The Principal

Baroness Jan Royall, who has been Principal since 2017, will be stepping down from the role at the end of the 2024-5 academic year. The Fellows of Somerville College intend to elect a New Head of House to follow her.

The role

The Principal provides overall leadership in all academic, operational and other affairs of the College. It is not an executive role; rather, the Principal works in partnership with the Governing Body and College Officers and acts an ambassador for the College.

Given the lack of executive control, the post demands a candidate who is a facilitator: negotiation, bridge-building and diplomacy are necessary skills. Chairing experience is essential, and an inclusive style with strong awareness of others will be important.

The responsibilities

The Principal’s role will encompass the following:

To provide academic leadership, and to be involved, as Chair of the College’s Governing Body, with the continuing development and implementation of the College’s plans for its future;
To foster and look for opportunities to improve all aspects of the life of the College, maintaining cohesiveness and a sense of common purpose through consultation and consensus;
To take an active interest in the work and welfare of Fellows, Lecturers, and support staff, at both a formal and informal level;
To take an interest in the students, both undergraduate and graduate, and their development in and beyond the College, and create an enabling environment in College;
To chair the Governing Body and major College Committees; and to oversee and support, though not direct, the work of the College Officers (who are responsible to the Governing Body);
To foster and develop relationships with alumni, who form an important part of the College’s wider community;
To play a central role in the raising of funds that will assist the College in pursuing its present and continuing objectives as a rigorous academic institution;
To represent the College and its interests both within the University and in the wider world, including presiding at public functions, and providing hospitality, as appropriate.

Person Specification

In seeking to appoint a new Principal, Somerville welcomes applications from candidates drawn from a wide range of professional backgrounds, both within and outside academia. The Governing Body places particular importance on:

a distinguished record of intellectual or academic distinction in their chosen field;
a commitment to the importance of teaching, research and academic excellence and an understanding of academia / higher education in the UK.
an awareness of the importance of a diverse community and a commitment to attracting the best people to the College, regardless of background, with the understanding of the structures and culture needed to achieve this;
a demonstrable track record of caring, careful, and compassionate leadership;
the ability to build consensus through engagement and negotiation to ensure that Somerville continues to be a warm, welcoming, and inclusive community;
a capacity to work collaboratively with colleagues, to guide others in positions of leadership and enable them to deliver;
a chairing style that encourages productive debate, manages conflict, builds as much consensus as possible, and reaches clear outcomes in a consultative fashion;
the ability to help formulate, in conjunction with others, a compelling strategic vision for the College;
financial acumen, analytical capability, and experience both with quantitative and qualitative data;
an understanding of the structures and practices required for the successful operation and financial sustainability of a complex organisation;
good judgment, firmness and compassion, and the ability to conduct sensitive case-work;
outstanding communication skills and an engaging public speaking style with the flexibility to address a range of audiences appropriately;
the ability to act as an ambassador for Somerville, articulating the particular vision and identity of the College within the University and the wider world;
excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to cultivate and nurture relationships with Fellows, students, staff, alumni, donors, benefactors and people outside the College, especially while engaging in and hosting events.

Personal characteristics

a commitment to excellence in the context of diversity and access
an understanding of, and commitment to, academic excellence
a sense of fairness and integrity and the ability to inspire trust and confidence in others;
caring, careful and compassionate leadership
diplomatic acuity and tact;
an enthusiastic commitment to the academic, intellectual and social life of the College
a genuine commitment to student welfare

Learn more and apply