This post presents an ideal opportunity to make a real difference through effective project management across a broad range of activities, in a thriving and busy mindfulness centre. The post holder will play a wide-ranging role, supporting strategic project work, engaging in operational development, planning and providing outstanding professional support for senior colleagues.

Our Vision

A world where mindfulness enables greater awareness, understanding, compassion, wisdom and responsiveness.

Our Mission Statement

Our mission is to reduce suffering, promote resilience and realise human potential across the lifespan through mindfulness.  We achieve our mission through rigorous scientific research, maximising the impact of our work and through public engagement and dissemination.

Summary of the objectives of the OMC

The OMC is a collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (a registered charity). The Centre supports research in the field carried out under the guidance of the OMC Director and translates evidence-based interventions into training programmes.

Specifically, the OMC’s charitable objects are to advance education and the mental health of the public by (but without limitation) delivering training and promoting research into:

• preventing depression and enhancing human potential across the lifespan; and
• reducing suffering, promoting resilience and the realisation of human potential across the lifespan through mindfulness; and/or
• training mental health practitioners and other professionals in mindfulness practice with a view to them applying it in their own professional lives so as to achieve public benefit by:
• teaching it to members of the public and/or
• enhancing effective ethical medical practice in the management of their organisations; and/or
• providing therapy for users of mental health services

A key approach for the OMC to achieve our mission is via partnership working, this post holder will manage and support projects and partnerships which enable the overall mission to be delivered.

The role

The OMC is developing a new suite of programmes for new populations and contexts and across the life span to increase the accessibility of MBCT and train the next generation of MBCT teachers. We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to support the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director to deliver multiple strategic projects across the centre. This post presents an ideal development opportunity to make a real difference through effective project management across a broad range of activities, in a thriving and busy mindfulness centre.

The post holder will play a wide-ranging role, supporting strategic project work, engaging in centre operational development, planning and providing outstanding professional support for senior colleagues in the OMC. The post holder will already have professional administrative experience, ideally in project planning and management in an educational or training setting. Reporting to the CEO the postholder will be required to work closely with training leads, the business manager, board members and the administrative staff across the OMC, additionally there will be occasionally engagement with field leading colleagues across the wider mindfulness community.

While a collaborative approach will be a key feature of the role, the post holder will also be required to work independently, balancing independence with a close collaboration with the CEO and the Director.  With a clear understanding of the OMC vision, the post holder will exercise sound judgement and discretion in a complex environment. The post holder will be required to handle a demanding and varied workload, managing their time and prioritising work effectively, they will be an enthusiastic and committed individual who welcomes the opportunity to engage in a range of activities, contribute effectively to a wider team, and who is able to respond positively to new challenges and a changing external landscape. 

Responsibilities

Projects will be wide ranging in terms of scope and complexity, and it is anticipated that the post holder will work on several projects and initiatives at any one time. Examples of projects are:

• Developing our new coherent, stepped pathway of MBCT programmes, from introductory, through intermediate through lifelong programmes for deepening and sustaining practice

• Developing our new partnership programme. This will include all aspects of this programme, for example establishing robust and coordinated evaluation, responding to new partnership requests to establish the suitability of new partnerships.

• Working with new partner organisations to set up training programmes and clarify training opportunities with the OMC.

• Leading and coordination of a volunteering programme within the OMC to support events and general public engagement with the OMC activities.

• Coordination of, and attendance at newly formed working groups at board level, briefing the CEO and Business Manager and (where appropriate) implementation of agreed actions.

• Managing accessibility projects and working with the CEO and Business Manager to allocate funds appropriately.

• Support fund raising initiatives working with Board Members and OMC colleagues as appropriate

• Support with communications projects to ensure the work of the OMC is appropriately communicated to the external stakeholders.

The OMC team is small and busy team, working collaboratively with colleagues across the mindfulness field.  This is a key role within the team to support the CEO to expand the current offerings with new initiatives and working new geographical areas.

The post holder may be required to cover for or act in the place of the Business Manager and/or CEO from time to time.  The line manager will regularly review progress.

The OMC culture is professional, collaborative and service-oriented, and values transparency, flexibility, trustworthiness, energy and drive with a commitment to the wider vision to increase accessibility of mindfulness globally.

The duties of the post are set out as they are envisaged at present, but it will be important for the person appointed to be flexible and adaptable, and able to contribute to the development of the project management function of the OMC.

The work of the OMC covers a wide range of activities and priorities which will inevitably change from day to day.  All staff operate as a team, and, while each has his or her own responsibilities, they are expected to assist each other in peak periods.

Selection criteria

Experience and knowledge

• An excellent general level of education to degree level or equivalent.
• Proven project management experience in a complex organization and direct involvement in managing relationships
• Excellent record keeping and attention to detail
• Ability to establish credibility, confidence and robust relationships with existing and prospective partners, and key stakeholders
• Keen interest in mindfulness
• Experience of translating complex information and arrangements into concise documents with action plans and clearly identifiable targets.

Skills and abilities

• An ability to provide expertise in the area of project management
• An ability to develop a long-term strategy for the integration of volunteers into the fabric of the organisation with mutual organisation/volunteer benefits, clear induction and supporting policies and practices
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• The ability to manage times and diaries to an excellent standard, to take the lead on board level working groups and coordinate the collaboration and efforts therein
• The ability to converse effectively and convincingly with a range of people, including trustees, academics, senior colleagues, key partners and funders and to represent the OMC at the highest levels
• Ability to thrive and work well under pressure whilst retaining excellent attention to detail and a positive attitude.

Attitudes

• An interest in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness more generally.
• An interest in mental health initiatives.
• A commitment to fully understand of the OMC teacher training pathways and other areas of work.
• Demonstrable ability to show highly nuanced sensitive and good judgement when working with key internal and external stakeholders.

When working in Oxford, the post holder will be based in the OMC Offices, 62 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PN but will occasionally be required to attend meetings and work in other geographical areas as projects and meetings require.

Grade:                  7 – £32,236 – £39,609 per annum, pro rata

Hours:                  3 days per week / 22.5 hours

(flexible depending on the work required and the successful candidate).

Duration               13th February 2020 (or as soon to this date as possible) – 13th February 2021

Responsible to:    Chief Executive Officer

Interested?

Please send covering letter detailing how you meet the personal specification plus a CV to Sharon Hadley via Sharon.hadley@psych.ox.ac.uk

Deadline for applications:                17:00 – 20^th January 2020

Interview date:                                 3^rd February 2020