Fellowship Manager

Merrifield Consultants are delighted to be partnering with The British Academy, the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. The Academy champions world‑leading research, supports scholars and fosters international collaboration. We are supporting them in the recruitment of a Fellowship Manager, a pivotal role within their Governance & Fellowship Office.

Summary of the Role

This role leads the delivery of the Academy’s Fellowship elections cycle, manages key communication channels and oversees governance‑related processes. You will work closely with senior leaders, Fellows, academics and committees to ensure smooth, accurate and timely Fellowship operations. The post also line manages one Fellowship Officer and contributes to strategic projects across the Fellowship and Development Directorate.

The Role

The Fellowship Manager is responsible for the full cycle of Fellowship elections, including the Fellowship, International Fellowship and Honorary Fellowship. This includes coordinating procedures, preparing papers for Council and AGM, managing communications with nominators, Vice‑Chancellors and international assessors, and supporting Section Chairs throughout the electoral process. The role also oversees Section Standing Committee meetings, Group meetings, the Fellowship & Structures Committee, and acts as a key point of contact for Fellows on electoral and disciplinary matters.

The post manages the Fellowship Portal, CRM records and contributes to key events such as the annual induction ceremony, President’s Reception and AGM. It also supports wider projects such as the Sections Review, EDI Roadmap and Governance Review.

Key Details

Salary: £43,225 (pro rata) + amazing company benefits
Contract: 9 month fixed‑term contract
Working style: Flexible
Location: The Mall, London
Reports to: Head of Fellowship Engagement & Governance
Line management: 1 x Fellowship Officer

Responsibilities

Fellowship Elections & Governance

Lead and coordinate the full elections cycle, ensuring compliance with procedures.
Prepare papers for Council, AGM and relevant committees.
Manage communications with nominators, Vice‑Chancellors, candidates and international assessors.
Support Section Chairs with longlisting, shortlisting, ballots and decision‑making.
Oversee disclosure, data retention and assessment processes.

Committee & Section Support

Organise Section Standing Committee meetings, agendas and papers.
Brief and support minute‑takers; ensure consistency across minutes.
Prepare summaries of Section and Group discussions for Council.
Act as secretary to the Fellowship & Structures Committee.

Fellowship Communications

Act as a primary contact for Fellows on electoral and disciplinary matters.
Manage newsletters, the Fellowship Portal, Handbook/Directory and digital channels.
Ensure coherent communication across Sections, VPs, Council and SMT.

Data, CRM & Events

Maintain CRM records and act as a super‑user for best practice.
Collate and report Fellowship data, including diversity reporting.
Support key events such as induction ceremonies, President’s Reception and AGM.

Projects

Contribute to strategic reviews including EDI, governance and structural analysis.
Conduct research into Fellowship patterns and HE sector trends.

Person Specification

Experience & Knowledge

Experience running election or nominations processes in a comparable organisation.
Experience working with academics, committees and senior stakeholders.
Strong CRM experience (Salesforce desirable).
Understanding of the charity sector and UK higher education landscape.

Skills & Attributes

Excellent communication skills and ability to adapt to different audiences.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise under pressure.
High attention to detail and accuracy in documentation.
Digitally confident and open to new technologies.
Proactive, solutions‑focused and able to anticipate challenges.
Strong leadership skills with experience motivating others through change.
Collaborative, diplomatic and able to handle sensitive situations with respect.

How to Apply

If you’re an organised, relationship‑driven professional with a passion for governance, academia and high‑quality stakeholder engagement, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply today to join The British Academy at a pivotal moment in their Fellowship programme.

We practice a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. As an organisation, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout.