Associate Head of Division for Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Medical Sciences Division (MSD) aims to foster an inclusive culture which promotes equality and values diversity. As the Associate Head of Division for Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI), you will be part of a small academic leadership team supporting the Head of Division, Professor Gavin Screaton and the Deputy Head of Division, Professor Helen McShane.  Collectively this team is responsible for the development and oversight of Divisional activities. 

Working closely with colleagues in the Research Culture, People, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) sphere will be key to joining up a range of exciting opportunities, all of which link directly to the University People Strategy People Strategy 2024-2027 | HR Support.

You will be highly committed to embedding a collaborative and inclusive environment across MSD. Providing a vision and strategy across equalities areas, along with the leadership essential to implement lasting and effective cultural change.  You will work closely and collaboratively with Divisional Professional Service staff leads on EDI and Research Culture, other Associate Heads of Division and members of the MSD Academic Leadership Team.

This appointment is only open to internal applicants holding an existing contract of employment with the University of Oxford. All applicants are expected to be a Senior Academic, and they will need the support of their Head of Department to take on this role which is expected to be undertaken alongside existing duties.

A schedule allowance is payable (Schedule IV, currently £12,199 per annum), and the expected duration of this role will be three years in the first instance, with periodic reviews.

How to Apply

The role is available to internal applicants holding an existing contract of employment with the University of Oxford, only. The terms of the appointment will be agreed between the Head of Division and the appointee. Queries about the role may be addressed to divoff.jobs@medsci.ox.ac.uk and we are happy to arrange for informal discussions with the current Associate Head for EDI or other Divisional Leaders who can give you further information on the role. All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence and form no part of the selection decision.

 To apply, please submit an expression of interest, with a short statement that addresses the following;

• Why you are interested in this Divisional leadership role
• What experience you could bring to this team and what you
• What you will bring to the role, your previous experience and what you would hope to achieve in the first three years that continues the good progress made in MSD and beyond.

Applications should be emailed to divoff.jobs@medsci.ox.ac.uk  by midday on Tuesday 13 January 2026.  

Useful information can be found here:

• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
• Academic Leadership

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Lead the development of strategic thinking on culture across the Division.
2. Report regularly to the Medical Sciences Board and Finance, Research, and General Purposes Committee.
3. Advise the Division on implications of EDI on Divisional policy-making. Advocate for actions to support a collaborative and inclusive environment at a Divisional level, and work to promote and support systemic cultural change.
4. Build on existing outputs and work done and engage with staff and students around issues of Divisional culture and EDI.
5. In collaboration with Staff Networks and the Professional Service Staff supporting EDI and Research Culture, plan actions and activity to embed a collaborative and inclusive environment across the Division.  Ensuring that activities and actions look to improve overall wellbeing, engagement and satisfaction, at all career stages.
6. Chair the MSD EDI Steering Group and work alongside the Divisional Advocate for Research Staff, and the 16 departments of MSD. Ensuring integration and sharing of good practice, knowledge and expertise across the Division and beyond. Work with the Professional Service Divisional EDI lead, to encourage integration of initiatives and actions relating to EDI across the Division.  Agreeing priorities and tracking progress.
7. Chair the MSD Research Culture group. Work with the Research Culture Facilitator to ensure integration of initiatives and actions relating to research culture across the Division. Agree annual priorities and track progress.
8. Collaborate with the MSD EDI Steering Group to develop and put forward an annual action plan, with clear short/medium/long-term goals to linked to practical outcomes, and engage in regular review and evaluation, including an annual update on progress in the Division.
9. Engage with staff and students across the Division, through appropriate EDI or Culture leads, to ensure that voices and perspectives are reflected and embedded.
10. Liaise with the MSD Development team to promote fund-raising for EDI activities, including those for Post-Graduate Teaching (PGT) and Post-Graduate Research (PGR) scholarships targeted at underrepresented groups.
11. Engage with Central Committees, such as the Joint Committee on EDI  and the Institutional Equality and Diversity Panel amongst other to ensure that MSD is informed and advised of the equality and diversity work of the University and to ensure that there is MSD specific input as appropriate.

Candidate Profile

1.  A passionate advocate for creating a positive and inclusive Divisional Culture, that is   informed and underpinned by the principles of EDI.
2. Committed to developing and leading effective change across a variety of levels.
3. Able to work closely with colleagues and peers across the Division and University to achieve goals.
4. A Senior Academic or Researcher with an enthusiasm to be involved in the Strategic development of the Division, and the University as a whole.
5. A collaborative individual, who builds consensus and leads through action.
6. An excellent communicator who can deliver Divisional communications activity (written and in person).

Selection Criteria

Essential

1. A demonstrable commitment to EDI and advancing a positive, supportive and inclusive organisational culture for staff and students across MSD.
2. Experience of creating and promoting collaborative and inclusive environments with people from different backgrounds.
3. Demonstrable ability to develop consensus and promote change.
4. Experiences of effective committee participation, including chairing.
5. Demonstrable effectiveness in work with senior professional services colleagues.
6. A collegiate approach to developing policies and resolving problems.
7. Knowledge of the University’s obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty.
8. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities and a clear plan for delivering on the responsibilities of this role alongside others.
9. Holds a Senior Academic or Research position in a Department in the University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division.

Desirable

1. Experience of contributing to the strategic development of a Department, Division or University as a whole.
2. Experience of developing and implementing strategies to achieve long-term goals.