Operations Directorate

Grade 2: - £19,863 - £20,134 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 01-Mar-2023, 7:59:00 AM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable

Job Title: Residential Services Assistant      
Department: Operations Directorate      
Grade: Grade 2    
Salary range: £19,863 - £20,134        
Working arrangements: There are 13 vacancies available across multiple colleges within the Operations Directorate. The indicative working patterns for these roles are as follows –

4 x alternating late/night RSA - working 16:00 - 00:00 and 00:00 - 08:00 
2 x RSA days - working 08:00 - 16:00 or 10:00 - 18:00 
3 x RSA Weekend Days - working Mon 16:00 - 00:00, Tues 17:00 - 00:00, Sat & Sun 00:00 - 12:00 
4 x RSA Weekend Nights - working Thurs 16:00 - 00:00, Fri 17:00 - 00:00, Sat & Sun 12:00 - 00:00 

Contracts up to any 5 days from 7 which may include bank holidays and weekends. All contracts are 35 hours a week, full time and permanent.

Closing date:      31st January 2023
Potential interview date:   TBC

The Department and role purpose   

The Colleges Operations Directorate forms part of the Colleges and Student Experience Division, which is responsible for providing a world class student experience to our diverse student community.

The Colleges Operations Directorate plays an integral role in providing excellent services and facilities to support the personal development of students. The services provided by the Directorate include; catering, housekeeping, reception, security and maintenance, as well as providing systems for the management of health and safety, and food safety.

As well as providing a highly competitive salary and rewards package, a key strategy, embedded within the Directorate is the ongoing development of its People, join us today and have the opportunity to define and grow your career at Durham University.

Core responsibilities

• Contribute input within the team to provide a responsive, stakeholder-focused service for stakeholders.
• Respond to straightforward requests for information from stakeholders.
• Contribute to team effort with more straightforward tasks during peak work flows.
• Follow documented service procedures, referring to more experienced colleagues with less straightforward issues.
• Demonstrate some pre-employment familiarity with the techniques, and processes used in the General Services area.
• Learn new skills and techniques on-the–job, working alongside more experienced team members.
• Learn about the hazards and risks within own area of work and report incidents in accordance with recognised procedures and protocols.
• Communicate with team members, other staff, students and visitors in person or using electronic tools and applications. 

Role responsibilities

• Use a range of equipment, tools, resources and digital devices to complete basic maintenance/minor DIY, portering or security duties, where necessary.
• Learn and apply strict guidelines and risk assessments to ensure safe, secure practice when working in different environments.
• Follow and apply strict procedures and guidelines to ensure compliance with regulations for all activities.
• Apply escalation procedures to highlight interventions required by more experienced team members.
• Assist team members and contractors to set-up, and dismantle specialist equipment, tools and resources, under supervision.
• Clean and maintain specialist equipment, tools and resources, under supervision.
• Assist team members to collect, carry and transport equipment and resources.
• Carry out a range of tasks that require a more than standard level of physical, manual and sensory dexterity, following training, for short periods of time.
• Wear and use protective equipment and clothing to carry out tasks on a day-to-day basis.
• Adhere to general health, safety and security procedures for General Services, as identified in risk assessments, method statements, guidelines, etc.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

Primarily fixed college position with indicative roster, location and roster subject to change to meet business demands in line with rostering principals.

Will be required to work evenings and weekends, as business demands.

The role will require an element of physical manual handling, which can include lifting and transporting tools, equipment and deliveries

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.

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;

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 Chris Finnemore (c.a.finnemore@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

• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Basic IT skills including Microsoft Office.
• Basic numeracy and literacy skills. 
• Experience of working under minimal direct supervision as well as in a team.
• Experience of managing time in order to meet deadlines.
• Ability to follow instructions, written or oral, accurately.
• Evidence of ability to undertake basic DIY tasks.
• Good attention to detail.
• Full Drivers Licence

Desirable Criteria

• Evidence of personal development to maintain skills. 
• Health and safety compliance knowledge.
• Experience of working in a buildings or estates services area.
• Experience of Portable Appliance Testing (PAT).
• Experience of working in, or with, a higher education institution.