About the Blavatnik School of Government

Our vision is of a world better led, a world better served and a world better governed. We are a global school committed to improving the quality of government and public policymaking worldwide, through three routes: teaching current and future leadersgenerating research with impact; and engaging with governments and practitioners.

What we offer

The School is a collaborative, friendly, and dynamic department based in an award-winning building in Oxford. We host regular events and talks with well-known guest speakers – all of which are open to staff. On the social side, we have regular coffee/cake mornings for staff, a family-friendly Halloween event, and Christmas and summer parties.

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

  • An excellent contributory pension scheme
  • 38 days’ annual leave
  • Family leave schemes and a comprehensive range of childcare services
  • Cycle loan scheme and discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
  • Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
  • Opportunities for remote working

More information about working at the School can be found on our jobs page.

About the role

Are you a motivated, conscientious administrator looking for a new challenge in an exciting and growing environment?

The School is looking for a positive and organised Programmes Assistant to join the School’s Programmes team to deliver exemplary support to students studying on the School’s graduate degree programmes, currently the Master of Public Policy (MPP), the Master of Science (MSc) in Public Policy Research, and the DPhil in Public Policy.

Reporting to the Academic Planning Manager, you will become a source of specialist knowledge about the MPP and MSc and provide information, advice and guidance to students. You will communicate with students face-to-face, via email and other media, lead on administrative support for core teaching, and maintain systems for tracking and recording all aspects of student progress, engagement and achievement. You will also coordinate and draft the weekly MPP and MSc Student Newsletters, coordinate the publication of the MPP Student Handbook, and administer the reading list process for the School’s degree programmes.

In addition, we are looking for an Assistant to join the School's dynamic Admissions team. The annual admissions cycle incorporates three specific areas of activities: student recruitment, student selection, and student conversion. You will assist the Admissions Officer to support these three areas. Throughout the admissions cycle, you will act as an initial point of contact for potential applicants, responding to enquires in a polite and timely manner. You will be responsible for processing applications, keeping meticulous records (local and central) of applicant details and status, and supporting the application assessment process. You  will also assist with resolving administrative issues that arise throughout the admissions cycle, process the admission paperwork in accordance with the School and/or University’s policies and practices. The Admissions Assistant role could be undertaken on a part-time basis. 

These posts are fixed-term for two years.

About you

You have excellent team working skills, with a flexible can-do approach and a willingness to adapt to the changing needs and priorities of the team. You should be organised, know when to use initiative and when to seek advice, and be able to demonstrate a personable and diplomatic approach in dealing with a diverse range of people, and feel confident dealing with financial data. Good IT skills and excellent written and verbal communication skills are also essential.

Application process

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, your CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon (UK time) on Monday 25 September 2023. We anticipate holding interviews on Wednesday 4 October 2023.

To apply visit the University website.