People Strategy project

Find information and updates about the project

A People Strategy project group has been established to use data and feedback from the recent CIPD People Impact Survey, the Staff Experience Survey and HR professionals across the University to produce a 12-month action plan on key central and divisional HR deliverables.

The group will also identify the key themes of a new People Strategy which will be developed in Michaelmas Term as one of the pillars of the new University strategy. 

Key information

The project will:

  1. Identify key themes; 
  2. Prioritise actions to address in the first 12 months; 
  3. Agree what should be included in the 3-5 year People Plan; 
  4. Communicate progress to central and divisional HR colleagues; and 
  5. Identify and communicate with key stakeholders both centrally and divisionally. 

The Steering Group and Project team will deliver a paper to People Committee in October 2023, which will outline the priorities for the next 12 months. It will use the next academic year to deliver on those priorities and review the 3-5 year People Plan.

Membership includes:

  • Jo Mason, Head of Wellbeing and Childcare Services - HR (UAS)
  • Cathy King, Private Secretary to the Registrar (UAS)
  • Sameer Pathak, Senior Communications & Engagement Manager - POD (UAS)
  • Julie Rees, Interim Head of People & Organisational Development (UAS)
  • Jonathan Roger, Departmental Administrator - HR (UAS)
  • Rachel Wilcock, HR Manager - Estates Services (UAS)
  • Sarah Willcox-Jones, Head of HR Shared Services (Humanities)

The People Strategy Plan Steering Group (PSPSG) are responsible to the People Committee, for producing a 12-month action plan on key central and divisional HR responsibilities, in addition to reviewing the 3-5 year People Plan and refreshing the plan as appropriate. It will identify challenges, problems and immediate opportunities and take steps to prepare both divisional and central HR teams for ambitious changes to working practices. 

Membership

  • Dr Markos Koumaditis, HR Director 
  • Gwen Booth, MPLS Academic HR Team Leader  
  • Katharine Herdt, SocSci HR Team Leader  
  • Abigail Hipkin, GLAM Organisational Development Manager 
  • Meghan Lawson, SocSci Head of Academic HR  
  • Jo Mason, Head of Wellbeing and Childcare Services  
  • Elena McPhilbin, Head of HR, NDM
  • Gillian Morris, MedSci Assistant Registrar (HR)  
  • Sameer Pathak, Senior Communications & Engagement Manager 
  • Linda Pope, GLAM Head of HR  
  • Jonathan Roger, Departmental Administrator HR  
  • Rachel Wilcock, HR Manager, Estates Services  
  • Sarah Willcox-Jones, HR Manager, Humanities 

Updates

Date Update
October 2023

Draft People Plan and Strategy presented to People Committee. The following enablers (and corresponding deliverables) have been identified as key themes:

Enabler 1: An Ethical Culture

  • Inclusive leadership and governance 
  • Put wellbeing and everyday safety at the centre of the employee experience 
  • Support the creation of a collegiate Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
  • Advance the aims of the Research Concordat Action Plan (REF 2028)

Enabler 2: High Quality People Services

  • Simplifying processes benefitting the user 
  • Accurate and trusted people data 
  • Embed professional bodies’ standards as a benchmark for our professional services 
  • Digital Transformation – better people systems, self-service, collaboration tools 

Enabler 3: Nurturing Talent

  • Strategic workforce development and succession planning
  • Academic and professional services career pathways  
  • Scale up Professional Services Together for continuous improvement and development     

Enabler 4: A Great Place to Work 

  • Pay and Conditions implementation across the spectrum of pay, rewards and benefits
  • Inclusive end-to-end recruitment processes and onboarding 
  • Improved employee experience 

Enabler 5: A Trusted and Fair Organisation

  • Oxford Values 
  • Change the conversation on performance 
  • Line manager development, support and insight 

The project team is also identifying a list of actions for central and divisional HR. More information on these will be presented at department briefings and published here in due course.
August 2023
  • Project webpage live
  • Terms of reference drafted
July 2023
  • Project Team and Steering Group established.

 

Contact us

Jo Mason, Project Lead: joanne.mason@admin.ox.ac.uk