Associate Director, Total Reward, University of Oxford

Oxford is a world-leading centre of learning, teaching and research and the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

We will work as one Oxford bringing together our staff, students and alumni, our colleges, faculties, departments and divisions to provide world-class research and education. We will do this in ways which benefit society on a local, regional, national and global scale. We will build on the University’s long-standing traditions of independent scholarship and academic freedom while fostering a culture in which innovation and collaboration play an important role.

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to engendering inclusivity, and to supporting staff and student wellbeing, ensuring that the very best students and staff can flourish in our community. We believe that a diverse staff and student body strengthens our research and enhances our students’ learning.

The University’s distinctive democratic structure, born of its history, will continue to offer a source of strength. Likewise Oxford’s collegiate structure provides the University with key aspects of its academic strength and its highly attractive student experience. Oxford will continue to foster the interdisciplinary nature of the colleges, their teaching strength, and their defining and enduring sense of community.

I am delighted that you have expressed an interest to work with our People teams and colleagues at the University of Oxford.
In the aftermath of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, organisations are facing historic challenges with a competitive talent landscape, an exhausted workforce and added pressures to control costs. Traditional work models no longer meet the needs of the workforce and employees now require access to the relevant information and technology for their jobs, wherever and however they choose to work. Looking within our University, we face similar challenges and are working in partnership with our People professionals across the Divisions and Colleges to understand the changing needs of our workforce and labour market.
These challenges are being met with great opportunity at Oxford. Since joining the University myself at the beginning of this year, it is clear that the People function is very much at the forefront of University activity, with a number of high-profile programmes and projects underway, each promising to deliver considerable impact to the staff body.
A new three-year People Strategy is under development as part of the University’s Strategic Plan, bringing together all University-wide People initiatives designed to enhance the staff experience at Oxford. This includes an extensive programme of work to transform our HR and Finance services, a collegiate EDI Strategy, staff wellbeing provision and significant focus on pay and conditions.
Published this year, the Vice Chancellor’s Pay and Conditions Review aims to ensure competitive and fair pay, reward and benefits for all, and we are thrilled that Council (our most senior governing body) has now approved a number of initiatives to deliver this. The successful Associate Director, Total Reward will play an integral role in managing and leading the collegiate University through this exciting transition, implementing the outcomes from the review and developing and embedding a Total Rewards strategy and offering.
This is an exciting time to join the People teams at the University and I look forward to engaging with you in this process.
Renu Gupta FCIPD
Director of Talent & Deputy HR Director
Welcome to the University of Oxford. We aim to lead the world in research and education for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. Oxford’s researchers engage with academic, commercial and cultural partners across the world to stimulate high-quality research and enable innovation through a broad range of social, policy and economic impacts.
We believe our strengths lie both in empowering individuals and teams to address fundamental questions of global significance, while providing all our staff with a welcoming and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to develop and do their best work. Recognising that diversity is our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, we aspire to build a truly diverse community which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.
While we have long traditions of scholarship, we are also forward-looking, creative and cutting-edge. Oxford is one of Europe's most entrepreneurial universities. Income from external research contracts in 2015/16 exceeded £537.4m and we rank first in the UK for university spin-outs, with more than 130 companies created to date. We are also recognised as leaders in support for social enterprise.
Join us and you will find a unique, democratic and international community, a great range of staff benefits and access to a vibrant array of cultural activities in the beautiful city of Oxford.
For more information please click here
Click here to read the Job Pack
All applications must include:
- A full curriculum vitae/resume
- Quoting the relevant role reference number: A039724
- A covering letter highlighting the aspects of the job description and the University of Oxford that particularly attract you to the post (Microsoft Word document)
- Contact details for three referees, these will not be contacted without your permission. (References should validate a minimum period of six years employment)
- A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (which you will be redirected to once you have submitted your application) *
Monitoring
One of Alumni Global’s and the the University of Oxford’s objectives is to ensure that its workforce is reflective of the local community and therefore we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. So that we can successfully achieve these aims, while it is not mandatory we would encourage every applicant to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” so that we can measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.
For a confidential discussion on this role please contact:
Owen Francis, Director or Michael Earnshaw, Director of Research on +44 77 1905 59 71
Candidate adjustment
If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please can you advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.
Key Milestones:
Closing date: 13th September 2024
Final Interviews: w/c 30th September 2024 - TBC
Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date(s). We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.