About the Blavatnik School of Government
Our vision is of a world better led, a world better served and a world better governed. We are a global school committed to improving the quality of government and public policymaking worldwide, through three routes: teaching current and future leaders; generating research with impact; and engaging with governments and practitioners.
What we offer
The School is a collaborative, friendly, and dynamic department based in an award-winning building in Oxford. We host regular events and talks with well-known guest speakers – all of which are open to staff. On the social side, we have regular coffee/cake mornings for staff, a family-friendly Halloween event, and Christmas and summer parties.
As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:
- An excellent contributory pension scheme
- 38 days’ annual leave
- Family leave schemes and a comprehensive range of childcare services
- Cycle loan scheme and discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
- Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
- Opportunities for hybrid working
More information about working at the School can be found on our jobs page.
About the role
The Blavatnik School of Government is seeking to recruit a Teaching Associate to join the teaching team for the compulsory Foundations module within the Master in Public Policy (MPP). Foundations runs in Michaelmas term (October - December).
The aim of Foundations is to prepare students to reflectively and critically evaluate the moral commitments that do, and should, inform public policy. The course addresses some key questions that every government must resolve. It focuses on the following five framework questions: What is the aim of government? What are the limits on its action? What do governments owe future generations? Who gets what? and Who decides? The course also develops students’ philosophical and ethical understanding through practical reflection on some policy areas that engage these questions and are of contemporary concern. These include gender, religion, migration, historical injustice, and protest and revolution. In closing, we explore some of the moral dilemmas that arise for individuals who deliver public policy. Case studies ensure that moral and political principles are applied practically.
As a Teaching Associate, you will be expected to: contribute to core lecture, case study, and seminar teaching in political philosophy; serve as the head seminar leader including holding office hours; contribute to weekly academic and administrative organisation of the seminar leader team; contribute to developing and marking formative and summative assessments throughout the year; contribute to syllabus and other course development and administration; assist the module convenors with other academic and administrative matters; and conduct independent research and generate original ideas.
While primary teaching on the Foundations module occurs in Michaelmas term, other Teaching Associate duties are spread out over the full academic year. There may also be opportunities to contribute to other areas of the MPP and the School during Hilary and Trinity terms.
This post if fixed-term until 30 September 2027 and on a variable hours basis.
About you
You should hold or be close to completing a doctorate in Political Philosophy or Political Theory, have experience of teaching graduate professional students, and the ability to teach to non-specialists. You should have excellent depth and breadth or knowledge in political philosophy to develop module materials and contribute to syllabus and course development, research experience in the field, and the ability to develop and carry out student assessment and examination. Excellent communication and organisational skills are also essential.
Application Process
Please upload a supporting statement that outlines how you meet the selection criteria in your own words, along with your CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.
The closing date for applications is at 12 noon (UK time) on Tuesday 14 July 2026.
Shortlisted candidates should expect to be notified by Thursday 16 July, and should make themselves available for interview (held online) on Monday 20 July 2026.
