Rees Centre Announces Recruitment for Two Senior Research Roles

The Rees Centre, based at the University of Oxford’s Department of Education, is recruiting for two senior academic positions as part of its newly launched five-year strategy to expand and deepen its research programme.

The Centre is seeking a Senior Academic Research Leader in Children’s Social Care and a Senior Research Fellow to help advance its mission of improving the lives of children and young people supported by children’s social care services.

The Senior Academic Research Leader will shape and lead a programme of research focused on the children’s social care system and practice, while the Senior Research Fellow will contribute to Centre projects and lead significant research in education and/or children’s social care.

These roles offer an opportunity to join a collaborative, multidisciplinary team committed to producing high-quality research that informs policy and practice.

The Centre’s work supports practitioners, policymakers, and the research community in understanding and improving children’s social care and education.

As part of this strategic expansion, the Centre is also preparing for a leadership transition. From January 2026, current Director Professor Leon Feinstein will become Head of the Department of Education. The successful candidates will be invited, alongside senior staff in the Centre, to apply for the role of Centre Director.

The Rees Centre welcomes applications from individuals with lived experience of the care system.

Find out more about the vacancies here.

Application for the Senior Academic Research Leader in Children’s Social Care.

Application for the Senior Research Fellow.