Dean for Welfare and Research Fellow

Magdalen College invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the four-year fixed-term post of Dean for Welfare and Research Fellow, available for the period 1 September 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter) to 31 August 2030. This is a Career Development Position. The College is seeking a person with a demonstrably strong commitment to student welfare, and experience of pastoral care, who is also engaged in academic research at a high level (in any discipline). The role of Dean for Welfare and the role of Research Fellow will each occupy 50% of the postholder’s time over the year, with the balance between these two sets of responsibilities in any given week liable to vary according to need (the demands of the role of Dean for Welfare are usually heavier in term-time).

The Dean for Welfare is responsible for the operation of the College’s student welfare provision, in consultation with other Officers of the College. Under Magdalen’s decanal structure, the Dean for Welfare has no involvement with the College’s disciplinary processes: the Dean for Discipline has responsibility for non-academic disciplinary matters in College, while the Senior Dean maintains oversight over the decanal system as a whole. The Dean for Welfare, often collaborating closely with the Senior Dean, is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the College’s welfare provision for undergraduate and graduate students.

The College has a large welfare team, including two Student Support Administrators (a job share), a College Counsellor, a College Mentor for Students, the Dean of Divinity (College chaplain), two Tutors for Equality and Diversity, and four Sub-Deans (graduate students who are available to respond to student problems out of hours and at weekends). The Dean for Welfare acts as a first point of contact for student welfare concerns, in conjunction with the Student Support Administrators, at regular Deans’ Hours, and as appropriate when particular issues arise, and is responsible for referring students to appropriate internal and external sources of support, including counselling and the College Doctors.

The position requires the skills to maintain excellent channels of communication with the various sources of support for students, which include their academic Tutors and the welfare teams of the undergraduate and graduate student bodies (the JCR and the MCR), whilst upholding the College’s policy on confidentiality. Together with the Senior Dean, the Dean for Welfare manages the process by which undergraduates access the College’s Student Support Fund, and offers welfare support to students facing disciplinary processes. The Dean for Welfare will be a member of the College’s Tutorial Board, which determines the academic policy of the College, and will be expected to contribute to the formulation of College policies on welfare issues.

As Research Fellow, the postholder will require the skills to manage their own independent research, and to produce high-quality publications.

Salary: Starting at £57,497 p.a., plus Tutorial Allowance of £9,386 p.a., and additional benefits.

Start date: 1 September 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Details of how to apply and further particulars are available by clicking the 'Apply' button above.

The closing date is noon BST on Tuesday 26 May 2026. It is anticipated that interviews will be held on Wednesday 10 June 2026.

Magdalen College is an equal opportunities employer.

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