The role

The OLF is a trusted person supporting the member of faculty or guest lecturer who is teaching, enabling them to focus on the teaching and enabling all of our students to participate fully in the classroom, regardless of location. Alongside this, we have developed classroom norms with our MPP students and convenors, so we all operate to a shared framework. The OLF plays an important role in ensuring these classroom norms are upheld.

OLFs became an integral part of the Blavatnik School community during the last academic year, trusted and valued by faculty and students alike and part of our team. As an OLF, you will be very much part of our mission-driven approach and be able to sit in on – and help make a success – engaging, lively classes. If what we do and what our students learn is of interest to you, we would love to have you as part of our team.

As an Online Learning Facilitator, you will be expected to liaise with convenors ahead of teaching and support them in various Zoom functions, monitor students joining online classes, take attendance and be present throughout the class and actively monitor the session, both in the physical classroom and on Zoom. You will also assure that classroom norms are upheld, and flag any student welfare concerns to the Degree Programmes Manager.

Initial training will be provided, covering the use of all technology, including Zoom, AV equipment and attendance tracking. There will be regular knowledge-sharing and best practice sessions (these will be paid).

OLFs will be expected to be present in-person for teaching sessions, either in lecture theatres/teaching spaces or in translation booths, subject to changes in government guidance and University policy.

OLFs will need to respect the confidentiality of teaching discussions and of the teaching material, which is the intellectual property of faculty of the Blavatnik School of Government.

Selection criteria

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with students, professional staff and academics, using tact and diplomacy.
• Good judgement and calm under pressure, knowing when to step in and when to escalate something.
• Confident user of technology, particularly Zoom, and the ability to learn quickly.
• Commitment to professional standards of support and to building a community of best practice with other OLFs and professional services staff.
• Commitment to the mission of the Blavatnik School of Government.

This casual teaching engagement would start from mid-September 2021 for all Michaelmas term, with possibility of extension until March 2022 or June 2022 depending on the MPP course requirements.

For further details on the role and selection criteria, please see the further particulars.

How to apply

Please email your CV and a one-page cover letter highlighting your most relevant experience and the contribution you would make to recruit@bsg.ox.ac.uk with the subject 'Casual OLF – application'. The deadline for applications is midday (UK time) on Monday 9 August.

You would be based at the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford for the hours that you are supporting teaching sessions. You must have the right to work in the UK.