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Mark McDermott

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Leading the proactive development and delivery of NDORMS’ Professional Services

I joined NDORMS in 2023 and am honoured to lead the professional service teams supporting the department’s valuable research and teaching activities. I see my role as providing the underpinning support to enable everyone in the department to fulfil their activities and aspirations, while assisting in the continuation and development of a vibrant and positive collaborative culture that provides an enriching workplace experience. An advocate of continuous improvement, I strive to innovate and embrace exciting opportunities for the department, while ensuring the fundamentals are well executed and a sustainable foundation formed. I work closely with the Head of Department, the Kennedy and Botnar Institute Directors, other senior academic colleagues and the institute operational leads in managing the department’s day-to-day operations and in formulating and implementing strategic plans.

Before starting in NDORMS, I held numerous roles during my previous 16 years at the University. I spent 11 years in the Nuffield Department of Medicine, starting in finance and then moving on to business management, overseeing research grants, finance, HR and facilities in multiple sub-units, including the Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and Ludwig Cancer Research. After graduating with an MBA from Warwick Business School in 2018, I later moved to the Social Sciences Division (SSD) in 2020 as Head of Strategic Planning and Projects and oversaw a diverse portfolio that included capital projects, communications, IT, H&S, EDI and continuous improvement. I was actively involved in central University activities, representing the SSD on the Digital Transformation Steering Group and acting as Co-Chair of the UAS Communications Service Review, and have continued to maintain University-wide obligations since joining NDORMS, such as the role of Senior Responsible Owner on two large-scale estates refurbishment projects.

I am excited to continue my journey within Oxford and look forward to engaging with staff, students and external stakeholders, as NDORMS, and the University as a whole, looks to make a meaningful contribution to society.