Lead the future of open research at one of the world's leading universities
We are seeking an exceptional strategic leader to become our Head of the Office for Open Research. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the University's vision for open research and scholarly communications, ensuring our researchers have the policies, services and infrastructure they need to maximise the reach, impact and sustainability of their work.
About the role
Working across the Bodleian Libraries and the wider University, you will provide strategic leadership for open research throughout the research lifecycle - from creation and dissemination to stewardship, assessment and long-term preservation.
You will lead a highly skilled multidisciplinary team and work with senior academic and professional leaders to develop innovative, researcher-centred services that support excellence in research. You will play a pivotal role in developing institutional policies and services that make research outputs more discoverable, accessible, reusable and sustainable, while ensuring compliance with funder and publisher requirements.
This is a full-time, fixed-term post for 1 year to cover maternity leave.
About You
You will possess a strong understanding of the research lifecycle and the evolving landscape of open research, scholarly communication and research assessment. Combining strategic thinking with excellent leadership, influencing and partnership-building skills, you will be able to lead organisational change within a complex research-intensive environment.
The ability to nurture and develop expert teams, identify opportunities for innovation and collaboration, and respond effectively to emerging policy and technological developments will be essential.
What We Offer
As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees' wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:
- 38 days of annual leave
- A comprehensive range of childcare services
- Family leave schemes
- Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
More information is available at https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/jobs/life-in-oxford
Diversity
Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave.
FOR SECONDMENTS:
Please discuss secondments with your line manager in the first instance, as you must have their agreement that you can be released for a secondment before you submit an application https://unioxfordnexus.sharepoint.com/sites/OXINTRANET-working-here/SitePages/secondments.aspx
Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (BST) on Monday 14 September 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place at the end of September.
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Office Head in Oxford employer: University of Oxford
The Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment where finance professionals can thrive. With a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, along with generous benefits such as 38 days of annual leave and a robust family leave scheme, employees are supported in both their professional and personal lives. This role not only provides the opportunity to influence strategic financial decisions within a world-renowned department but also fosters continuous growth and development in a vibrant academic community.
