Assistant Dean

Honorarium:  £2,916 per annum     Contract type :Part-time, fixed termLocation: Balliol College, Oxford – Graduate Centre (Holywell Manor), OX1 3UHDepartment :The Graduate Centre – Holywell ManorReports to:The DeanResponsible for : N/AHours There are no defined hours associated with this post.  Normal hours of work vary each week and are dependent on the needs of the College. 
The Assistant Dean will be expected to be resident at the centre year-round, recognising the need for leave and attendance at research-related events away from Oxford.  Although the graduate presence will be less during the months of July-September, it is anticipated that there will still be a need for the Assistant Dean to carry out their responsibilities.  Although general out-of-hours support is a responsibility of the on-site Junior Deans according to a rota, the Assistant Dean should be available for on-site emergencies.Holiday: Holiday is in line with the Working Time Regulations and is included within the honorarium. Probation period: 4 monthsNotice period :1 month on either side (during probation)3 months on either side (after probation)

 Balliol College

Situated in an historic site in central Oxford, Balliol has been a hub of learning and community since its foundation in 1263. The College employs over 80 Fellows, 50 lecturers, and about 180 support staff, with Dame Helen Ghosh as its current Master until July, and Professor Seamus Perry thereafter. While academic excellence is at the core of Balliol’s mission, visitors are often struck by the College’s informal and welcoming atmosphere. Beyond its walls, Balliol has an active and engaged global community of over 8,000 alumni and donors. Holywell Manor serves as the focal point for the College’s graduate academic and social life, supporting a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually engaging environment.

Further information about the College is available at www.balliol.ox.ac.uk.  

Purpose of the Post

The Assistant Dean is the deputy of the Dean (who is head of student discipline in the College). The Assistant Dean’s main responsibility is maintaining a welcoming environment and good behaviour at the Graduate Centre, ensuring noise and disturbance is kept within acceptable limits, as per college rules. They work alongside the Praefectus, the Junior Deans, and other staff at Holywell Manor, to resolve minor disciplinary matters and disputes between students informally and amicably. When necessary, the Assistant Dean escalates decanal matters to the Dean and may be asked to assist in investigation of these on behalf of the Dean. Although primarily graduate-facing, the Assistant Dean may occasionally be asked to assist the Dean with undergraduate matters.

Job duties and responsibilities:  

The main duties are included below. This is not an exhaustive list and may be amended in line with College needs. The main objective of the work of the Assistant Dean is to play a leading role in sustaining an orderly and thriving community in which every Balliol graduate student can achieve their full potential. To this end, the responsibilities of the Assistant Dean include the following:

1. Responsibility for the day-to-day exercise of decanal authority in the Graduate Centre:

• Upholding College rules related to noise, behaviour, and everyday life in the Graduate Centre, in a way that is sympathetic to the needs of an international community of graduate students.
• Ensuring clarity on the appropriate use of shared facilities and communal spaces in the Graduate Centre including the MCR, the Bar, the Gym, and Holywell Manor Garden.
• Liaising as needed with Lodge Porters, Junior Deans, the Graduate Centre Manager and/or other students or members of staff to address any student-facing issues related to noise, room damage, or other disruptions to the safety and good order of the Graduate Centre.
• Reporting to the Praefectus and/or Dean any matters concerning the College Handbook and the College’s non-academic disciplinary processes, and anything else of which they should be aware.

1. Facilitating the safety of student-organised events in a regular and supportive manner:

• Ensuring that events held in the Graduate Centre adhere to the rules of the College.
• Consulting with, and advising, members of the MCR Committee on its termly schedule of events, and ensuring planned events are carried out as agreed.
• Liaising with members of College staff (e.g., Domestic Bursar, Lodge Porters, Maintenance) to ensure Special Events (e.g., Bops, College Dinners, Garden Party, etc.) are planned responsibly, supporting the Porters during events, including those at night, and carrying out the appropriate debriefing with organisers after events as needed.
• Reporting to the Praefectus and/or Dean any concern about breaches of College policies or areas of risk related to events taking place at the Graduate Centre.

1. Sign-posting students to the appropriate College and University welfare resources:

• The Assistant Dean will be able to sign-post students to the appropriate members of the College’s Welfare Team and/or relevant University resources (e.g., Student Welfare and Support Services, University Counselling, Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service, Harassment Officers, etc.).
• The Assistant Dean will not be on a rota as the daily provision of ‘out-of-hours’ cover is the responsibility of a team of Junior Deans. However, student emergencies (e.g., fire, theft, hospitalisation) may be escalated to the attention of the Assistant Dean by the Lodge Porters, Junior Deans, or other members of College or its staff as needed.
• The Assistant Dean will undertake training programmes appropriate to their responsibilities including first aid, and the relevant programmes on mental health, harassment, and first disclosures.

1. Supporting the general needs of the community as identified by the Dean and Praefectus:

• Liaising between the graduate community and other parties with a link to the Graduate Centre, for example, neighbours, Oxford University Security Services, and emergency services.
• From time-to-time the Assistant Dean may be asked to and will deputise for the Dean where decanal matters are being considered in College.
• Undertaking other duties as requested by the Praefectus and/or other College Officers.

Training

Unless they have already done so, the Assistant Dean will be required to attend the Junior Dean training course organised by the Oxford University Counselling Service (OUCS), which is designed to give support and confidence in relating to Junior Members and carrying out duties. This course takes place in September (dates TBC), and is paid for by the College. Unless already so qualified, the Assistant Dean is also required to attend a full ‘First Aid at Work’ course organised and paid for by the College at the earliest opportunity and certainly before the start of Michaelmas Term.

Terms and Conditions

The appointment will begin in 4 January 2027 and is for two terms. The College will not normally expect the Assistant Dean to be in post for more than three years. This allows for community revitalisation and provision of opportunity to others.

• It is a requirement of the role that the Assistant Dean lives on site within the Graduate Centre, and they are expected to be a visible presence on the s