Head of Student Administration

University of Oxford - Department of Engineering Science

Location: Oxford

Salary: £56,623 to £65,336 per annum with a discretionary range up to £71,218 (Inclusive of Oxford University weighting). Grade 9

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Permanent

Placed On: 19th February 2026

Closes: 11th March 2026

Job Ref: 184810

The Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford is one of the largest and most innovative research and teaching departments in the UK. With strong interdisciplinary links across the University and a commitment to world-class research, the Department provides an intellectually stimulating and dynamic environment for staff and students alike.

We have an exciting opportunity to lead the Student Administration in the Department as the Head of Student Administration.

About the role

This is the key leadership role in the department for student and teaching support. Managing the Student Administration Team and working closely with the Associate Head of Department for Teaching and the Director of Graduate Studies, you will be responsible for the whole student life cycle for 1400 undergraduate and postgraduate students, from outreach, to on-course support and alumni relations.

You will be responsible for providing advice and guidance to academic staff on university regulations and requirements and liaising with central and divisional services You will be involved in the formulation of policies and procedures within the department and adherence to University policy. Quality assurance is part of this role as is ensuring the department is prepared for course reviews. You will work with senior academic staff to develop strategies across the full student life cycle.

About you

To thrive in this varied and engaging role, we are looking for someone with:

• Evidence of effective academic administrative leadership in Higher Education.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to work well independently and under pressure, using own initiative to prioritise complex and competing demands effectively in a challenging environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to gain the confidence of a wide range of people, including students, academic staff, senior departmental officers, and all grades of professional services staff, in addition to building effective relationships with external stakeholders.
• Experience of successfully managing the performance of others in a way that improves student and staff experiences and creates a high performing team.
• In-depth knowledge of student-related rules and regulations, particularly those related to post-graduate research, with experience of understanding and interpreting complex regulations and conventions.
• Highly developed communication skills and personal discretion and judgement, especially when dealing with sensitive and confidential information and seeking to resolve complex situations. Experience of providing advice and support such as Mental Health First Aid.

About the team

You will be responsible for the management of the Student Administration Team (16 staff) ensuring that all course administration, course management, policies and procedures, run smoothly and are continually updated and improved to increase student satisfaction. The undergraduate course covers all the main branches of engineering through a wide range of options, and this generates significant workload in managing on-course administration and examinations. Postgraduate programmes include taught masters programmes, a masters by research and several doctoral programmes.

Hours: Full-time (Part time requests to be considered to a minimum of 0.8FTE)

Hybrid working: 80% FTE on site minimum

Working hours: occasional attendance of works outside normal business hours

Application Process

You will be required to upload a cover letter/supporting statement which details how you meet each of the selection criteria, a CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 11th March 2026 at 12:00 noon.

Interviews are scheduled for the week commencing the 23rd March 2026.