Deputy Head of Administration and Finance

This exciting new post presents an excellent opportunity to join the leadership team of a thriving academic department. The Mathematical Institute is one of the world’s leading mathematics departments and our research, impact, and environment were all ranked first in the UK in the 2021 and 2014 Research Excellence Framework exercises.

The Deputy Head of Administration and Finance (DHAF) will play a key leadership role in providing professional support for the department, deputising for the Head of Administration and Finance (HAF) and leading the department’s strategic people function. You will work closely with the department’s academic leadership team including the Head of Department, the Associate Head of Department for People, and other senior colleagues to provide strategic insights and recommendations for improvements to operations and services generally, as well as contributing to the development of the department and delivery of key strategic projects.

As Deputy Head of Administration and Finance you will have a broad focus across leading people-related strategies and change management, and developing departmental policy, planning, and governance in this area. Leading the HR team, EDI efforts, administrative support for our 16 Research Groups, and the Projects team, you will be a motivational and innovative leader, with a proven ability to manage change and respond positively to new challenges. You will have sound judgement under pressure, be able to think laterally and creatively, and have the intellectual capacity and strength of character to take and implement important, complex, and sometimes difficult decisions.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

This role also offers the opportunity for hybrid working

We proudly hold a departmental Athena SWAN Silver Award and an institutional Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, which guide our progress towards advancing racial and gender equality. As part of our strategic aim to improve staff equality and diversity, we would particularly welcome applications from BME candidates, who are currently under-represented in positions of this type within the department.

Application process

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact the Head of Administration and Finance, Dr Rachael Sanders (Rachael.Sanders@maths.ox.ac.uk).

Applicants should read the job description document before writing their application. You will be required to upload a supporting statement, setting out how you meet the selection criteria, a curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. To apply for this vacancy and for further information, including a job description and selection criteria, please click on the 'Apply' button above. 

Only applications received before 12:00 noon UK time on Monday 30 June 2025 can be considered.

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