Main salary and grading structure

The main salary and grading structure is based on the National Pay Spine. The University implemented the pay and grading structure in 2006, following an agreement between trade unions and higher education employers to modernise pay arrangements in the sector, known as the National Framework Agreement. HERA is used to evaluate all roles and determine on which grade they are placed on the pay structure. The University pays people appropriately for the work they carry out.

The University’s pay structure consists of 10 grades across 56 pay points. Each grade has a number of automatic spine points and a number of discretionary spine points (denoted by an *). Staff on grades 1-5 are known as support staff and staff on grade 6-10 are known as academic-related.

With effect from the 1 August 2024, the Oxford University Weighting has been implemented for grades 1-10.

Appointments should normally be made to the bottom spine point of the appropriate grade as determined by HERA. Departments considering an appointment above the bottom point of the substantive grade should base any salary offer on the prospective employee’s existing salary, aiming to recruit at the minimum point necessary to secure the appointment.

Whenever it is proposed that an appointment is made to a salary above the bottom point of the appropriate grade, departments should verify the stated current salaries of appointees before confirming any salary offer by asking a successful candidate to provide evidence of current salary, for example a recent pay-slip.

Underfilling of posts

Normally, posts will be filled at the substantive post grade. However, in certain circumstances a post may be filled one grade lower than the substantive post grade whenever:

1. the post has been advertised quoting alternative grades
2. the candidate to be appointed lacks the necessary experience to carry out the full duties of the post at the post grade
3. a specific adjustment of the post duties has been made

Where a post is underfilled a development plan should be put in place. This should make clear milestones which must be met by the individual in order to be promoted to the substantive grade. It is normally expected that the milestones would be met within one year.

Pay awards are negotiated nationally by UCEA on an annual basis and are effective from 1 August each year. Oxford is accredited as a living wage and as an Oxford living wage employer. 

The Oxford University Weighting is separate to the inflationary pay uplift negotiated nationally through the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) with the trade unions each year. It will not rise automatically in line with any other pay uplift, but it will be reviewed at appropriate intervals, taking into account any rises in the Oxford Living Wage and national inflationary pay uplift, so that it continues to be appropriate and effective as an additional cost of living response. 

There is no automatic incremental progression into or within the discretionary range. For university support staff (grades 1-5) and academic-related staff (grades 6-10), discretionary points may be used for the reasons of recruitment, retention, or through the Reward and Recognition scheme.

Applicable allowances may be payable in addition to base pay.

Recruitment

Discretionary points may be deployed with the approval of the head of department in the following circumstances:

1. when a post is advertised, providing that the head of department is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence, for example from a recent recruitment exercise, to demonstrate that it is unlikely that a suitable candidate would be found unless the availability of the discretionary points is advertised
2. where it is considered necessary to appoint to the discretionary range in order to appoint a clearly exceptional candidate

When exercising their discretion to determine salaries within the scale, department should take into account the position of existing comparable staff within the department as well as the requirements in respect of gender and ethnicity of the Equality Act 2010. Departments should contact the Reward team for guidance on addressing any pay anomalies that arise as a result of awarding recruitment increments.

Retention

Departments, or the appropriate appointing authorities, have discretion on grounds of retention to award up to four additional increments in total above the point which the individual would have attained assuming normal progression after appointment, providing that the People Committee's guidelines and criteria for the award of such increments, set out below, are adhered to.

This applies to all academic-related and university support staff. Only where further advancement, beyond the four additional increments, is contemplated is central reference to the Head of Reward required.

Evidence of an acute case justifying extra discretionary pay on grounds of retention

Before awarding additional increments departments are asked to satisfy themselves:

1. that the individual concerned has unique experience or possesses very specialised skills and that fulfilment of the department's strategic plan could not be guaranteed without retention of these skills or that experience
2. that the individual concerned holds a post in a group or type where there have been demonstrable problems of recruitment or retention, which are expected to continue for some time (for example, characterised by a high turnover of staff, poor response to more than one advertisement, or a vacancy of over two months)
3. that there is a real prospect that an individual who is being considered for a retention payment is actually likely to leave the University. Departments should satisfy themselves that there is clear evidence that, unless a payment is made, an employee is likely to leave. The offer of a job interview elsewhere would provide such evidence but departments are not precluded from considering equally convincing evidence arising from other earlier stages of external selection procedures

It is not intended that these arrangements be used to prevent staff from taking up employment at a higher grade in other university departments.

Further guidance and advice on identifying acute retention cases can be provided by the Reward team on request.

Performance

See Reward and recognition scheme guidance.