Student Funding Manager - Academic Futures

University of Oxford; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in Oxford is seeking a Student Funding Manager to support scholarship application processes and enhance access for underrepresented students. Responsibilities include managing the Academic Futures programme and coordinating with various teams to improve communication and administrative effectiveness. Candidates should possess strong organisational, project management, and communication skills. The position offers generous leave, family support schemes, and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

38 days of annual leave

Generous family leave schemes

Flexible working options

Contributory pension scheme

Commuting benefits

Access to community clubs

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to access and widening participation work.
• Exceptional written and oral communicator.
• Experience managing complex projects across different teams.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of the Academic Futures programme.
• Manage scholarship selection processes and team communications.
• Oversee processes for scholarship reporting and administration.

Skills

Excellent organisational skills

Interpersonal skills

Financial literacy

Project management

Job description

Overview

Oxford has over 13,000 graduate students, representing more than 50% of the full‑time student population. The provision of scholarships for postgraduate students is an area of crucial importance for the University. The Student Fees and Funding (SFF) office assists in this by managing scholarship programmes and supporting other funding providers (such as colleges, academic departments, and external partners). SFF currently manages over 200 University scholarship programmes for 1,600 students, worth over £60m per year. This is an important role where you will help achieve the ambition of ensuring that academically outstanding students can take up their places to study at Oxford regardless of their financial means or background.

Responsibilities

The post of Student Funding Manager (Academic Futures) is an interesting and varied role with two main areas of work: (1) working to support the development of the Academic Futures programme and scholar cohort, the University's flagship Graduate Access Scholarship designed to transform the funding and support opportunities available to under‑represented groups at Oxford; (2) coordinating team communications with partners and annual scholarship selection processes. The post‑holder will hold primary responsibility for the support programme provision across the various streams of Academic Futures (a series of scholarship programmes that seeks to address under‑representation and help improve equality, diversity and inclusion in our graduate student body), managing the creation and delivery of provision for on‑course scholars, delivering events and communications and continuing to build scholar communities. You will also take a lead role in shaping how we communicate with and work effectively alongside other teams, proactively looking to improve and streamline both communications and administrative processes. You will produce clear and accessible documentation and oversee smooth processes for scholarship selection and reporting within SFF, liaising with academic and administrative colleagues across the collegiate university. This is an exciting time to be involved in an area of key strategic importance for the University, and there will be opportunity for the post‑holder to shape strategies and new activities, in addition to developing and supporting existing work.

Qualifications

This is an excellent opportunity for candidates who have a genuine interest in, and commitment to, access and widening participation work, who can demonstrate excellent organisational skills and engage and connect with stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and work in a culturally complex context. An exceptional written and oral communicator with experience of managing complex projects across different teams, the successful candidate will have an innovative and collaborative approach with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work proactively and creatively with people at all levels. You will also have strong financial literacy and/or numeracy with the ability to present complex information in an accessible format. We welcome applications from those with experience in different areas including those who have not worked directly in student fees and funding with transferrable skills, for example, those working in outreach/access, project management or marketing and communications.

Benefits

• 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.
• One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave.
• A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.
• An excellent contributory pension scheme.
• Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.
• Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.