KAREN PONTIFEX

I started working at Imperial College London on 6 March 1995 in Administration at the St. Mary’s Hospital campus.  I moved to the Division of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine in August 1997 based at the Charing Cross Campus. On 1 March 2004, I joined the Department of Surgery and Cancer based at the Chelsea & Westminster Campus as Departmental Administrative Assistant working for Julia Anderson, Departmental Manager and moved with the Departmental Administration to the South Kensington Campus in December 2010.  I was promoted in December 2014 to Office Manager. Additionally, In January 2015 I become the Campus Administrator, SAF Building, South Kensington campus supporting the Campus Director, Professor Zoltan Takats.

In 2018 my job title changed to Departmental Staffing and Business Support Manager when my role becomes more focused in HR and Business Support.  My main duties are Academic Promotions, Academic Recruitment, REF, and Athena SWAN. I sit on the Departmental People and Culture Committee and on the Faculty Athena Swan Committee.

WHAT WE're DOing

In my role as Departmental Staffing and Business Support Manager I am in a key position to review, streamline where possible, and create guidance across all levels of HR for the Department.  I have created a step-by-step checklist for the multiple processes in line with college processes to be undertaken for Academic Recruitment, which is being used by some Faculty of Medicine Departments. 

I have also created an Academic Recruitment database that I am currently trialing, which collected various data e.g. appointments panel membership gender and much more.  The database could be adapted and rolled out to the Department for use on all non-academic recruitment.  Staff highlighted to us in the staff survey that the department processes for promotions and pay was not clear, as a result, I have created a brief guide with step-by-step process for Academic Promotions; Job Level Review for non-academic staff; Pay Relativity and for Personal Review and Development Plan (PRDP, Appraisal) which is available on the Department Web page.

Also raised from the Staff survey was committee membership transparency.  I am currently reviewing all the Departmental key Committees and their memberships, transferring to the Faculty of Medicine Terms of Reference template and once complete will be published on the Departmental web page.

HOW to GET HELP

• Departmental Committee website
• Department guidelines for the Promotions