Faculty Manager Science

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.  Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

The Role and Department

The Faculty of Science is home to a diverse community of over 890 academic staff; over 300 professional services staff, 1,000 postgraduate students, and approximately 6,000 undergraduate students across eight academic departments: Biosciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Psychology. The Faculty is also responsible for the broad-ranging undergraduate Natural Sciences Degree Programme, which allows students to study science alongside two or more other subjects, and the Postgraduate Master of Data Science programme, which provides training in relevant areas of contemporary data science in a supportive research-led interdisciplinary learning environment. Our inclusive, creative, and innovative research environment provides our students with an inspiring learning experience. The diverse nature of the activities that take place across the Faculty and the role of the Faculty Office in supporting the development and delivery of strategic objectives provides both the Faculty Manager and our Faculty team with a stimulating and engaging work environment.

Reporting to the Executive Dean Science, and as member of the Faculty Leadership team, the Faculty Manager will support and drive the strategic aims and objectives of the Faculty and ensure engagement and successful implementation of local and University-wide projects and initiatives.  Providing impactful support to the Executive Dean, the Faculty Manager will work in partnership with colleagues throughout the Faculty of Science and University on projects and initiatives that support the delivery of strategic priorities and plans as defined by the Executive Dean.

The Faculty Manager also has direct line management responsibility for teams that provide Faculty-wide services including: Faculty Administration; Learning and Teaching; Digital Learning Developers; Student Support and Finance.  The Faculty Manager works closely with the eight Departmental Managers, providing advice, guidance and support with regard to the delivery of administrative and other operations to enable the Faculty and wider University to deliver its research and teaching objectives.

The Faculty Manager must have strong project management experience and an understanding of key project management methodologies.  Being and effective communicator and network builder is an essential requirement along with high levels of initiative and ability to work independently and creatively. The Faculty Manager will have proven leadership skills and experience of working with and presenting complex data and influencing at a senior level.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Typical Role Requirements  

Service Delivery/Development

• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Oversee and manage professional and regulatory standards (teaching, research, HR, health and safety, financial etc) and policies relating to activities carried out by the Faculty Office and across the Faculty of Science. 
• Use your leadership and management expertise to implement any significant changes in the optimal way, in collaboration with other senior managers and specialists.
• Lead on the development of new areas of work or activities, for example the University is looking to grow and invest in science over the next five to ten years and this will lead to a range of projects to support an increase and diversification of income from teaching and research, which will require scoping, planning and implementing any changes to achieve the outcomes expected by senior colleagues.
• Look for innovative ways to continually improve the administrative and operational services provided to your stakeholders.
• Develop and implement new or improved policies, processes and standards.
• Use your professional knowledge and experience to resolve problems, shape processes and activities, develop systems and to provide subject matter expertise and advice
• Support quality and regulatory audits to ensure that system and processes are operating in an optimal and compliant way.
• Meet the professional development needs of your stakeholders by ensuring that a programme of training and learning activities are deigned and delivered by the Faculty
• Provide specialist insight that enables data driven decisions to be made about the Faculty of Science.

Planning and Organisation

• Use your expertise to help develop strategic plans and business plans that cover a wide range of operational activities.
• Define what needs to be achieved so that other colleagues can scope, plan and implement large scale/University wide initiatives eg. implementation and roll out of new business systems.
• Ensure your services are performing at the optimal level by setting clear standards and introducing measurable performance indicators.
• Use your leadership expertise to help project teams understand what needs to be achieved, solve any problems that are encountered and keep implementation plans on track.
• Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.

Leadership and Team Development

• Set operational and strategic objectives and use your leadership and management skills, to develop the people in your team(s) and ensure high standards of performance.
• Help shape the skills and expertise needed to deliver a professional service by recruiting, inducting and training team members and structuring your team(s) in way that will best meet operational and strategic priorities.
• Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members and considering succession plans.
• Carry out regular performance reviews with colleagues to provide feedback on objectives and identify any development needs.
• Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team, taking advice on more complex issues to specialist services or senior managers.

Communication/Liaison

• Lead internal and external meetings and committees to influence University policy, standards and governance.
• Build and lead an influential network of internal and external contacts to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and use that information to improve and develop the Faculty of Science.
• Identify opportunities to build relationships with external organisations to support the delivery of strategic level objectives.
• Research new approaches being taken by internal and external stakeholders such as professional bodies, other UK and international Universities so that you can take these insights into account when developing the Faculty of Science.
• Explore options to promote and increase engagement in events and activities being delivered by your service.
• Design and deliver a programme of professional development activities to your stakeholders to support their development and information needs.
• Any other reasonable duties. 

Working at Durham 

Durham University supports hybrid working in line with its policies and the business needs of individual roles and responsibilities. A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. 
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled  into this University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available and access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16 throughout the year.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  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. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

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.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, 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, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification  
  
When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.  Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.    
Your application should cover the following criteria:  

Essential Criteria

Qualifications/Experience

1.     Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).

2.     Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence service delivery, events and activities within an adult education, preferably Higher Education organisation.

3.     Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues within an adult education, preferably Higher Education organisation.

4.     Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships to positively influence the reputation of an organisation, preferably an organisation involved in delivery of research and/or teaching.

5.     Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements, particularly with regard to administrative/operational processes.

6.     Track record of cross-functional management and development experience and/or an enhanced management qualification applied across a large service team or teams.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

7.     Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.

8.     Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, project planning and financial systems.

9.     Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.

10.  Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.

11.  Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.

12.  Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.

Desirable Criteria

13.  Experience of working in the academic/University sector in senior operational management roles.

14.  Member of a relevant professional body such as Associate of University Administrators (AUA) or similar.

How to apply
To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.  Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.   
  
Submitting your application 

We prefer to receive applications online.   We will update you about 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 make sure you have not missed any of our updates.
  
What you need to submit.   

1.     A CV: and   

2.     A supporting statement which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification. 

Contact details   
  
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Prof Stefan Przyborski, Executive Dean Science and Dean of Infrastructure at [email protected]

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  Privacy Notices – Durham University  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.   

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.