Residential Dean in Oxford

Training Days 31 July & 1 August 2026 (mandatory, paid)

Contract Type: Fixed-Term Casual Worker Agreement

Remuneration: £2,017.27 gross (inclusive of accrued holiday pay)

Accommodation: Provided on-site across the programme period

Meals: Provided on-site during programme hours

Reports To: Programme Director

Direct Reports: 8 Residential Assistants

Student Cohort: 100 students across 3 colleges

DBS Requirement: Enhanced DBS Check with Children’s Barred List (mandatory)

About OSP: Oxford Scholars Programme (OSP) is a prestigious summer school designed for high-achieving students aged 14–18 years from around the world. Our mission is to provide an intellectually stimulating academic experience that fosters personal growth, critical thinking, and lifelong skills.

Role Overview: The Residential Dean (RD) is the senior residential life and safeguarding lead for OSP. You will oversee the welfare, safety, and residential experience of all 100 students across three Oxford colleges, providing strategic oversight and direct line management of a team of 8 Residential Assistants (RAs). This is a live-in, full-time leadership role for the duration of the programme. You are the primary escalation point for all safeguarding concerns, pastoral issues, and student disciplinary matters, and you work closely with the Programme Director to maintain the highest standards of care across the programme. You are expected to lead by example, support your RA team proactively, and ensure that every student — regardless of which college they are housed in — receives a consistent, high-quality residential experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Deputy Safeguarding Lead for the programme, taking overall responsibility for the welfare and protection of all 100 students across three college sites.
• Act as the primary escalation point for all safeguarding concerns raised by RAs, staff, students, or parents, managing these in line with OSP’s Safeguarding Policy and ensuring all incidents are accurately recorded and reported to the Programme Director.
• Provide direct line management to 8 Residential Assistants, conducting daily check-ins to review student welfare, monitor performance, and ensure each RA is fulfilling their responsibilities effectively.
• Lead daily staff briefings and handovers, maintaining consistent communication across the team and addressing any gaps in knowledge or practice promptly.
• Conduct regular visits across all three college sites to monitor residential standards, ensure consistent application of welfare and curfew protocols, and support RAs with operational challenges.
• Be available and on-call throughout the programme to respond to out-of-hours incidents or emergencies.
• Maintain programme-wide oversight of student wellbeing, intervening directly in escalated pastoral situations — including mental health crises or serious interpersonal conflict — that fall beyond the scope of individual RAs.
• Foster a culture of care, inclusion, and mutual respect across all three colleges, working alongside the Programme Director and any external professionals as needed.
• Be an accessible and supportive presence for students throughout the programme — offering a listening ear, informal guidance, and reassurance to those who are struggling, and signposting to external professional support where needs go beyond what the role can appropriately provide.

Disciplinary & Escalation Management:

• Serve as the first point of escalation for all student disciplinary matters, conducting initial investigations and taking appropriate action in line with OSP’s Code of Conduct.
• Maintain accurate records of all incidents, outcomes, and follow-up actions, keeping the Programme Director informed throughout.
• Manage serious or sensitive student incidents with professionalism and discretion, keeping the Programme Director informed throughout.

Parent & Guardian Communication:

• Act as a point of contact for parents and guardians on welfare concerns or escalated incidents, always liaising with the Programme Director before making significant communications.
• Maintain appropriate records of all parent and guardian communications.

This is a live-in residential role. The Residential Dean is expected to be available across the full programme period, including evenings, overnight, and weekends. The role requires a high degree of flexibility and availability, particularly in the first few days of the programme and during any incidents or crises. On-call arrangements will apply throughout, with rest periods scheduled. A minimum of one full day off per week will be provided.

Remuneration & Payment:

The total engagement fee is £2,017.27 gross, comprising a base fee of £1,800.00 plus accrued statutory holiday pay of £217.27 (12.07%).

Person Specification:

• Aged 21 or over at the start of the programme
• Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to obtain one)
• Demonstrable prior experience in safeguarding children or young people
• Formal safeguarding training (minimum Level 2 / Designated Safeguarding Lead level)
• Experience managing or supervising a team
• Confident handling escalated pastoral, welfare, or disciplinary matters
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills across a range of audiences
• Ability to remain calm, decisive, and professional under pressure
• Experience working with young people in a residential, educational, or youth setting
• Ability to work flexibly including evenings, overnight, weekends, and on-call
• Right to work in the UK
• Experience in a residential programme, boarding school, or summer camp leadership role
• Experience working across multiple sites or managing remote teams
• First Aid qualification (e.g. Paediatric First Aid)
• Familiarity with Oxford or the UK higher education system
• Experience supporting students with complex mental health or additional needs

What We Offer:

• Total gross pay of £2,017.27 inclusive of accrued holiday pay
• Full board and accommodation provided on the University of Oxford campus for the full programme period
• A senior leadership role at one of the world’s most prestigious universities
• Formal safeguarding training and continued professional development
• References available upon satisfactory completion of the programme
• A collaborative, mission-driven team environment

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Enhanced DBS Check with Children’s Barred List — Oxford Scholars will arrange this and cover the cost. You must not begin work until clearance is confirmed.
• Verification of Right to Work in the UK (original documents required)
• Evidence of prior safeguarding training and experience
• Completion of Oxford Scholars’ mandatory online safeguarding training
• Signing of the Residential Dean Worker Agreement and Code of Conduct
• Provision of two references (one of which must be from a professional context involving work with young people)

Application Process:

• Complete our online application form and attach a current CV.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview.
• Successful candidates will undergo an enhanced DBS check and provide right-to-work documentation.

Application Deadline: 20th March 2026. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

OSP is committed to safeguarding and protecting children. All staff members undergo enhanced DBS checks. This advertisement is inclusive and does not discriminate based on gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Applicants are evaluated solely on their skills, qualifications, and suitability for the role.

Oxford Scholars is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment.