skills, including the use of IT where appropriate, and an ability to prioritise.
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 11 Terms and Conditions
terminated by either party giving one month’s notice. The Official Fellowship at Mansfield College is subject to continuing to hold the post of Bursar.
After the successful completion of the probationary period the College expects to be given 3 months’ notice to terminate the contract of employment. The post-holder will be entitled to the equivalent period of notice should the College decide to terminate the contract of employment.
Holiday: The holiday year begins on 1st January Location: Oxford, United Kingdom, with some and ends on 31st December each year. There travel. is a paid holiday entitlement of 30 personal Start date: It is hoped that the successful days, 5 days of which are to be taken during candidate will start by 30th September 2021 the Christmas closure period, in addition to all however a later start date may be arranged. public/bank holidays (currently 8 in total).
Reports to: Principal. Leave and holiday dates for this post should be agreed in advance with the Principal, Responsible for: Domestic Bursar; Accountant; subject always to the operational needs and Maintenance Manager; Information Technology requirements of the College. Manager; Librarian; Personal Assistant. Equal Opportunities: Mansfield College is an Salary: The post will attract a starting salary in equal opportunities employer and commitment the region of £80,000 per annum. Salaries are to this is expected from all staff. reviewed in Hilary (Spring) Term each year Pension Scheme: The pension scheme Working Hours: This is a full-time post. The applicable to this post will be the University ability and willingness to adopt a flexible Superannuation Scheme (USS) and details are approach to working hours and duties is issued separately by USS on appointment. expected, and the Bursar may be required to work additional hours from time to time in Other Benefits: Official Fellowship, membership order to fulfil the requirements of the role and of the Senior Common Room and Common the needs of the College. It may be necessary Table rights, which means free meals when in to travel in the UK and abroad on behalf of the College and when the College kitchens are open, College for short occasional periods. to be taken at High Table if desired.
Contract: This post is subject to a probationary period of six months, after which there will be a performance review. During the probationary period the contract of employment may be
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 12 How to Apply and Selection Process
How to apply Since we will correspond with you by email and phone, please provide an email address Please apply by email to our retained consultant, and phone numbers that you are happy for us David Richards of OCT Associates to use for this purpose and provide a mobile [email protected] phone contact if possible. You are strongly encouraged to discuss the role with David Richards on 07798 523422 before Closing date submitting an application. The closing date for applications will be Monday Applications should comprise a short CV 2nd August 2021 (8.00 am UK time). Late together with a covering letter (no more than applications may not be considered. We reserve two pages in normal font). This should explain the right to engage with strong candidates ahead your interest in the role, and particularly highlight of the closing date so early applications are what might make you stand out from others as encouraged. We may also approach additional a strong candidate (why you should get the job, candidates after the closing date should it be rather than merely why you could do it.) necessary to strengthen the field of applicants.
Please also complete the optional recruitment Selection process monitoring form (available for download separately). Mansfield collects confidential Applications will be acknowledged by OCT and anonymous equal opportunities data at Associates shortly after receipt. recruitment in order to support the College in its Soon after the closing date all candidates will monitoring duties. be informed by email or phone of the outcome In your covering letter, please give details of any of their applications. A long list of candidates dates on which you would not be available for whose applications most closely match the interview in the periods indicated below. requirement will be invited to an initial interview
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 13 How to Apply and Selection Process (continued)
with OCT Associates. These interviews will be held online or in person in Oxford, probably during the weeks beginning 16th or 23rd August.
Following these initial interviews, a short list of the best-qualified candidates will be invited to the College for an interview with the Selection Panel, probably in the week beginning 6th September.
One or more candidates may then be invited back, probably in the week beginning 27th September, for meetings with other College staff and to make a presentation to the Selection Panel, after which an offer will be made, subject to approval at a meeting of Governing Body.
References will be taken up on short-listed candidates prior to interview and an offer will be conditional both on satisfactory references and on proof of the right to work in the UK.
In the event that a candidate is unable to attend for interview on the date offered the College will Please let us know if you believe there are any make every effort to offer an alternative date but reasonable adjustments we should be making cannot guarantee to be able to do so. to assist you with your application. If you feel that you have a disability which may affect your Equal opportunities application, please let us know.
Mansfield College and the University of Oxford Please also let us know of any reasonable are equal opportunities employers and adjustments that we would need to make for welcome applications from all suitably qualified you to attend an interview. candidates. Mansfield actively welcomes diversity amongst its staff and students and all Travel expenses reasonable adjustments will be made to the Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed recruitment process, working arrangements to candidates required to attend for interview, and/or environment to accommodate applicants by application to OCT Associates. Rail travel with any form of disability. should be Standard Class, and mileage claims Applications are particularly welcome from will be reimbursed at HMRC standard rates. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, Please discuss any significant expenses (e.g. who are currently under-represented in senior international travel or long journeys) with David college posts at Mansfield. Richards before incurring the expense.
Appointment of a Bursar | September 2021 14 www.oct-associates.co.uk
8-10 Great George Street London SW1P 3AE UK
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