Interview panel membership

Appointment committees code of practice

This sets out the required composition for Appointments Committees for the different staff groups that are subject to the conditions of service for grade 6 and above. These rules apply to all vacancies, both of a fixed term and of an open-ended nature.

Each panel must comply with the below:

1. Variations to the compositions set out below may only be agreed in advance by the Provost/Deputy Vice Chancellor or Chief Operating Officer.  

2. A maximum of two additional persons may be co-opted to any Appointments Committee to assist it in the performance of its duties but not to exceed 6 members.

3. Both genders must be represented on appointment committees. Interview panels should not be single gender and cannot proceed if there is a single gender panel. Where a School/Department has difficulty in arranging a gender mix, assistance will be provided by HR.

4. The Chair of each Appointments Committee must have attended the University's Recruitment and Selection training and be familiar with the University's Equality and Diversity Policy and Procedures.

5. Staff employed on a grade below the grade of the appointment are not permitted to be a member of an Appointments Committee without the agreement of the Provost/Deputy Vice Chancellor or Chief Operating Officer.

  • Vice-Chancellor or Provost/Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
  • Dean
  • Associate Dean or other senior member of academic staff from within the School
  • Pro Vice-Chancellor 
  • Dean from another school

At least two written statements from external assessors are required before an appointment is made.

  • Vice-Chancellor, Provost/Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate (Chair)
  • Head of Professional Service
  • HR Director or nominee
  • Senior Manager from outside the section

For Reader appointments 

• Pro Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
• Dean
• Associate Dean or other senior member of academic staff
• One other senior member of academic staff from within the school
• Dean from another school

Two written statements from external assessors are required before an appointment is made.

For Senior Lecturer appointments

• Dean
• Associate Dean or other senior member of academic staff
• One other senior member of academic staff from within the school
• Dean from another school

  • Chief Operating Officer, Pro Vice-Chancellor or, Chief Financial Officer as appropriate (Chair)
  • Head of Professional Service or nominee
  • Two members of staff on at least Grade 8, one being from another section.

• Dean or nominee (Chair)
• Associate Dean or other senior member of academic staff
• One member of academic staff from within the School
• One member of academic staff from another School

Management positions (Management and Specialist)

• Dean or Head of Professional Service or nominee (Chair)
• Two members of staff on at least Grade 7, at least one from the Management and Specialist job family.

Note that all interview panels must comprise at least two (2) people.

The following staff exemptions apply:

  • Research Grades 5 and 6
  • Temporary posts as determined by the Provost/Deputy Vice-Chancellor
  • Schools/Departments are able to convene Appointments Committees appropriate for the vacancy in question. Good practice must always be followed. Further guidance can given from Human Resources