Department of Chemistry

Grade 5: - £22,847 - £26,341 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 24-Aug-2022, 6:59:00 AM

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

The Department and role purpose:

Durham Chemistry is one of the very best UK chemistry departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. Our research spans the range of organic, inorganic, physical and theoretical chemistry.

Find out more about our vibrant community here Chemistry Department - Durham University

The Postgraduate Research Coordinator is responsible for the provision of a professional, efficient administrative service, taking responsibility for operational aspects of research programme delivery and other departmental activities. The post holder will ensure deadlines are met and service delivery standards are maintained, working in accordance with University and departmental policies and procedures.

The Postgraduate Research Coordinator will work independently, taking day to day decisions and using their own initiative and experience to decide on appropriate courses of action and resolve complex problems. They will possess excellent organisational and time management skills, display initiative and flexibility and demonstrate a commitment to customer service and excellence.

Core responsibilities:

• Act as a more knowledgeable team member without responsibility for team members.
• Plan and organise own workload, taking responsibility for operational aspects of programme delivery, ensuring deadlines are met and service delivery standards are maintained.
• Resolve queries and requests for information and act as a key contact in relation to research student issues, signposting to other staff or departments where appropriate and escalating more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members.
• Respond to stakeholder needs to deliver and shape an excellent stakeholder experience.
• Apply theory and practice, from academic and professional development and previous knowledge within a service team.
• Contribute to collaborative decision making within the team with service provision to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience in accordance with policy and procedures.
• Work collaboratively across the organisation and/or externally with colleagues and stakeholders to deliver a service.
• Provide guidance and advice to resolve problems and queries for a broad range of service users developing expertise in relation to research student admissions, progress and assessment policies and processes.
• Collaborate with team members to implement new policies and procedures.
• Organise and schedule resources, activities and events e.g. postgraduate induction and training and the deployment of postgraduate students as demonstrators for undergraduate modules.
• Identify priorities and monitor processes and activities to ensure success e.g. monitor progress against deadlines; ensure accurate recording of viva outcomes, production of documentation and multimedia material to promote research projects and the wider research environment.
• Provide more in-depth independent research and analysis activities within the role.
• Analyse work activities to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources.
• Provide demonstrations and instruction to others within and outside the team.
• Support the capture of business requirements from users and work with colleagues to translate these into recommendations for future service provision.
• Liaise with contacts and participate in networks and communities internally and possibly externally, contributing to effective collaborative working.
• Advise others and make recommendations into work processes and procedures for consideration by senior management to improve services.

Role responsibilities:

• Deliver research student support services to ensure the effective and efficient running of business processes and systems, ensuring students receive appropriate academic support and guidance. Monitor and evaluate service delivery to ensure compliance with regulatory and professional procedures and standards, including UK Boarder Agency requirements.
• Collaborate with colleagues across professional and administrative areas to ensure seamless research service provision.
• Develop and enhance operational and administrative policies, systems and procedures, fostering a continuous improvement philosophy.
• Provide training to team members on data handling and recording.
• Monitor data accuracy checks to identify anomalies and ensure the integrity of data and information.
• Coordinate and monitor the implementation of departmental and University policies and initiatives.
• Update data and information on systems and media for recording, storing, communicating and informing service users and team members.
• Work with internal and external partners to maintain effective relationships and to plan and deliver complex cross functional activities.
• Interpret PGR data and provide reports for higher level decision makers.
• Accurately record information and data and disseminate within internal networks including committees including acting as Secretary to the Staff, Student Consultative Committees and other student meetings as required, e.g. arrange meetings, draft agenda, take minutes, initiating and monitoring follow  up actions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policy and procedures within own area of working.
• Prepare written reports for consideration by management where required.
• Contribute to the preparation of documentation associated with internal accreditation, quality management and enhancement activities related to research student activities and the wider research environment.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

Working Arrangements

At Durham we recognise that our staff and students are our greatest asset and we want to support the health and wellbeing of all. Hybrid working supports this ethos and provides many benefits to our colleagues, including empowering people, where their role allows, to work in a manner which is more suitable for them, whilst encouraging our commitment to environmental sustainability.

Depending on the needs of the business and the job role, Durham University is piloting hybrid working for all Professional Services colleagues in the academic year 2021/2022, which may include the opportunity to work both on and off campus and to flex working hours. If appointed to the post, your line-manager will discuss the specific arrangements with you. Any hybrid arrangements are non-contractual and may change within the pilot and when the pilot ends.

Interviews are anticipated to take place on or around mid-July.

Reward and Benefits

To support the delivery of the University's People Strategy to attract, retain and reward the very best, we offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits to our staff, including:

• 27 days annual leave, plus 4 customary days and 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part time) and the option to purchase additional leave;
• Automatic enrolment into a pension scheme;
• Corporate and local discounts;
• Wellbeing resources and discounted health benefits;
• Health discounts on sports and activities at Maiden Castle Health and Activity Centre;
• Reward and Recognition Schemes;
• Personal and career development;
• And SO much more, with further information available here

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.

Information if you have a disability

The University welcomes applications from disabled people. We are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk.

What you are required to submit 

1. A CV; 
2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the Job Description above.
3. A separate Word document, with examples of how you satisfy the person specification below. 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 regarding this post, please contact Lizzie Amies, Department Manager elizabeth.amies@durham.ac.uk

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

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.

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.

As a University we foster a collegiate community of extraordinary people aligned to the University’s values. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive, and in doing so, recruit the world’s best candidates from all backgrounds and identities. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required

Essential Criteria

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
• Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.
• Five GCSE’s at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent experience). 
• Relevant administrative experience in a busy office environment.
• Demonstrable ability to proactively work with team members to ensure the delivery of high quality services.
• Experience of working on the front line with service delivery, and the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.
• Demonstrable ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues.
• Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.
• Ability to effectively network and exchange advice and information for development purposes.
• Accuracy, numeracy and attention to detail.
• Experience of developing and enhancing operational and administrative policies, systems and procedures.
• The ability to use initiative and exercise judgement in determining the correct course of action.

Desirable Criteria

• Evidence of personal development to maintain skills.
• Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working in Higher Education.
• Experience of working in a multicultural environment.

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.