Reporter 3/11/99: Unestablished appointments in the University Offices: Notice

Unestablished appointments in the University Offices: Notice

25 October 1999

The Council have recently authorized a number of senior unestablished appointments in the University Offices. These posts are at present unestablished because the responsibilities attached to them, although they are clearly defined for the tenure of the present holders, may nevertheless be subject to revision in the future; the areas of responsibility and the duties are to some extent provisional, and the Council wish to be in a position to redefine them if this proves to be necessary in the light of experience.

To improve the provision of management information generally in the University, a post of Director of Management Information Services has been created. Mr Nicholas Robinson, B.Sc., St Andrews, M.B.A., Open, previously of Lloyds TSB, was appointed to this post on 1 January 1999. His duties are to lead the development and implementation of the University's management information strategy and to devise and develop the operational plans of the new Management Information Services Division of the University Offices.

To strengthen the financial management team in the Finance Division, a post of Director of Finance has been created. Ms Adrienne Rudkin, B.Sc., Bradford, previously Director of Finance at the London Business School, was appointed to this post on 1 July 1999. She will be responsible, under the direction of the Treasurer, for the University's central financial accounting, financial management, and financial planning services, and for the management of the pensions and payroll section.

The Council and the General Board have recently reviewed the University's arrangements for staff and health and safety matters.

Responsibility for matters affecting personnel is currently divided between the Work and Stipends Committee, which deals with University officers, and the Assistant Staff Committee, which is responsible for assistant staff. These two bodies are both responsible to the Council and the General Board; the central bodies hope that it will be possible to combine these two Committees so as to provide an integrated personnel service for all members of the University staff, and a strategic approach to staff policy. A post of Director of Personnel has been created. This will replace the existing University office of Personnel Officer. Mr Peter Deer, B.A., London, previously Director of Personnel at University College London, has been appointed to this post from 1 November 1999. He will advise the central bodies on the development of the proposed new personnel system; in due course the Council will bring forward proposals for restructuring the relevant committees and for such other changes as may be necessary.

Responsibility for matters affecting health and safety has been reviewed by a Working Party of the General Board. The Council and the Board have accepted the Working Party's recommendations for changes in the University's committee structures in this area and will be publishing a Report on these matters shortly. In the meantime, a post of Director of Health and Safety has been created. The Director will be responsible for enhancing, promoting, and maintaining an effective health and safety management system.

The Council and the General Board hope soon to publish a Report on research support services, in which a new division of the University Offices, to be known as the Research Support Division, is proposed. A post of Director of Research Support Services has been created, initially on an unestablished basis. The Director will be responsible for managing and enhancing the research support and development services provided by the Central Offices to academic staff, for overseeing the work of the Wolfson Industrial Liaison Office, and for the management of the University's subsidiary companies responsible for intellectual property exploitation and technology transfer.

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