Head of Access

Access is a strategic priority for St John’s. The College’s commitment to academic excellence underpins this mission : academic talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Whilst the College, and the wider University have made significant progress on key access metrics - and remain dedicated to yet further progress - the ambitions of St John’s Access and Outreach programmes extend beyond the College and beyond Oxford itself.At the centre of this work is the suite of Inspire sustained-contact programmes. Delivered in schools, in the College, and online, Inspire programmes reach thousands of pupils at non-selective state schools each year. While many participants do progress to highly selective universities, the programmes provide academic challenge, enrichment and inspiration for any young person who might benefit. All programmes are completely free, and many include additional financial support to ensure that those most disadvantaged can participate fully. A wider suite of school visits and community partnerships complements this sustained contact work.The scale, generosity and ambition of this work are unmatched within Oxbridge Colleges. St John’s invests in robust quantitative and qualitative evaluation strategies to demonstrate the programme’s impact and continuously improve. In 2026, it will take an ambitious new step by launching a bespoke virtual learning environment, a massive improvement in the user experience for pupils, teachers, and St John’s staff alike.The Access and Outreach Office sits at the heart of this mission, coordinating a college-wide effort to address educational inequality, wherever it is found. The ambitions of the St John’s Governing Body are shaped by a Steering Committee comprised of stakeholders from the Governing Body Fellowship, and experienced external advisors.The Inspire programmeA summary of our outreach activities and Inspire programmes can be found on the links below :About the postSt John’s College is seeking to appoint a new Head of Access and Outreach to drive bold, innovative approaches to widening participation.The Head of Access and Outreach will lead and coordinate the College’s established portfolio of widening participation initiatives, whilst driving growth and innovation to ensure St John’s remains at the forefront of Oxford University’s efforts to address educational inequalities.The successful candidate will have outstanding interpersonal skills, a relentless focus on addressing educational inequality, and an ability to translate this to the delivery of exceptionally high-quality programmes. The postholder will provide strategic leadership and operational management for a team of six permanent staff and a flexible number of student ambassadors, interns and academic staff contributing to the programmes. An ability to set a positive working culture, leading by example and manage multiple projects is essential.This is a new and strategically important post at the College and is a unique opportunity for candidates. As part of a transitional restructure of the College’s access and outreach functions, key responsibilities previously held by the Fellow for Access and Outreach will be transferred to this role. The postholder will work closely with the Fellow and other senior staff to ensure a smooth handover and continuity of strategic direction. It is envisaged that this role will eventually report into a senior professional manager in due course, with the Fellow for Access and Outreach providing Governing Body and Committee oversight for this critical area of the College’s strategy.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic LeadershipProvide overall leadership and direction to the College’s Access and Outreach teamOngoing development of our existing in line with College and University objectives for access and participationRepresent the Access and Outreach Team at the termly Academic Services CommitteeCoordinate the Inspire Steering Group, working closely with the Fellow for Access and OutreachEnsure the delivery of a coherent and high‑impact suite of Inspire activitiesChampion new ideas, pilot creative initiatives, and explore opportunities for disruption and improvement in outreach approachesTeam and Operational ManagementLine‑manage a talented team of six permanent staff with diverse roles [Inspire Programme Lead, Academic Lead (0.4 FTE), Access Lead, Digital and Marketing Lead, Digital and Operations Manager, Access Assistant (0.4 FTE)]Oversee the recruitment, training, and support for student ambassadors and vacation internship positionsPromote cross‑departmental work within collegeFoster a positive, inclusive, and performance‑focused team culture that encourages experimentation and continuous improvementProgramme Oversight and DeliveryEnsure high‑quality, consistent delivery across the Inspire Programme and other outreach activitiesOversee design, delivery, and evaluation of all Year 12 and Year 13 Inspire Programme activities to ensure coherence, accessibility, and effectivenessOversee the Oxford for South East cross‑college programmesCommission and oversee internal and external programme evaluations, and apply these insights to enhance programme efficacyUse evaluation and usage data to make targeted decisions about resource usage and impactStakeholder EngagementBuild and maintain strong relationships with school leadership teams in the primary and secondary education sectors regarding new and existing collaborationsLiaise with the central University and other College Access and Outreach teams to encourage collaborative workRepresent the College at external access and outreach forumsGovernance, Compliance, and ReportingEnsure compliance with safeguarding, GDPR, and health & safety regulations across all outreach activitiesHold the role of delegated Safeguarding Lead for access events, including summer schoolsLead on reporting responsibilities, including internal briefings and external reports to donors and the UniversityCoordinate the College’s contributions to university‑wide Access and Participation Plans (APPs)Monitor and evaluate outreach activities for impact and effectivenessFinance and Fund ManagementManage the departmental budget and oversee expenditure in line with College proceduresProvide financial reporting and forecasts for University returns and for internal governance purposesOversee management of restricted funds in collaboration with the Development and Finance teamsContribute to donor engagement and reporting, ensuring transparency and impact‑driven updatesSelection CriteriaEssentialExperience in access and outreach or elsewhere in the education sectorDemonstrable experience of working at a senior level with an understanding of the positive impact of academic endeavourA willingness to rapidly learn about issues, trends and norms relevant to the access and outreach sectorExperience managing and motivating staff and leading cross‑functional teamsExperience of successful management of ambitious programmesExceptionally strong strategic planning, organisational, and communication skillsBudgetary management experienceExcellent IT skills, including experience and confidence with Microsoft Office packages and databasesAn ability to analyse evaluation and usage dataThe ability to work to multiple deadlines and to prioritise diverse workloadsAn ability to work calmly and competently under pressureA passion for social justice, educational equity, and making a tangible difference in people’s livesDesirableAn understanding of the use of virtual learning environments for digital programme deliveryExperience of working with funders / donorsExperience with safeguarding and GDPR compliance (training can be provided)Reporting StructureThe Head of Access and Outreach reports to the Fellow for Access & Outreach.Personal DocumentationThe selected candidate will be required to present documentation demonstrating the Right to Work in the UK.Terms and ConditionsSalary : Grade 8 of the University salary scale (currently £47,389 - £56,535 per annum). Plus an Oxford weighting allowance of £1730.Hours of work : Normal office hours are 35 hours per week. Normal hours of work are to be agreed but are expected to fall within the period 9:00am – 5:00pm, with an hour for lunch. Some flexibility will be required according to particular responsibilities; some evening and weekend work may be required, for which time off in lieu will be given.Further details on this post can be foundApplication ProcedureIf you consider that you meet the selection criteria (detailed previously), please send your application consisting of a covering letter explaining your suitability for the post and a full CV with your complete education and employment history by email, to vacancies@sjc.ox.ac.uk.Your application should arrive no later Monday 19th January 2026. #J-18808-Ljbffr