Experience Durham

Grade 4: - £19,612 - £21,814 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 23-Jun-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, 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 the role purpose    

As a Department Experience Durham is striving to play a pivotal role in developing, delivering and transforming a Wider Student Experience that is as impactful as anything in the world. We remain steadfast in our core commitment to accelerating the growth of far-reaching and market-leading programmes across performance, participation and community outreach, whilst fostering a culture that safeguards academic excellence. We are guided by the belief that an investment in the Wider Student Experience is ultimately an investment in the quality of graduates that the University produces and are motivated by the opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation of talent. In doing so, we feel confident that we are making a positive contribution to the development of rounded, global citizens.

Sport

Durham University is one of Europe’s leading sport universities and has been ranked as Britain’s Number 1 Team Sport University since 2013. In the autumn of 2019 the University completed the construction of a £32m Sports & Wellbeing Park, adding to a prior investment, on the same site, of £8m in 2012.

Role

The individual will assist in the day to day running of the Rowing Programme with specific focus on providing support to the Head and Lead Rowing coaches.  The post will also be responsible for ‘new to rowing’ athletes and assisting with their continued development in the sport.  The role will be responsible for the running of novice introduction programmes and oversee the Junior High Performance Programme.

Core responsibilities:

• Provide a responsive and proactive support service for stakeholders. 
• Focus on checking stakeholder requirements to ensure the delivery of excellence with the frontline stakeholder experience.
• Respond to service users answering and recording standard queries and bookings for activities and/or events.
• Contribute to the planning of team activities, work and deadlines to ensure the smooth running and timeliness of service.
• Solve day-to-day routine problems and source background information within the role.
• Record data and information accurately and provide reports as required to team members and more experienced staff.
• Operate a booking and enquiry service and process requests finding solutions or escalating queries where necessary.
• Flexible in approach to accommodate the needs of team members and/or service users.
• Assist team members to organise, plan and prepare for events, meetings and activities.
• Liaise with internal and external suppliers, contractors and professional specialists to pass on information.
• Apply professional and regulatory procedures and processes and use of systems.
• Liaise and collaborate with staff in other areas of the organisation to ensure a seamless, smooth and efficient service.
• Resolve queries and requests for information and advice and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members.

Role responsibilities:

• Work with team members to ensure the timeliness and relevance of both the Learn to Row programme and Sculling Camps.
• Apply recognised professional, commercial and/or organisational service level standards to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Provide guidance to service users with the use of and access to exhibitions, artefacts, resources and equipment.
• Liaise with internal and external suppliers and specialists with the organisation, planning and delivery of services, activities and events.
• Work with team members and others across the organisation to prepare for the delivery of exhibitions, activities and events.
• Record, collate, analyse, store and report data and information on the level and uptake of services and quality of experience.
• Compile, record, store and archive data and information to ensure the accuracy and safety of information.
• Provide service and support for networks, committees and meetings, to draft and distribute documents and communications in standard professional formats.
• Assist with the identification of talented athletes and provide them with a progression pathway.
• Coach development crews and provide them with the necessary support to succeed
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

The post holder will be required to work weekends and unsociable hours. The role will require regular travel.

Recruiting to this post 

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence how they meet each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification. 

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.

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.

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 Ian Shore - ian.d.shore@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:

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
2. Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.
3. Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience.
4. Evidence of personal development to maintain skills.  
5. Experience of supporting the delivery of a rowing programme and the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.
6. Relevant experience in a similar role / environment.
7. British Rowing Level 2 Coach.
8. Experience of working as part of a team delivering a high quality rowing programme.  
9. Relevant NGB and professional recognition and certification of achievement of skills and knowledge.
10. Experience of providing advice and guidance to athletes, both face to face and in a group setting.  
11. Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve straightforward issues.  
12. UKAD Clean Coach Award

Desirable

• Understanding of the British Rowing landscape.
• Understanding of the BUCS Rowing Programme.
• Trailer towing licence.
• RYA Boat Handling.

DBS Requirement: Please note that the successful applicant will require DBS disclosure.