Research and Innovation Services

Grade 7: - 33,797 -40,322
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: End Dec 2020
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 10-Apr-2020, 6:59:00 AM 

The post is full time, fixed term until the end of December 2020 and may be offered on a secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.

Job Family: Business Process and People 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 a comprehensive service and deliver the efficient administration and governance of the University.

Overall family purpose

• Deliver direct and indirect services to stakeholders.
• Provide advice and answer queries as part of an enquiry-desk/help-desk function.
• Respond to and manage requests for information and resources.
• Deliver services to meet regulatory requirements and procedures.
• Plan and deliver a joined-up approach to University business and people services.
• Align business processes and services to meet operational and strategic policy objectives.
• Deliver business processes to ensure effective management, governance and the economic viability of the University.
• Encourage, collaborate and participate in the development of productive cross-institution relationships and working.
• Provide excellent professional services that meet strategic and operational goals and business needs.
• Carry out monitoring, analysis, development and planning to design new services and service updates for continuous improvement whilst meeting changes in regulations.
• Engage with specialist professionals, consultants, and suppliers to exchange knowledge and facilitate partnership working.
• Work collaboratively and network across the University with staff in other families to ensure a smooth, timely and high-quality delivery of service.
• Align and deliver programmes and activities to meet operational and strategic objectives to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Engage and encourage participation with external professionals, schools, alumni and donors.

Link to key strategic plan

• An economically sustainable approach to delivering Professional Services across the University;
• A joined-up approach to University professional services, regardless of location or line management;
• A culture and practice of continuous improvement; 
• Design services that meet business need;
• A stakeholder-focused orientation, offering satisfying careers to all staff;
• Support and facilitate programmes that offer intellectual challenge, cohesiveness and a strong sense of progression;
• 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

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related work, including securing funding, working with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice and supporting professional development.

The Partnerships and Engagement team within the Research and Innovation Services directorate works with external organisations and our academic colleagues to facilitate the creation of new research and commercial opportunities and to ensure that Durham University’s research is world-changing with global impact and reach.

The successful candidate will be responsible for management and monitoring of the portfolio of current Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) projects and, and to initiate and develop new KTPs. In addition, the purpose is also to support the application, administration approvals and reporting processes for he Research Impact Fund (RIF and other impact funding portfolios as required.

The position of Business Development Manager (KTP) is strategically important within the Partnerships and Engagement Team, which forms part of the Research and Innovation Services Directorate. The post holder will manage a portfolio of current KTP projects from approval to completion. In addition, the post-holder will develop new KTPs which support the realisation of research impact through economic and societal benefit.

The post holder will report to the Senior Business Development Manager, and will be a member of the Progamme Funding group within P&E, whose remit is to deliver impact funding programmes.

Core responsibilities:

• Recognised professional Business Engagement and Development practitioner
• Implement improvements and changes to the design and development of processes and techniques by which internal and external customers can access impact funding and services offered by Durham University.
• Provide Knowledge Transfer expertise and support to partners, business and academics, which may include the interpretation, analysis and presentation of complex data and information from a variety of sources
• Contribute to development of business engagement 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 relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation.
• Deliver training, teaching and/or development delivery for stakeholders.
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access, and provision of advice using specialist knowledge research and engagement policy, and HEIF strategy.
• 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 managing invoices.

Role responsibilities:

• Provide management for impact funding processes ensuring a high-quality and timely service to all stakeholders, including staff, partners and businesses.
• Contribute to operational leadership teams and decision making to shape the nature and level of support services.
• Analyse KTP and impact funding data and provide reports to Service Heads making recommendations for improvement as appropriate.
• Provide proactive and comprehensive input and support to Head of Services, School and/or Department to achieve strategic and operational priorities.
• Provide advice to business and internal stakeholders in relation to opportunities to access knowledge transfer and impact funding from within and outside the University.
• Ensure the review and improvement of systems and procedures in line with the University, School, Department or unit frameworks.
• Distribute knowledge transfer and impact funding information and opportunities to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure regulations and procedures are updated to take account of internal and external changes.
• Coordinate and oversee committee working and deal with complaints.
• Provide training and/or instruction to stakeholders.
• Awareness of the external environment and sector best practice to support high quality services.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific Role Requirements

• Ability to travel regionally.

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. Examples of how you satisfy both the person specification and the Realising Your Potential Approach criteria. This may require completion of the 'Supporting Evidence' application section if specified by the recruiting manager. Please ensure you give detailed examples of how you meet these criteria if requested.

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: Julie Swinbank, julie.swinbank@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.
• Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
• Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise used to contribute to the delivery and development of services, events and activities within the organisation.
• Experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.
• 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, to influence perceptions of the University.
• Experience of delivering presentations to small groups of people.

Desirable Criteria

• Educated to degree level in an STEM or business management discipline.
• A relevant professional or postgraduate qualification.
• Experience of direct involvement in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
• Experience of working with SMEs (small to medium enterprises).

Realising Your Potential Approach

WORKING TOGETHER - Working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Applying a wide range of interpersonal skills.

1. Working across boundaries to develop relationships with other teams
2. Reflecting the principles

PROVIDING EXCELLENT STUDENT SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT - Providing the best quality service to all our students, customers and stakeholders. Building genuine and long-term relationships through everyday interactions in order to drive up service standards and to enhance their experience.

1. Establishing challenging standards to develop services and advance the reputation of the University
2. Interpreting rules and regulations flexibly to balance customer and University needs
3. Consistently giving positive messages about the University

USING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY - Making effective use of available resources including people, information, networks and budgets. Being aware of the financial and commercial aspects of the University.

1. Sharing good practice with other parts of the University
2. Being mindful of responsibility to the University and funders in using resources
3. Developing cross-service collaboration and being willing to share resources
4. Identifying ways in which resources can be used flexibly and imaginatively for the benefit of the whole University within agreed limits

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.