JESUS COLLEGE, OXFORD ACCESS AND CAREER ...

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innovative and high-quality activities for pupils and teachers which will draw on ... mock admissions interviews; deliver tutorial-style sessions; and to explain the.
JESUS COLLEGE, OXFORD ACCESS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FELLOW: FURTHER PARTICULARS I

THE APPOINTMENT

The College invites applications for an Access and Career Development Fellow, tenable for a fixed term of four years from 1 July 2014 or as soon as possible thereafter. The Fellowship is open to those researching in any subject offered at undergraduate level at the College, and is intended for candidates who are at an early stage of their postdoctoral career. Applicants will have a doctorate or be able to confirm submission of their doctoral thesis in advance of interview for the role (please note the post is not intended for those who have just completed their first degree.) The post is generously funded in part by alumni of the College. The objectives of the College in making this appointment are to develop and strengthen its access and school liaison work in order to ensure that the College attracts high-quality undergraduate candidates regardless of background; and to further contribute to the research profile of the College. In addition to its commitment to delivering high-quality teaching to its undergraduate students, Jesus College places a strong emphasis on supporting the research undertaken by its fellows, lecturers, and postgraduate students. In recent years the College has increased its emphasis on research and elected additional Research Fellows at junior, mid, and senior career stages, and sought to attract post-doctoral researchers to the College through membership of the Graduate Common Room. The College has developed ‘subject families’ (a vertical linkage from undergraduate, postgraduate, Tutorial Fellow, and Research Fellow to Professor), and anticipates that the new fellow will take a part in further strengthening his or her field at the College. This is a newly-created post which will deliver the College’s access and outreach aims by placing an active academic at the heart of access and outreach activities, whilst at the same time supporting a scholar in the early stages of his or her career. At the end of the post the Fellow will have an outstanding record of research and publication to enable him or her to advance to the next stage of their career and Jesus College will have embedded academic-led access and outreach work which can then be carried forward. 60% of the post will be allocated to access and outreach activities both within College and beyond. This work may take place throughout the year and will involve travel within the UK and particularly in south Wales and south London – the areas Jesus College has responsibilities for under the University’s ‘regionalisation’ scheme. As an Access Fellow, the postholder will spend much of his or her time “attracting and supporting applicants from backgrounds within the United Kingdom with limited tradition or success in

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receiving offers, and who are currently under-represented in the student body of the University”. However s/he will also be responsible for general ‘Widening Participation’ activities designed ‘to raise general aspirations to study at any university or college providing higher education opportunities’1 and ‘Outreach’ aimed at encouraging potential applicants. It is therefore vital that the postholder has the aptitude for delivering innovative and high-quality activities for pupils and teachers which will draw on the postholder’s academic activities and experience. S/he must have the ability to inspire pupils, teachers, and all involved in applications to Oxford. The role therefore includes promoting Jesus College, Oxford University, and the HE sector more generally to encourage applications from students regardless of background. The role will involve considerable travel and interaction with school pupils mostly in years 11 and 12 but also younger. The postholder will need to be fully appraised of admissions policies and practices, Higher Education legislation and policy such as fees and bursaries. Main Responsibilities Access Fellow (60%) 1. Develop and maintain meaningful relationships with schools, teachers and coordinators, charities and others involved in the promotion of Oxford to potential applicants and those involved in widening participation. 2. Visit schools to promote Jesus College and Oxford University and to provide mock admissions interviews; deliver tutorial-style sessions; and to explain the admissions procedures (40 Visits to schools per year is the current expectation). 3. Oversee and lead visits from schools to Jesus College and Oxford and facilitate academic and other activities (40 Visits per year is the current expectation). 4. Organise and contribute to Open Days, Taster Days, Subject Days, and the Teachers’ Access Conference at the College. 5. Participate in Higher Education fairs, careers’ fairs, Oxbridge regional conferences and other outreach events. 6. Prepare and disseminate outreach literature. 7. Oversee the outreach pages of the College’s website and promote Jesus College and the University via the web and social media. 8. Liaise with the College’s Fellows, tutors, and students to encourage their input in the College’s access work and support their outreach activities. 9. Liaise with the University’s Undergraduate Admissions Office and other colleges on joint outreach initiatives and cross-Oxford access programmes. 10. Maintain records of outreach activities and provide appropriate statistics to the Academic Director. 11. Contribute to the administration of the annual undergraduate Admissions process. 12. Any other task as reasonably requested by the Academic Director. Career Development Fellow (40%) 1. Plan and deliver a high quality programme of original research; 2. Publicise the outcomes of this research at national and international level via publications and delivery of papers; 1

Definitions from the University’s ‘Common Framework on Outreach’

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3. Engage in the academic life and activities of the College Criteria for appointment The successful applicant will meet the following criteria. Criteria Essential 1. Possess a high level of research ability in a subject offered by the College at undergraduate level 2. Have experience of undergraduate teaching (such as tutorials, lectures, classes, practicals) 3. Demonstrate a commitment and interest in university fair access and school liaison work and the academic goals of the College 4. Possess a strong educational record 5. Possess excellent oral and written presentation and communication skills suitable to both academic and non-academic audiences 6. Possess excellent organisational skills, including the ability to balance demands from different areas, to prioritise competing projects, and manage time effectively 7. Possess IT skills appropriate to a Windows-based office, including word-processing, internet and e-mail, manipulating spreadsheets, handling databases and preparedness to learn new applications as required 8. Possess excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage and inspire potential applicants and teachers and to engender trust. Able to use initiative and creativity to identify different ways of working to build successful relationships 9. Be at an early stage in his/her academic career, having a doctorate (awarded within the last 4 years) or being able to confirm submission of his/her doctoral thesis by the interview date for the post (please note the post is not intended for those who have just completed their first degree.) Applicants who are undertaking a doctoral thesis but have not yet submitted it are asked to include a clear timetable for its completion by the interview date of 19 May 2014. 10. Have a coherent proposed research programme for the duration of the Fellowship, of a standard which will contribute to and enhance the national and international profile of the field in the University 11. Have a record of publications and other output demonstrating research expertise, both published and forthcoming, appropriate to the career stage of the applicant

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12. Be able to demonstrate the suitability of Oxford for carrying out the proposed research Desirable 1. Have experience of undergraduate admissions 2. Have experience of university access and school liaison work 3. Possess knowledge and understanding of Oxford University teaching practices and admissions processes Jesus College Jesus College has a strong commitment to promoting and enabling education, learning, scholarship and research at the highest levels amongst its students and academic staff, whilst preserving an informal and friendly atmosphere. Founded in 1571 by Elizabeth I, the College is a self-governing educational charity and is one of the 38 constituent colleges of Oxford University. With Lord Krebs, FRS, as its Principal, the College comprises 78 Fellows, 20 lecturers, 200 graduates, 350 undergraduates, and 90 support staff. The College is located on an attractive historic site in the centre of Oxford, with excellent access to the Bodleian Library and other university libraries, the Science Area, and the University’s department and faculty buildings. The College has two annexe sites elsewhere in the city to provide additional student accommodation. The College encourages the academic achievements of its students (being regularly towards the top of the table for the best performance in final examinations) with excellent teaching, and generous and varied financial support. Similarly it celebrates and supports the academic endeavours of its Fellows, both in research and teaching. The College held a Strategic Review of its activity for 2011-16 (available at www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/strategic-plan), setting out a number of important academic themes. The Fellows and lecturers of the College form a lively multi-disciplinary and international community. Weekday lunches in particular are a popular and lively time for Fellows and lecturers to talk to their immediate colleagues and those in other disciplines. Guest Nights on Wednesdays and Fridays during term offer very pleasant occasions for Fellows to entertain professional and personal guests, and a chance to meet a wide range of interesting people. The College hosts a number of well-attended formal dinners throughout the year, at which the post-holder and his/her guest would be most welcome. Fellows can make use of the College’s well-equipped seminar and other rooms for meetings, entertainment, conferences etc., and can book accommodation for guests in dedicated Fellows’ guest rooms. Research Fellows regularly use College facilities to host seminars, colloquia and conferences of several days’ duration. Lunches and dinners of a high standard may also, on occasion, be hosted by Fellows for professional or personal purposes. A dedicated Fellows’ Resources Room provides computers, printers, a photocopier and a fax. Full information about the College is available on the College website: www.jesus.ox.ac.uk

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REMUNERATION AND OTHER ENTITLEMENTS 1. Salary: there is a four-year scale on points 29-32 of the national pay spine, with appointments being made on the first point of the scale. The figures include a nominal Fellowship stipend of £180 p.a. The scale values as at 1 August 2013 are given below.

Year of post 1 2 3 4

National pay spine point 29 30 31 32

£ p.a. 29,837 30,728 31,644 32,590

2. An office for access work will be provided within the College’s Academic Office. 3. Study space in College: a study room in College (equipped with standard computer and printer) will be provided if required. 4. Accommodation: a single Fellow may rent furnished rooms in College if desired (note there will be no kitchen facilities and the rooms are not ensuite). The annual rent will be at the prevailing level of charges, currently in the region of £4,687 for 201314. 5. Dining rights: the Fellow will be entitled to lunch and dinner free of charge with members of the Senior Common Room during term and vacation, except when the kitchens are closed. 6. Membership of the Senior Common Room (SCR): small charge payable 7. Research grant: a research grant to the value of £850 p.a. (reviewed annually) is available towards the support of research, e.g. laboratory expenses, purchase of books or attendance at conferences. 8. Major Research Grants Fund: Junior Research Fellows are eligible to apply to a cashlimited Major Research Grants Fund, currently worth approx. £24K p.a. Applications are invited in spring each year. Preference may be given to Fellows at an early stage in their career and to those with little access to alternative funding sources. 9. Pension: the person appointed will be eligible to join USS, under which scheme 6.5% (for new members) of his or her stipend is deducted.

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OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

CRB: A satisfactory CRB check is required for this post. Probation: the first year of Fellowship will be probationary. Probation is assessed in the summer term by the Governing Body on the basis of a self-report from the Fellow

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covering both research and access work, and a reference sought by the Fellow on his/her research. The College may also seek a research reference independently. The Academic Director will report to the Governing Body on the Fellows’ access work. Upon satisfactory completion of the initial first year of appointment, the post-holder will be eligible for re-election for a further three years. This is a fixed-term appointment and the contract is non-renewable. Reporting: as this post is partially funded by the College’s alumni, the post-holder may be asked to provide the Director of Development with a report on his/her research. The post-holder might also be asked to take a reasonable part in maintaining the College’s relationship with alumni. Mentor: the College will ascribe a Fellow in a cognate area to be the Career Development Fellow’s academic mentor. Teaching: There is no requirement to undertake any teaching during the Fellowship. However, there may be opportunities to undertake some teaching, remunerated at the Senior Tutors’ Committee hourly rates. Equal opportunities. Jesus College is an equal opportunities employer. Where suitably qualified individuals are available, the selection committee will contain at least one member of either sex. Data protection. All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the College’s Data Protection Policy. Work permits. All appointments are made in accordance with the University of Oxford Equal Opportunities Policy and Code of Practice and applications are welcomed from a wide range of candidates. The University undertakes not to discriminate unlawfully against any applicant on the basis of any information revealed. The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 makes it a criminal offence for employers to employ someone who is not entitled to work in the UK. We therefore ask applicants to provide proof of their right to work in the UK before employment can commence. Applicants who would need a work visa if appointed to the post are asked to note that under the UK’s new points-based migration system they will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient points, and in particular that: (i) they have sufficient English language skills (evidenced by having passed a test in basic English, or coming from a majority English-speaking country, or having taken a degree taught in English) and (ii) that they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves and any dependants until they receive their first salary payment.

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Further information is available at: www.gov.uk/tier-2-general/eligibility IV

PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT

How to apply: There is no application form. Please send EIGHT copies of the following in hard copy to Mrs Helen Gee, the Principal’s Secretary, Jesus College, Oxford OX1 3DW by 10 April 2014. (Emailed applications cannot be accepted.) • a covering letter • a curriculum vitae • a list of publications • an outline of the proposed programme of research • the names and contact details, including email addresses, of three referees • • applicants who are undertaking a doctoral thesis but have not yet submitted it are asked to include a clear timetable for its completion before THE INTERVIEW DATE OF 19 May 2014 It is the responsibility of applicants to ask their referees to send their references direct to the Principal’s Secretary, by the same date ([email protected]).). (Emailed references will be accepted.) Applicants are also requested to inform their referees that, under the 1998 Data Protection Act, any reference they may be asked to provide will be regarded as disclosable to the subject of the reference unless marked “strictly confidential”. This instruction must appear on the letter of reference itself and not just on the envelope in which the letter is contained. Referees should also be asked to note that even where a reference is marked “strictly confidential” it could still be disclosed to the subject of the reference if that subject so requested and the College’s Data Protection Officer deemed it appropriate. Application process: a short list of applicants will be drawn up by the selection committee in early May. Please note that at this stage shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a sample of their written work, such as an offprint of a published article or a thesis chapter. It is expected that short-listed candidates will be invited for interview at Jesus College, Oxford on 19 May 2014. Those shortlisted will be invited to give a short presentation to the selection committee on their research and their research plans if they were to hold the Fellowship. Candidates will be invited to attend lunch with other Fellows and a tour of the College: neither are attended by members of the selection panel and neither are part of the selection procedure. Reasonable interview expenses (including flights) will be reimbursed, and overnight accommodation can be offered free of charge if required. Queries may be addressed through the Principal’s Secretary, Mrs Helen Gee ([email protected]). T:\SenTutor\Academic appointments\JRFs\2013-14\Access and Career\Access Fellow FPs final.docx

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