The position
SCIO seeks to appoint a Junior Dean to foster a supportive community in line with SCIO’s objectives and to cover the practical responsibilities of warden.
The Junior Dean will live in The Vines on Pullen’s Lane in Headington and will have domestic, pastoral, and disciplinary responsibilities for the students living in the house. Details of the responsibilities are outlined below. The Junior Dean may undertake additional administrative tasks and/or, if the post holder is an advanced graduate student, may undertake tutorial or other teaching, if suitable opportunities present themselves. For any such additional administrative or teaching work separate remuneration will be offered. The main duties covered by the salary will together take about fifteen hours per week and four evenings per week must be spent in the student house. These two may overlap.
Personal requirements
It is essential that the applicant know Oxford well; enjoy the company of undergraduate students and be able to engage with them socially as a senior member of their community; be prepared, with the support of senior staff members, to enforce discipline in the house and over student behaviour more generally; be computer literate; and be in sympathy with SCIO’s academic and cultural aims. Additionally the appointed person must share SCIO’s Christian ethos.
Application procedure
Applications should comprise a curriculum vitae, the names of three referees, one of whom should be the applicant’s academic supervisor, and a covering letter and should be sent to Jordan Smith, email: scio.admin@scio-uk.org by 10 August, 2025. SCIO reserves the right to employ before the application deadline, should a suitable candidate be found. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
The Junior Dean is responsible for:
Main pastoral/student responsibilities
* Create a domestic environment conducive to SCIO’s academic, cultural, and spiritual aims, through leadership and participation in the community
* Bring student concerns to the attention of a nominated senior member of staff
* Understand and enforce SCIO regulations
* Help SCIO oversee the cleaning and maintenance of the property
* Hold practical domestic orientation at the start of each term/programme
Main property responsibilities
* Fortnightly properties meeting to report and review any maintenance or cleanliness issues; meet repair contractors on site as needed
* Report maintenance and cleanliness issues as they arise
* Report IT problems; refill printer as needed
* Advise senior staff on policies and procedures for use of properties
* Review students’ rooms at start and end of each term/programme
* Monitor supplies at the property and alert staff when more supplies need to be purchased
* Provide oversight as warden of properties during summer conferences and rentals
Availability
* Full-time assistance on each day of student arrival
* Be resident and participate for first three days after student arrival
* Spend four evenings each week during term/programme in the student house as open hours to meet with students (about 8-10 hours per week)
* Attend one Junior Dean meeting of c. one hour per week with a senior member of staff during term
* Attend general staff meetings, typically fortnightly during term
* Be resident and available for debrief and check out during the days prior to and following the end of each programme and student departure, usually over the course of three and a half days
* Optional opportunity to accompany two or three academic field trips per programme
Safety and wellbeing of students residing in SCIO student houses
* Supervise house, garden, and fittings for safety and student wellbeing
* Provide for general fire safety (weekly test fire alarm and run a termly fire drill)
* Monitor water quality through monthly temperature check
* Implement emergency procedures if required
* In case of serious illness or accident, know the procedures for referring students to a GP surgery or John Radcliffe Hospital; in case of minor illness or accident, provide appropriate supplies from the first aid kit
* Keep a record of accidents or serious illness of students at the house
* Accompany students to hospital if necessary; remuneration at the hourly rate of 1.5 times the living wage is made for attending Accident and Emergency outside of business hours
* Oversee student social events at the house
* Be prepared to attend Emergency First Aid at Work training courses (at SCIO’s expense)
* Be aware of all safety and wellbeing requirements as part of the ANUK agreement (training will be given)
* Understand, abide by, and enforce SCIO policies on harassment and equality.
Student Wellbeing
* Be first point of contact for students seeking pastoral or spiritual support
* Assist senior staff in organising social events for students, e.g. help with dinners on arrival day
* Assist in JCR activities
* Address domestic problems (such as kitchen cleaning) with students
* Perform nightly security check
* Organise and enforce kitchen rota for tidying food preparation areas
* Monitor electronic leave book (which records student absence) and report concerns to senior staff
* Help students form food groups
* Be present at JCR events in the house
* Be present at and assist with SCIO organised events as required
* Host student events, ideally including some regular events, such as a movie night or tea (6–8 per semester programme and weekly for summer programme)
* Maintain notice board at student house with current social, academic, and cultural events
* Arrange The Vines common room for programme events (one to two times per term/programme)
Selection Criteria:
Essential
* Identification with the ethos, aims, and objectives of SCIO and ability to represent them in working contacts
* Enrolled in a DPhil or non-taught master’s programme (due to work hour limitations, we cannot accept applications for anyone currently enrolled in a taught master’s programme). Postdocs may also apply.
* Excellent organisation and communication skills
* Excellent interpersonal skills. The post holder will need to engage helpfully and effectively with wide variety of contacts, including students, SCIO staff, and contractors.
* Demonstrable ability to work independently
* Willingness to be flexible about hours when the programme demands e.g. student programme arrival days
* Visa sponsorship is not available for this position; must be able to show current right to work in the UK
Desirable
* Familiarity with Oxford-style instruction and learning
* Prior undergraduate or graduate study in a field/s relevant to SCIO’s academic interests
* Interest or experience in student development
Salary and benefits
* Salary: £4,000 per annum
* A furnished bedroom and lounge/kitchenette, with shared bathroom, full kitchen and common room facilities
* Annual Leave: public holidays (8), plus 26 days per year, pro rata
* Sick Leave: 10 days per year plus 3 personal leave days per year, pro rata
* Pension scheme
* A research-related fund of £250
* A monthly mobile phone allowance.
#J-18808-Ljbffr