Job Vacancies
All applications for our vacancies are made online through the University of Oxford jobs website and only in very exceptional circumstances can we receive applications via other means.
If you have a disability or other compelling reason that prevents you submitting an application online please email the divisional HR team at divoff.jobs@medsci.ox.ac.uk for advice.
Vacancies for committees and other internal positions are listed below with information on how to apply.
Deputy Director of the Biomedical Sciences Integrated Masters Programme
Applications are invited for the office of Deputy Director of the Biomedical Sciences programme within the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (SMBMS) of the University of Oxford. This is an exciting and interesting opportunity to play an important role as part of the senior management team for the programme. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin work in October 2025.
It is expected that the successful candidate will already be employed in a post within the University. The time commitment associated with the role is on average one half-day per week (0.1 FTE). The funding available for the Directorship will be used to ‘buy out’ the successful applicant from existing duties in a University department, subject to the agreement of the Head of Department, and to cover the cost of a small responsibility allowance.
The appointment will be offered for three years in the first instance, with the possibility of re appointment following review for one further period, of three years’ duration. There will be a probationary period of one year.
The Deputy Director will be responsible to the Director of Pre-clinical Studies and Biomedical Sciences (Dr Robert Wilkins). Dr Wilkins will chair the selection committee for the Deputy Directorship.
The role
The Deputy Director will oversee the recruitment and selection of students to the Biomedical Sciences programme. There is a two-step process in which applicants are shortlisted for interview largely on the basis of contextualised GCSE performance and their result in a pre admissions aptitude test. Shortlisted applicants are then interviewed at two colleges. Each college panel then ranks the performance of the applicants it has interviewed. The highest ranked applicants are placed preferentially at their college of choice.
Applicants for Biomedical Sciences for 2025 entry sat the BMSAT (Biomedical Sciences Admissions Test), delivered by Pearson, as the pre-admissions aptitude test and will do so again in the admissions round for 2026 entry. The Deputy Director will oversee the arrangements for promoting the Biomedical Sciences programme to prospective applicants. They will be a major contributor to Biomedical Sciences events at the three University Open Days held each year.
The Deputy Director will also be expected to lead efforts to increase the number of applications from under-represented groups, and to participate in University-led outreach initiatives.
The administration of the selection procedures is carried out by the academic administration team in the Medical Sciences Teaching Centre. The postholder will need to work closely with this team, especially during periods of peak admissions activity.
The Deputy Director will be formally responsible to the Director of Pre-clinical Medicine and Biomedical Sciences but will be expected to liaise closely with other officers within the SMBMS and the Medical Sciences Division, including the Deputy Director of Pre-clinical Studies, who is the Admissions Co-ordinator for the A100 Medicine programme.
Admissions policy and procedure for the programme is overseen by the Biomedical Sciences Steering Committee, of which the Deputy Director will be a member. They will also be a member of the School’s Admissions Policy and Strategy Committee.
Duties
- Oversee the dissemination of information as appropriate to college tutors and admissions offices, and offer guidance and establish quotas and underwrites of open offers
- Manage the formulaic shortlisting process, including consideration of flagged applicants not automatically shortlisted and allocation of second colleges
- Direct the response to feedback requests from applicants not shortlisted.
- Oversee the preliminary and final ranking processes. Oversee the final allocation of applicants to colleges.
- Oversee the production of a written report at the conclusion of each exercise.
- Oversee the responses to Stage 1 appeals from applicants about admissions decisions, and oversee the production of information to the University Admissions Office in the case of Stage 2 or Stage 3 appeals.
- Where necessary, propose changes to policy or procedure and, when agreed, implement changes, in conjunction with the course administration team. Undertake or commission statistical analysis where appropriate to evaluate the effect of policy or of changes in policy
- Chair meetings of college tutors for Biomedical Sciences in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms to consult on changes to policy and procedure and to discuss matters of principle.
- Attend meetings of the Admissions Committee and/or the Admissions Executive of the Conference of Colleges, as required.
- Liaise with the Undergraduate Admissions Office regarding test provider and financial arrangements
- In the case of a bespoke test for the Biomedical Sciences programme at Oxford, oversee the academic content of the test, in conjunction with the test provider
- In the case of a multi-course or multi-institution test, sit on the appropriate body of academic stakeholders
- Oversee the programme of recruitment and outreach activities for Biomedical Sciences and encourage other members of academic staff to take part in these activities
- Deliver presentations to prospective applicants for Biomedical Sciences at University Open Days.
- Represent the programme at other events for prospective applicants or recruit other members of academic staff to attend.
- Oversee the content of publicity material for the programme (mostly web-based).
- Identify under-represented groups of applicants and work with colleagues to develop and implement recruitment strategies targeting those groups.
- Advise on responses to queries about admissions policy and procedures from prospective applicants, where required.
- Act as a member of the Biomedical Sciences Steering Committee and other relevant committees (currently the SMBMS Admissions Policy and Strategy Committee and the Joint Consultative Committee for Biomedical Sciences).
- implementation of the curriculum and the academic timetables for Biomedical Sciences students in years 1-4.
- annual updates of the syllabuses for the programme, in conjunction with the relevant course committees.
- arrangements (including appointment of Examiners) for the examinations and assessments taken by Biomedical Sciences students.
- processes for the collection of, consideration of, and response to student feedback to ensure that academic standards are upheld.
- quality assurance/enhancement reviews and subsequent actions arising from recommendations.
- stewardship of relationships between the course and the Colleges g. stewardship of relationships between the course and the student body
- stewardship of relationships with the Heads of departments that contribute to the teaching of the programme
- responses to national, University and Divisional policy and regulatory initiatives.
- handle queries from, and problems relating to, individual students.
Essential selection criteria
- Current employment in a University departmental academic post
- Up-to-date knowledge of undergraduate admissions procedures within the University and substantive experience that would be of assistance in dealing with related issues
- Up-to-date knowledge of current undergraduate educational issues
- Ability to command the confidence of a broad range of academic and professional services staff members across the collegiate University
- Excellent communication skills (oral and written)
- Experience of delivering high-quality undergraduate teaching and assessment
- Ability to establish relationships with University departments, Colleges, partner hospital trusts and local healthcare and academic networks
- Ability to establish excellent relationships with the Biomedical Sciences student body and with individual students
- Knowledge/experience of curriculum development and delivery within undergraduate education.
Desirable selection criteria
- Possession of a Master’s degree or Diploma in learning and teaching, or similar equivalent experience
- Experience of admitting and teaching Biomedical Sciences students.
Applications
Applications in the form of a curriculum vitae with a covering statement detailing the applicant’s suitability and including the names of three referees should be submitted to Mrs Kirstie Vreede by no later than noon on Friday 1 August 2025.