Residential Dean

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)

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…