Job Family: Community, Participation and Engagement Services

OUR CHARACTERISTICS: We are welcoming, collegiate and inclusive.     

OUR VALUES: We are motivated, inquisitive, challenging, rigorous and innovative.

Durham University

Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Business,Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives. 

The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.

It is expected that all staff within the University:

• Contribute to our learning culture by engaging in mentoring, training and coaching.
• Positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Have due regard to Health and Safety requirements appropriate to grade and role.

Family key attributes

Roles in this family provide an excellent stakeholder experience for our diverse and supportive community.   

Overall family purpose

• Provide excellent student support services, development and extra-curricular activities.
• Align and deliver programmes and activities to meet operational and strategic objectives to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Respond to stakeholders at the point of service delivery, either in situ or remotely.
• Facilitate the development of excellent colleague and academic engagement.
• Provide a stakeholder focussed service designed to increase widening participation and diversity.
• Promote the Durham reputation by establishing and broadening national and international community links to enhance the cultural and economic viability of the City and region.
• Enhance the Durham wider student experience by developing extra-curricular activities.
• Contribute to and enhance active, inclusive and supportive communities of stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively and network across the University with staff in other families to ensure a smooth, timely and high-quality delivery of service.
• Engage with suppliers, consultants and specialist professionals to deliver programmes and activities to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Engage and encourage outreach and participation with external professionals, schools, alumni and donors.
• Engage and network with both internal and external stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange and impact through local, national and international communities.  

Link to key strategic plan

• An economically and environmentally sustainable approach to delivering stakeholder focussed services across the University;
• A world-class student, alumni and donor experience;
• Focussed on the needs of all users working together to deliver front-line services as part of the Wider Student Experience;
• Learn from and match best practice in the Wider Student Experience around the world;
• Opening up our world-class sporting facilities to local clubs and athletes;
• Support and facilitate activities as part of the Widening Student Experience at Durham;
• A stakeholder-focused orientation, offering satisfying careers to all staff;
• Ensure that an increasingly diverse workforce is treated equally, fairly and with respect, and that all staff are demonstrably valued and actively engaged.

The Department and role purpose   

Durham University Business School, one of the longest established business schools in the UK, is a multi-disciplinary School characterised by academic excellence, internationally-rated research and superb student support services. The School's diversity and international standing is reflected in the student intake (with over 110 nationalities); accreditation by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS; and high positions in the UK and European Business School rankings. Further information on the School can be found at https://www.dur.ac.uk/business/.

The strength of a School’s career provision has direct impact on the School’s ability to select high quality students. In addition, student satisfaction with the careers service and the quality and progression of career outcomes are significant contributors to the international MBA and Masters programme rankings methodology; these rankings are also an important input to student choice of Business School and, in combination with other rankings determine the overall ranked position of a Business School.

The Business School seeks to appoint an experienced Career Consultant who will deliver an innovative and effective careers service targeted to meet the varying needs and expectations of Masters/MBA students and alumni from a diverse range of cultures and societies.  They will work closely with the Learning and Teaching teams and module leaders and collaborate with External Engagement and International and Alumni teams to ensure career and skills development is an integral part of the student experience which supports the School’s Strategic Framework as well as the rankings and accreditation outcomes.  The School’s career team will provide a wide range of tailored support, workshops, events, projects and resources and present a wide variety of global employment opportunities to assist the specific needs of the international Masters\MBA students and alumni to achieve their career goals.  

Core responsibilities:

• Recognised Career professional practitioner and service specialist.
• Implement changes to the design and development of career service processes, techniques and deliverables for the Business School’s MBA and Masters students and alumni.
• Provide career specialist expertise and support with complexity of data and information sources, interpretation and analysis to support the implementation of operational plans, rankings, accreditations and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to development of  Business School career service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.
• Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements and the design and planning of services.
• Internal and external national/international relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation.
• Identify and design activities to meet learning objectives and outcomes.
• Plan, design and deliver workshops, events and projects for PGT students and alumni.
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access, and provision of advice using specialist knowledge. 
• Contribute to and lead business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at departmental and operational service levels.
• Responsible for managing small budgets for consumables and some capital items, keeping records and processing invoices. 

Role responsibilities:

• Provide management for the operation of a stakeholder focussed career service delivery for Postgraduate Taught Business School students and alumni.
• Identify cohort specific needs and tailor the delivery of careers and skills development sessions to meet these needs in partnership with the Learning and Teaching teams; Alumni, International and External Engagement teams; and Ranking and Accreditation teams.
• Manage and monitor service performance and provide metrics and reports to evaluate the impact of career and skills support, placement and employment success and effectiveness of the services offered, providing recommendations for Service improvement. 
• Participate in and monitor national and international communities of practice and partnership working internally and externally.
• Identify, engage and manage a network of global external career and skills providers to deliver workshops and events in the UK and overseas.
• Conduct confidential career consultations with Masters and MBA students and alumni which are tailored to meet the individual’s needs and provide them with support and guidance which enables them to achieve their goals.
• Research, develop and maintain bespoke careers resources and materials for Masters/MBA students and alumni ensuring that career and sector specific information is up to date and relevant.
• In collaboration with the Engagement Manager (Recruitment)
• Implement plans to achieve PGT employment opportunities targets.
• Ensure vacancies and internship opportunities meet the needs of Masters and MBA students.
• Implement plans which enhance the employment prospects of Masters and MBA students.
• Create opportunities for Masters and MBA students to engage with recruiters, alumni and other business partners and extend their network of contacts.
• Be proactive in encouraging alumni to promote Durham University Business School candidates within their organisation.
• Network and engage with external and internal stakeholders to gather feedback and identify future service needs, to ensure excellence in service provision.
• Contribute to the development of operational plans and stakeholder reports such as Programme Director’s Annual reports and MBA Advisory Board briefings.
• Prepare and manage the service area budget or budgets and monitor expenditure to ensure cost-effective service delivery.
• Produce and analyse statistical service metrics to identify successful delivery and areas for future improvement.
• Distribute and process key service information to stakeholders, including contributing to the submission of information for external surveys and rankings and accreditation assessments.
• Plan, implement and monitor continuous service improvements to enhance the delivery of stakeholder services.
• Communicate with internal and external stakeholders using appropriate media and methods.
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge and expertise of career development as well as knowledge of the employment market, with particular reference to international postgraduate students. Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

The role requires flexibility to effectively manage and support events, including working evenings, weekends and potentially national and international travel.

Recruiting to this post 

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above (including those listed in the section ‘Realising Your Potential Approach’).  

In some cases, the recruiting panel may also consider the desirable criteria, so we recommend you evidence all criteria in your application.  

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply 

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you are required to submit

1. A CV; 
2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;
3. A person specification, addressing all of the Essential Criteria. 

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application cannot proceed to the next stage.

Contact details 

For further information please contact; marcia.hoynes@durham.ac.uk

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required    

Essential Criteria  

Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally.  

The ability to make professional and effective presentations to corporate partners, academic and management staff and postgraduate students.

Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and social media   Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).  

A postgraduate qualification in career guidance, QCF Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance & Development (or equivalent experience).  

Professional career practitioner with knowledge and expertise used to contribute to the delivery and development of services, events and activities within the organisation.  

Experience of designing and delivering workshops to a large, culturally diverse audience.  

Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.    

Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships.  

Ability to contribute to planning at operational level and work with a high level of attention to detail with excellent organisational and time management skills.  

Self-motivated with a real drive to succeed, resilient and enthusiastic.   Demonstrated ability to achieve operational targets and objectives.  

Ability and willingness to undertake national and international travel and work outside normal office hours, including weekends.