Director of the Department for Continuing Education
and Fellow of Harris Manchester College
University of Oxford 

The University of Oxford seeks to appoint an exceptional individual as the next Director of the Department for Continuing Education. The appointee  shall be elected to a Fellowship of Harris Manchester College. 
The Department, an integral part of one of the world’s leading universities, has an outstanding track record of enabling non-traditional learners from across the globe to pursue their academic and professional ambitions. Continuing Education will sit at the very heart of the University’s strategic commitments to broad outreach, and to providing an accessible, inclusive, and digital education to students and learners throughout their lives. The Department has a long and proud history in extending access to an Oxford education, from its beginnings in the University Extension movement of the 1870s. It is now one of the strongest and most dynamic centres of lifelong learning in the UK. 

The priorities for the incoming Director are to work with key stakeholders to develop and deliver an academic strategy for the Department, focused on widening participation through a commitment to lifelong learning. They shall also partner with stakeholders to develop a global digital education offering that builds on and complements other digital initiatives. The incoming Director will build strong working relationships with the four academic divisions and constituent colleges in Oxford to coordinate and further integrate the work of the Department. 

Strong candidates will bring academic credibility coupled with a track-record of excellence. They will have senior leadership experience in a complex academic setting. They must evidence experience, or a strong understanding, (i) of lifelong learning and supporting non-traditional learners, and  (ii) of digital design and delivery and online pedagogy. Ideal candidates will have excellent ambassadorial and entrepreneurial qualities, and will be naturally collaborative with a partnership mindset. They will be skilled at harnessing ability around them and inspiring others to contribute to delivering an exciting vision for the department. They will have strong negotiation and communication skills, and will be adept at building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. 

For further details on the role, please visit www.minervasearch.com/oxfordconted .  To apply, please send a CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the job description and person specification to oxfordconted@minervasearch.com  by 12:00 noon on Monday 20 September 2021.