Laidlaw Foundation - Programme Director

Programme Director

August 2023

Welcome from the CEO

We don’t have to think very hard to be able to rattle off examples of egregious leadership; from cronyism to outright criminality. In every sector, in every part of the world, we see leaders who demonstrate appalling lapses in judgement and morality.

Yet, very often, these leaders, and the senior teams who support and enable them, have been to some of the most prestigious universities in the world. Speak to students at any of them today, and they would say with confidence that they care about evidence, truth, and inclusivity. Yet somehow, when alumni from these same institutions reach positions of power, the result is too often financial misappropriation, brazen lies and deeply harmful practices. Our universities have been phenomenally successful at cultivating careers; there is a growing realisation, that they have been less successful at cultivating character and global citizenship.

The Laidlaw Scholars undergraduate leadership and research programme is designed to address this; whilst providing life changing opportunities for those from less advantaged backgrounds and building a global network of ethical leaders.

The programme is now run at 17 of the world’s top research universities. It has over 2000 current and alumni scholars. We provide funding for c.25 Scholars per year per university. The scholarship runs for 18 months, and includes two summer placements, each of six weeks.

It has six core elements:

1. Independent research project (typically summer 1)

2. Leadership training and development (typically six days during term-time between summers 1 and 2)

3. Leadership-in-Action learning experience (typically summer 2)

4. Ethical leadership masterclass (run by the University of Oxford’s Oxford Character Project virtually and at the Global Scholars Conference)

5. Overseas experience (either summer 1 or 2)

6. Laidlaw Scholars global community (virtual platform and conference).

The research produced by our scholars is wonderfully eclectic, ranging from the use of soft actuators to reanimate the eyebrows of people suffering from facial paralysis,

to Merze Tate, Africanization and the reclaiming of erased narratives. It is all published on the Laidlaw Scholars Network, our global virtual community of 2000+ current and alumni Scholars. You can learn more about the programme from a Scholar’s perspective here

We have been growing the number of partner universities and the scope of the programme exponentially in the last few years. We are now looking for a Programme Director, who has the passion and interpersonal skills to roll-out the programme in continental European universities at pace and scale; someone who has the curiosity and creativity to work with partner universities to shape the programme so that it leverages each institutions strengths and continues to evolve and improve; someone, most of all, who thinks and cares deeply about our purpose: to create a new generation of leaders who are skilled researchers, embrace evidencebased decision making and believe it is a moral imperative to lead with integrity.

This scholarship is just one of five programmes that the Foundation supports, all centred around education. The successful candidate will work closely with the leadership of the other programmes, co-creating and interweaving a set of cradle to careers interventions designed to break the cycle of poverty, reduce inequality and create a new generation of ethical leaders.

We are fully funded with an entrepreneurial mindset. We are ambitious and not afraid to take risks. We have high standards and big hearts. We work at pace, because life is too short to dawdle; there are places to be, questions to ask, things to try, and wrongs to right.

If this sounds like you and you have experience working with high impact educational programmes, are curious, smart, kind and great at execution, we’d love to hear from you.

Yours,

Susanna V. Kempe CEO

About The Laidlaw Foundation

The Laidlaw Foundation invests in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented in order to break the cycle of poverty, reduce inequality and develop a new generation of leaders.

Purpose

We believe that education is the single most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and reduce inequality in the world. We invest in the education of the underprivileged and the underrepresented in order to create systemic change. Our goal is to develop a new generation of engaged global citizens and leaders; who embrace research, make evidence-based decisions and believe that there is a moral imperative to act with integrity.

Programs

Laidlaw Schools Trust

Founded to transform the lives of children and communities through inspirational education. We now support over 5500 children from nursery to sixth form, at eight academies in Newcastle, Sunderland and Sedgefield, and are set to grow further.

Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme

An international programme supporting undergraduate students in 17 top universities around the world, designed to develop a new generation of leaders.

Women’s Business Education Laidlaw Scholarships

The Foundation runs two different initiatives to ensure that we have more women leaders in business.

By investing in extraordinary women to gain their MBAs, the Foundation intends to give women the education and networks to achieve equal representation and power on executive and nonexecutive Boards.

A new initiative, in partnership with Trinity Access Programmes, aims to help the most disadvantaged, excluded, and disempowered women undertake higher education, nurture their business instincts, and develop sustainable careers.

Laidlaw Scholars Ventures

A for-profit initiative investing in start-ups founded and run by Laidlaw Scholars. Backed by $50m, LSV accelerates Good Businesses by financing their growth, providing support services, delivering extensive training and development and bringing a network of expert advisors and mentors to guide portfolio businesses

Buildings

We help students, academic leaders and local communities connect, collaborate, learn and excel by re-inventing traditional libraries and learning spaces.

Funding and Governance

Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay is the Founder, Chair and sole benefactor of the Foundation.

Susanna Kempe is the CEO of the Foundation, reporting to the Board of Trustees compromised of education and business experts:

• Louise Richardson - Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford;

• Chris Maybury - Founder and Chairman of Beacon Events; formerly CEO of the Institute for International Research (IIR);

• Sir David Carter - former National Schools Commissioner and Executive Director of System Leadership at Ambition Institute;

• Linda Doyle - President, Carnegie Corporation New York;

• Aileen Truttmann - federal judge at the Federal Administrative Court of Switzerland.

Our 2022-2023 annual review can be accessed here.

About the Laidlaw Scholarship Programme

Developing the Next Generation of Leaders

The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme aims to develop a new generation of leaders who are skilled researchers, embrace data-based decision making, and believe it is a moral imperative to lead with integrity. We invest in talented and motivated undergraduate students, giving them the knowledge, skills and experience to become active global citizens and future leaders.

An Exceptional Global Network

Through a competitive application process, each university identifies up to 30 students annually. Scholars are selected based on their motivation and potential to develop their leadership, conduct meaningful research, explore more of the world and become truly global citizens in order to ultimately grow to be future leaders in their chosen field.

To date, 2000+ students have participated in the programme. Our international network of Laidlaw Scholars consists of diverse, passionate and ethical leaders who reinvest their skills, knowledge and experience to help others succeed.

Uniquely Funding Both Leadership and Research

The international programme uniquely funds an independent research project, leadership training and development, a bespoke ethical leadership certificate, and a Leadership in Action (LiA) learning experience.

World-Leading Partners

We are currently partnered with 17 leading universities around the world who are known for their research excellence and who share our vision and passion to support and develop the leaders of tomorrow.

The purpose of this programme is to encourage and develop future leaders in any field of activity.

Looking around the world’s business and political leaders I can’t recall a time when better leaders were more urgently needed.

— Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay, Chairman

Our Global Reach

Partner University

Location of Leadership-in-Action Project

Location of Leadership-in-Action Project matches that of Partner University

306

Leadership-in-Action Projects Completed

New Laidlaw Scholars

1663

Laidlaw Scholars selected since programme launch

17

Partner Universities

The Role

Role: Programme Director – Laidlaw Scholars EMEA

Location: Primary home based, one day a week in London, travel to York, Leeds, Durham, Scotland, N. America, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and other locations as needed.

Salary: £60-70k based on experience

Team: Reporting directly to the CEO of the Laidlaw Foundation, working closely with the Laidlaw Foundation accountant and Laidlaw engagement and design managers.

Job Description

Job Summary

Reduce poverty and inequality, and develop a new generation of ethical, diverse, leaders by growing and optimising the programmes and relationships of the Laidlaw Foundation.

Job Priorities

1. Build an active network of Laidlaw Scholars at the world’s leading universities

2. Ensure that Scholars embody the Laidlaw values, becoming ethical leaders and global citizens

3. Optimise the ROI of the Foundation’s undergraduate programmes

4. Create systemic change in tackling some of the world’s most intractable problems.

Job Description

The Laidlaw Foundation Programme Director will source and work with university, business school, NGO, government department, business and charity partners to manage and develop programmes which further its purpose – to reduce poverty and inequality by investing in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented and to develop a new generation of diverse and ethical leaders.

Core Deliverables

• Managing the Laidlaw Undergraduate Scholarship University relationships to ensure that the programme’s purpose is realised

• Growing the participating universities to include top ranking universities in continental Europe and, in time, ROW

• Ensuring that Laidlaw Undergraduate Scholars receive exceptional leadership training and development aligned to the Laidlaw Scholars values

• Managing and embedding a centrally-led programme which builds moral muscle and resilience in Laidlaw Scholars

• Creating a powerful Leadership in Action programme which provides Scholars with unique experiences to expand their leadership capabilities, become better global citizens, broaden their horizons and deliver positive, sustainable, impact within the communities that they work

• Building initiatives which link the Laidlaw Schools, undergraduates and postgraduates to establish a systemic acceleration in appetite for and access to exceptional education from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups

• Collaborating with Laidlaw LST leadership on cultural capital and community outreach programmes

Areas of Responsibility

Recruiting and managing partner universities including

• Targeting partner universities

• Gift agreements and lawyer management

• University funding and audits of spend

• Guidance and best practise blueprints, frameworks and recommendations

• Programme and performance review, including the per university annual reports

• Communication and cross-university collaboration

• Onboarding of new universities

Scholar recruitment and engagement including

• Marketing and promotions best practise to be shared with universities

• Candidate selection guidance and review

• Activities and experience review and sharing of best practice

• Content posting and engagement with Scholars on the Laidlaw Scholars Network, a virtual global community

• Global events and programmes production and management

Developing diverse and ethical leaders

• Leadership and development programme best practice

• LiA innovation, options and review

• Charity partners: selection, safeguarding, programme development and audits

• Managing the Oxford University Character Project programming and relationship

Programme reporting

• Monthly report to the CEO of the Foundation

• Quarterly report to the Board of Trustees

• Annual report to the Charities Commission

Cross programme initiatives

• LST and Scholar connections including volunteering and mentoring

• Widening participation links at partner universities

• Early admissions to partner business schools

• Alumni and careers

• Laidlaw Scholars Ventures – start-up funding

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

These include

• Experience working with universities / academic institutions

• Practised at executing gift agreements and either receiving or granting gift monies

• Leadership expertise and thinking

• Programme management and development capabilities

• Communications and community build proof-points

Attributes

• Driven and passionate

• Exceptional interpersonal and influencing skills

• Creative and innovative

• Determined to make a difference – a change agent

• Enjoy overcoming challenges

• Obsessive attention to detail

• Thoroughly hands-on

• Self-motivated and reliable

• Collaborative and engaging

• Cost conscious and financially literate

• Curious about the world

How to Apply

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-082023-Laidlaw or Pat-Jones-CoverLetter-082023- Laidlaw.

Please note that all our clients recruiting in the UK are legally obliged to confirm that the appointee is eligible to work in the UK. As of 1 January 2021, government’s new regulations will apply. For further information visit the Home Office website.

Timeline

Closing Date: TBC

First stage interviews: TBC

Final interviews: TBC

Selection process

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

Equality Statement

Equality and diversity are at the core of the Laidlaw Foundation’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Queries

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email at scholars-programme-director@oxfordhr.com in the first instance.

About Oxford HR

Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.