Operations Directorate

Grade 1: - £17,046 pro-rata
Fixed Term - Annualised Hours (Inc Hols)
Contracted Hours per Week: 17.5
Closing Date: 25-Sep-2020, 6:59:00 AM

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, 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 manage and maintain the integrity of University buildings, estates and information services.

Overall family purpose

• Ensure safe, sustainable and fit for purpose buildings, internal and external environments in and on which to conduct University business.
• Liaise and engage with stakeholders across the University to identify and plan infrastructure projects to update and improve services and facilities.
• Align services to meet organisational strategic and operational objectives.
• Design new, adapt existing and implement services, working with external contractors and suppliers.
• Manage and monitor systems, mechanisms and processes to ensure compliance with internal and external regulations.
• Implement procedures to ensure safe and secure buildings, facilities, estates and information networks.
• Design and construct real and virtual test environments to ensure the most fit for purpose technology and services are available to underpin University business needs.
• Manage technology driven services and third-party platforms to underpin teaching, learning, research and administrative activities across the University.
• Engage with external suppliers, contractors, manufacturers and developers to ensure the highest-standards and quality of buildings, estates and information services.
• Work collaboratively and network across the University with staff in other families to ensure a smooth, timely and high-quality delivery of service.

Link to key strategic plan

• An economically sustainable approach to delivering infrastructure services across the University;
• Develop an academic estate that will allow the University to deliver world-class education, research and student experience;
• Ensure the long-term availability of suitable residential accommodation;
• Ensure the continuing renewal and maintenance of our estate;
• Improve the environmental sustainability and ease of travel around our estate and city locations;
• Support and facilitate a first-rate digital learning environment and experience on a par with the best in the UK;
• Running and ongoing development of a first-rate digital learning environment on a par with the best in the UK;
• 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

A key part of the Durham wider student experience strategy is ensuring all students have the opportunity to spend at least part of their time at university in residence in one of our colleges. We consider it of particular importance for new undergraduate first years to live, work, eat and socialise together as part of a community of learning. Most of our college residences have undergraduates from all years living alongside postgraduates and visiting university fellows.

The University is embarking on an ambitious programme of residential development over the next ten years. This will comprise an accelerated and comprehensive maintenance schedule alongside the building of four to six new colleges to ensure Durham can meet the aim of having at least 50% of its student population in University managed accommodation by 2027.

The Colleges are committed to delivering the highest possible standards of service and customer care, and the role of Housekeeping and Cleaning Assistant is a key post in ensuring this objective is maintained.

The purpose of the role is to deliver a range of cleaning/housekeeping services, including the cleaning and servicing of study bedrooms for students, guest accommodation, facilities, offices and common areas of the College used by students and commercial customers. The post holder will ensure agreed standards are maintained, with particular reference to student and customer comfort and satisfaction.

Core responsibilities:

• Complete a defined set of tasks or procedures within a team to deliver a responsive service to stakeholders.
• Maybe an indirect and/or direct stakeholder-facing service.
• Follow instructions from a the line manager or supervisor to identify what and how to deliver a limited set of tasks or processes.
• As and when directed assist team members by stepping-in to provide support.
• Learn the correct methods and tasks on the job.
• Learn and adhere to general health, safety and security procedures within the service area covered by H&SAW guidelines, on the job.
• Use a range of equipment, tools and resources, digital devices, software and applications where necessary.
• Communicate with line manages, supervisors, team members, other staff, students and visitors in person or using electronic tools and applications.
• Assist team members to deliver a frontline student, staff or visitor service.

Role responsibilities:

• Learn how to deliver physical services to meet regulatory and statutory guidelines and protocols.
• Keep physical internal and external environments, buildings and services in a safe and secure working order.
• Use a range of equipment, tools and resources following certification and supervision to deliver services.
• Assist team members with the security, safety, maintenance and upkeep of systems, buildings, equipment and facilities.
• Ensure own work is completed in accordance with risk assessments specific to tasks and environments.
• Where directed, wear and use protective equipment and clothing to carry out tasks.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific Role requirements

The post-holder will be required to adopt and promote a flexible approach to working, and be willing to cover absences, when given reasonable notice.

The role will require a substantial element of physical manual handling, which can include lifting and transporting equipment and deliveries.

The post holder will be required to attend all training and development, as required.

Place of work: across the Colleges Directorate

Fixed Term until 31 July 2021

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 below.

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.

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.

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 document providing evidence and examples of how you meet the person specification criteria.

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application will not be considered.

Contact details

For further information please contact: Chris Finnemore (c.a.finnemore@durham.ac.uk)

Please note: we anticipate a high volume of applications for this opportunity, so the vacancy may close earlier than the stated date if sufficient applications are recevied. Early application is therefore advised.

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

The essential criteria for this role are:

• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Basic numeracy and literacy skills. 
• Evidence of personal development to maintain skills. 
• Ability to work alone but build positive working relationships and work as part of a team.
• Ability to manage time in order to meet deadlines.
• Ability to follow instructions, written or oral, accurately.
• Good attention to detail.
• Ability to deal effectively with staff and customers at all levels.

The desirable criteria for this role are:

• Basic IT skills including use of Microsoft Office. 
• BICS or First Aid trained
• Previous housekeeping and/or cleaning experience.

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.