Equality & Diversity

Grade 7: - £33,797 - £40,322 per annum (pro rata)
Fixed Term - Part Time
Contract Duration: 2 years
Contracted Hours per Week: 21
Closing Date: 03-Aug-2021, 6:59:00 AM 

Job Family: Community, Participation and Engagement Services

Our Characteristics: We are a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, in a unique and historic setting.

Our Values: We are inspiring, challenging, innovative, responsible and enabling.

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 recognises that providing equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and promoting a culture of inclusion are vital to our success. With EDI running throughout the University Strategy and our values, we help to create a working, learning and social environment in which individuals can utilise their skills and talents to the full.

As part of the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit, the Community Liaison Officer (Race and Ethnicity) will develop and implement policy and initiatives to promote an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. The primary purpose of the role is to promote and develop strong involvement and engagement relations between the communities of interest and identity within the university and those outside. Responding to the University’s Race Equality Charter survey results and the Respect Commission report, the role will act as a conduit for creating a culture of belonging within the University, city and surrounding area.

Acting as a primary point of contact within the University for race and ethnicity related issues in the community, the post holder will take a major role in the development, implementation and monitoring of race and ethnicity related policy, plans and procedures in the area of community engagement with internal and external stakeholders. They will mediate regarding race and ethnicity related issues that affect community relations, and develop appropriate communications to influence and report on community engagement, best practice and emerging issues.

The post holder will facilitate partnership working across the University, the Students’ Union, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and student networks, (and other equality networks), Local Authority, Durham Constabulary and other external partners. They will develop and deliver systems for promoting race and ethnicity related cross-working in County Durham, and develop effective methods to capture the range of activity taking place within the University and in the wider community.

They will liaise with a broad range of partners in the development of campaigns and initiatives to support positive engagement, and promote a culture of respect to create a stronger sense of belonging and safety for people across the community.

Working from the existing evidence base, the post holder will undertake further consultation and research, to identify trends in race and ethnicity related issues and develop best practice solutions. They will use this to provide strategic and evidenced input on the development, implementation, and monitoring of a Community Engagement Action Plan in consultation with Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and students.

The Community Liaison Officer (Race and Ethnicity) will be a self-motivated, independent professional with a committed, proactive, and flexible approach. They will exercise diplomacy and discretion and demonstrate integrity and sensitivity in the fulfilment of their responsibilities.

Core responsibilities:

• Recognised service specialist in handling matters related to race and ethnicity related community relations, engagement and liaison.
• Implement changes to enhance the design and development of existing service processes, techniques and deliverables in the area of race and ethnicity related community relations, to extend and develop links with external agencies.
• Provide specialist expertise and support with data and information sources, interpretation and analysis relevant to trends in race and ethnicity related community issues.
• Contribute to the enhancement of race and ethnicity related operational service activities to develop excellence in the stakeholder experience.
• Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements and the design and planning of best practice solutions.
• Undertake internal and external relationship development, partnership working, networking and participation to enhance race and ethnicity related community relations. Working with internal networks and key contacts that include amongst others, the BAME Staff Network, DPOCA, ISA, DEAG, SU Welfare and Liberations Officer.
• Design activities, campaigns and communications to support positive community engagement in relation to race and ethnicity related issues.
• Act as a primary point of contact for race and ethnicity related community issues, for the local community and internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain an awareness of current and developing policy for University business goals, provide advice using specialist knowledge.
• Represent the University at external groups related to community issues.
• Responsible for managing small budgets for consumables and some capital items, keeping records and processing invoices.

Role responsibilities:

• Manage and monitor service performance and provide metrics and reports, making recommendations as appropriate.
• Participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working internally and externally.
• 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 and strategic plans and service level agreements.
• Through best practice and understanding of the local community, develop protocols for the management of race and ethnicity related issues between the University and the local community, ensuring these are effective and are communicated appropriately.
• Act as a primary point of contact for the Police, Durham County Council and other statutory/voluntary agencies and community groups for all communication in relation to race and ethnicity related issues (in line with appropriate MoUs and Data Sharing Agreements that are in place with local partners) and respond, refer and signpost appropriately.
• Develop systems, maintain information and carry out analysis regarding the extent, types and causes of race related incidents, ensuring this information informs the University, associated forums, committees and decision making processes.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the action taken by external agencies when responding to race related incidents and outcomes of interventions, adhering to strict guidelines on confidentiality and data protection.
• Produce and analyse statistical service metrics to identify successful delivery and areas for future improvement.
• Liaise with the Community Engagement Task Force and its sub-groups on race and ethnicity related matters.
• Understand the work of and develop complementary practices with those delivered by the Community Liaison Manager and other colleagues within the University and external agencies such as Durham Police and other emergency services, Durham County Council, and the Students’ Union.
• Provide advice, guidance and support related to good community relations to colleagues, the public and external agencies.
• Develop, implement and evaluate a range of enhancement activities and targeted communications that promote good community relations, positive citizenship, and the work of the University and partner agencies.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

The role may require some work outside normal business hours, as well as work across a variety of locations within Durham City both on and off University premises.

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.

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. Examples of how you satisfy the essential criteria in the person specification, this will require completion of the 'Questionnaire' application section.

The Realising Your Potential Approach criteria is for information only, but may be referred to during the interview process.

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 Rachel Archbold at rachel.archbold@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.
• The ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally.
• Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
• Experience of developing and implementing strategy, policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.
• Ability to think innovatively to improve services, to develop efficient and effective processes and to implement new ways of working across the institution.
• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
• Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
• Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, with a diverse range of organisations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to listen and evaluate different points of view.
• Evidence of a commitment to community issues, student and staff safety and social responsibility.
• Ability to negotiate with confidence, tact and diplomacy.
• Experience of dealing with difficult situations and/or people demonstrating emotional resilience required and the ability to stay calm, focussed and professional at all times.
• Experience of team work and collaboration.
• Ability to work independently.
• Experience of organising and managing meetings.
• Ability to contribute to planning at operational level.
• Experience in providing support for issues impacting Black, Asian and minority ethnic people and communities.

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of project management.
• Knowledge of Local Government & Public Services.
• Previous experience of work in education, particularly higher education.
• Experience of multi-agency working.
• Working knowledge of and interest in EDI issues and initiatives
• Knowledge and understanding of University collegiate systems such as that at Durham.
• Experience of the development and implementation of communication plans and working knowledge of social marketing campaigns and behaviour change initiatives including newsletters, blogs, websites, twitter etc.

Realising Your Potential Approach

The Realising Your Potential Approach clarifies the behaviours expected to be demonstrated by all staff across Professional Services in the University regardless of their role. Along with the core responsibilities, role responsibilities and the person specification, the Realising Your Potential Approach behavioural indicators are used to inform the recruitment and selection process. Further information on the Realising Your Potential Approach is available here.

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.