Head of EDI and Wellbeing

Job title: Head of EDI and Wellbeing

Department: Human Resources

Contract Type: Permanent

Grade: 9

Salary: £60,239 - £69,132 per annum inclusive of London Weighting

Location: Bloomsbury, London

Hours: 35hrs per week

SOAS University of London is the leading Higher Education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East.  Our knowledge and expertise positions us to play a leading role in reimagining higher education globally, ensuring marginalised communities are heard and contributing towards building a more equitable world.

We are a diverse, international community of 8,000 students and 1,100 staff. Our work in Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing aims to create and sustain a socially just community and an environment where all staff and students are able to achieve their full potential. We recognise the intersectional disparities in our society and our priorities reflect these concerns

About the Department:

The EDIW team, led by the postholder, will grow the community’s understanding and appreciation of the barriers faced by colleagues and students in society and the workplace, working with the whole SOAS community to remove those and support underrepresented groups. 

About the Role

As the Head of EDI and Wellbeing, you will play a key role in delivering the University’s programme of activities. You will play a critical role in shaping our strategic direction in EDI and Wellbeing, as well as inspiring, organising, and directing the work of the EDIW Team. You will engage with internal and external colleagues, and stakeholders, helping to create an inclusive, supportive University where everyone thrives. These aims are highlighted in the EDI and People Strategy. Joining the University at this stage, you’ll have the chance to positively contribute to the success we have had so far for these far-reaching plans, guiding the organisation in its EDIW journey and bringing this to life by embedding EDIW within everything SOAS does.

You will be an established EDI professional with experience of setting and leading EDI strategy and operations in large and complex organisations. You will bring a track record of delivering measurable change and the expert knowledge to advise colleagues at all levels on relevant EDIW matters. An experienced manager of people and resources with a high degree of cultural sensitivity, you will be passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can participate fully. You will ensure our community has access to a range of health and Wellbeing benefits that creates an environment that allows them to do their best work.

This is an exciting time to join The University as we work with our new Director of People to deliver the new People Strategy from August 2024.

We are looking for someone with the passion and expertise to bring this role to life. A leader, a mentor who is brave and challenges the status quo. This is about doing the right thing, not the easy thing. No EDIW journey is straight forward, however, with an organisation as aligned as SOAS University of London and with you, as the Head of EDI and Wellbeing, this will be one journey you won’t want to miss!

You can find further information on the key criteria for the role in the Job Description and Person Specification, along with a full list of duties and responsibilities, which can be found on the SOAS website.

Closing date:  21st July 2024.                

Interviews to be held: TBC

Further information

If you have any questions or require any assistance with regard to the application process, please contact hr-recruitment@soas.ac.uk

'Successful candidates will need to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK or have limited leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with SOAS, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006'. for the duration of their contract

For information on how and why SOAS processes personal data about its job applicants, please read our Job Applicant Notice.

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates from working class, first generation Higher Education, Black, Asian, other minority ethnic and underrepresented groups from within the UK and beyond. All appointment decisions will be made on merit, following a fair and competitive process.