Head of People

Job description
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 leaders; generating 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 professional services and academic staff.

We care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the 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 hybrid working (typically 60% of working hours on-site and 40% remotely)

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

About the role

The Blavatnik School of Government is looking to recruit a Head of People. This is a pivotal role, responsible for our people strategy and policies, recruitment and development of faculty, research and professional services colleagues, and building a culture of excellence, collaboration and inclusion across the School. The Head of People plays a significant role in developing and implementing, with the Dean and Vice Dean, the School’s strategy for academic appointments. They will also play a critical role in shaping the next phase of the School, including our governance and organisational design

The Head of People is the principal advisor and HR business partner to the Dean and Vice-Dean, providing advice directly on people, leadership and governance. The Head of People oversees the Academic Appointments Committee, providing advice to the Chair, and engage closely with senior leaders across the School, providing strategic people insights and expertise. In addition, you will be an important member of the University and Social Science’s Division HR profession, regularly representing the School on behalf of the Dean, Vice-Dean, and the Chief Operating Officer.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Head of People is accountable for the effective management of the people function. This senior leadership role will be a pivotal member of the School’s Senior Professional Services Team, overseeing a team of four HR professionals to deliver an excellent level of service across the full employee life-cycle.

This is a fixed-term secondment opportunity until December 2026. For candidates not able to join on secondment, it is available as a fixed term appointment.

The School strongly supports flexible working. For a conversation about flexible working options, including ahead of making your application, please contact Lucy Haworth via recruit@bsg.ox.ac.uk

About you

You will possess significant HR management experience within the Higher Education sector and have a proven ability to shape HR strategy, in-depth knowledge and understanding of people issues, and significant experience of successfully and effectively advising leaders and managers.

You will be able to provide evidence of handling effectively complex employee relations casework, and demonstrate a creative approach, excellent judgment and attention to detail in developing solutions to people issues at an individual and organisation-wide level.

With proven leadership experience and a strong track record in HR and people policies, you will be passionate about using this experience to continue to build and develop the School as a world-class institution. You will hold a HR Management CIPD qualification, be working towards qualification or have equivalent professional experience.

Application process

Please upload a supporting statement that outlines how you meet the selection criteria in your own words, along with your CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is at 12 noon (UK time) on Monday 15 September 2025.

Interviews will be held in-person on Thursday 25 September with a second visit to the School for preferred candidates the following week. Read more