At Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, we believe that exceptional Executive Education programmes are built on exceptional people. We work with organisations and leaders from around the world to create transformative learning experiences that inspire change, develop capability and deliver lasting impact.
We are seeking a Learning Innovation and Community Manager to play a central role in building, nurturing and strengthening the academic and professional communities that underpin our world-class Executive Education portfolio.
The Role
This is a highly collaborative and relationship-focused position at the heart of Executive Education. Working closely with the Learning Innovation and Community Director, you will help identify, engage and support the outstanding academics, practitioners and thought leaders who contribute to our programmes.
You will be responsible for developing thriving contributor communities, fostering meaningful engagement and ensuring that the right expertise is matched to the right opportunities. Alongside relationship management, you will drive continuous improvement across systems, processes and ways of working to create an exceptional experience for contributors and colleagues alike.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working with diverse stakeholders, influencing without direct authority and making a visible impact on programme quality and organisational effectiveness.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify and engage leading academic and practitioner expertise for Executive Education programmes.
- Coordinate contributor selection and onboarding processes, ensuring an outstanding experience from initial engagement through to programme delivery.
- Develop and support initiatives that build an inclusive, connected and collaborative contributor community.
- Act as a trusted partner to colleagues across Executive Education, working closely with client, product, commercial and programme delivery teams.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with academics, practitioners and internal stakeholders across Oxford and beyond.
- Drive improvements to systems, processes and operational workflows to enhance efficiency, consistency and stakeholder experience.
- Support strategic initiatives that strengthen the School's contributor network and learning innovation capabilities.
About You
You are a confident relationship-builder who enjoys working with a wide range of stakeholders and can quickly establish credibility with senior academics, practitioners and business leaders.
You will bring:
- Proven experience managing complex stakeholder relationships and communities.
- Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills.
- The ability to coordinate multiple priorities and projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
- Experience improving systems, processes or operational practices to enhance effectiveness and user experience.
- Strong organisational and project management skills.
- A collaborative and proactive approach, with the confidence to work across teams and functions.
- Commercial awareness and an understanding of how high-quality stakeholder engagement contributes to organisational success.
Experience within higher education, executive education, learning and development, professional services, consulting or a similarly complex stakeholder environment would be advantageous.
Why Join Us?
Saïd Business School is a vibrant and innovative business school embedded within the University of Oxford. We are committed to developing leaders who will make a positive difference in the world and to creating an environment where our people can thrive.
You'll join a talented and supportive team, work with world-leading academics and practitioners, and contribute to learning experiences that have a global impact.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At Saïd Business School, we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities and value the unique perspectives and experiences they bring.
Join us in building a more equitable future where diversity is celebrated, inclusion is championed and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Further information about this role can be found in the job description.
Application Instructions
Please submit your CV together with a covering letter explaining your interest in the Learning Innovation and Community Manager role.
As part of your covering letter, please respond to the following question:
Drawing on your current and/or previous roles, provide three examples of experience that demonstrate why you would be a strong fit for this role.
For each example, please:
- Describe a specific situation, project or piece of work.
- Explain your personal role and contribution.
- Outline the actions you took.
- Highlight the outcome or impact achieved.
- Explain why this experience is relevant to the Learning Innovation and Community Manager role.
Please use no more than 150 words per example (maximum 450 words in total).
We are particularly interested in evidence of experience relevant to:
- Building and managing relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.
- Coordinating complex activities involving multiple contributors.
- Creating, developing or sustaining professional communities or networks.
- Improving systems, processes or ways of working to enhance efficiency and stakeholder experience.
The examples you provide should be based on work you have personally undertaken and should be consistent with the experience and employment history outlined in your CV.
We recognise that candidates may use generative AI tools when preparing applications. However, generic, theoretical or highly polished responses make it difficult for us to understand your individual experience and contribution. We are looking for authentic examples that clearly demonstrate what you did, the impact you achieved and what you learned from the experience.
Please choose your examples carefully. We will assess not only the quality of your experience, but also its relevance to the requirements of this role.
The interview dates and arrangements are as follows:
First interview
Monday 19 October
Online, 60 minutes per candidate
Second interview
Thursday 5 November
In person at Park End Street, 75 minutes per candidate