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. 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. Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be foundhere The Role and the Department The Widening Access and Participation team supports the higher education choices of young people who are traditionally underrepresented at university and encourages anyone with academic ability to consider applying to Durham, regardless of background. A post has arisen within the Widening Access and Participation team as part of the Uni Connect Programme (UCP), an Office for Students (OfS) funded project. The North East Uni Connect Programme (NEUCP) involves all colleges and universities in the North East region working together to support raising young people's attainment and promote higher education opportunities through a sustained programme of interventions. You can find more information about Uni Connect here. Based within Durham University, but working across the region, the post holder will have a role in supporting the development and delivery of a programme to support attainment raising, and a student engagement programme of higher education outreach activities in targeted schools/sixth forms called FutureMe. This post is part of a dispersed team across the region, hosted at Durham University with functional line management support provided by a Project Coordinator and Outreach Delivery Manager based at Teesside University. The post holder will be required to work from, and support colleagues at, other partner institutions across the region for which travel expenses will be provided. They will also be expected to attend and contribute to regional meetings in support of the delivery of the programme. Depending on the needs of the business, Durham University is utilising hybrid working for all Professional Services colleagues in the academic year 2025/2026, which may include the opportunity to work both on and off campus and to flex working hours. Any hybrid arrangements are non-contractual and may change. The role will nominally be based at Durham and will be expected to attend the offices at Durham on a regular basis (typically 2 days a week). However, in addition, the post holder may also work from home or choose to base themselves at one of the other North East universities. If appointed to the post, your line-manager will discuss the specific arrangements with you. Please note that this post is fixed term until 31 August 2026. Working at Durham 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: • 27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days per year. • No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. • 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). • 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. • 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. • We offer generous pension schemes. 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 criterion 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. 1. Recent graduate of an undergraduate degree (within 24 months of commencing appointment) 2. Five GCSE's at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or a Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience. 2. 3. Experience of working in a busy office environment delivering front line administrative services to a high standard and demonstrating flexibility and 4. A positive approach to tasks, activities and situations. 3. 5. Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality. 4. 6. Experience of providing advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including working with and enthusing young people about higher education. 5. 7. Experience of delivering presentations or public speaking to a range of audiences. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 6. 8. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally. 7. 9. Strong digital competence across a range digital devices and apps including Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and Outlook. 8. 10. Ability to solve problems yourself and as part of a team and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions. 9. 11. Committed to continuing professional development. 10. 12. Ability to participate in networks to share and discuss good practice and exchange information. 11. 13. An awareness of issues relating to progression, recruitment and admission of students into further and higher education particularly those from under-represented groups. 12. 14. Ability to research and develop new outreach activity in support of progression to further and higher education. Desirable Criteria • 1. An awareness of educational issues as they affect young people particularly in the North East. • 2. Evidence of event organisation • 3. Experience of data input and use of spreadsheets • 4. An awareness of data protection, child safeguarding and internet safety issues. Other specific role requirements • DBS Check • Full UK Driving License and ability to travel independently between remote locations and transport promotional materials and equipment (i.e. display stands), with the requirement to travel and work during evenings and weekends. 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. Where there are desirable criteria we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence. 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 during the process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails What you are required to submit: • A CV • A supporting statement which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification Contact details If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Jess Adams, Project Coordinator, FutureMe Programme and Outreach North East, (jessica.d.adams@durham.ac.uk) would be happy to speak to you. Typical Role Requirements Service Delivery • Plan, arrange and carry out visits to identified schools/sixth forms as directed by the Project Coordinator. Deliver interactive workshops, activities and presentations, from a student perspective to potential applicants, teachers/advisers and parents/carers on a range of topics. • Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values. • Ensure that relevant regulatory and professional standards are being used within services being delivered by your team, for example by ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. • Help to develop and implement policies and procedures relating to your service area. • Respond to queries whilst carrying out visits to schools and sixth forms and provide information/advice to potential applicants, teachers/advisers and parents/carers on topics such as student finance, the higher education experience, UCAS and applying to higher education and other appropriate outreach activities, while raising more specialist or complex queries with more experienced team members. • Use your experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve issues relevant to your role and make recommendations based on your findings. For example, you will work with the NEUCP Project Coordinator on the planning and delivery of outreach workshops across the region, which will include providing training and ongoing problem solving support to a team of undergraduate associates. • Continually review what is required from the students, teachers/advisers and parents/carers that you work with to make sure the best possible service is provided and to support the Project Coordinator in developing, maintaining and building upon the relationships with school/sixth forms. • Ensure that processes and business systems effectively support the services being delivered by the team. For example, process and maintain accurate records of activities and student participation in order to track, monitor and evaluate participation in, and impact of, student activities. • Monitor and analyse the content that you deliver to ensure suitability and report your findings to senior colleagues. • Ensure that data is accurate and provide reports and analysis of patterns and trends to senior colleagues. • Support programme evaluation by issuing surveys, collating and maintaining records of feedback from schools/sixth forms and individual students, and supporting with the programme evaluation to ensure future activity is constantly improved. Prepare relevant reports as requested by the Project Coordinator and NEUCP Outreach Delivery Manager to support monitoring and evaluation of the programme. • Capture and share information and data that needs to be shared with relevant networks and committees. • Use digital media e.g. SharePoint to update team members and colleagues. • Contribute to the development and production of appropriate online and printed communication and marketing materials for use with key audiences, including presentations for students, teachers and parents/carers. • Prepare reports for senior managers. Planning and Organising • Plan and organise own workload to deliver the role. • Along with the NEUCP Project Coordinator, organise and support the development and delivery of high-quality cross area and region wide events, as part of the FutureMe programme and Outreach North East activity. • Monitor processes and activities to ensure team priorities are met. Teamwork • Provide specialist support and advice to team members about the North East Uni Connect partnership. • Explain and provide instruction to other team members on how to correctly record and manage data. • Make changes to the services provided by your team in discussion with other team members. • Identify opportunities and contribute to decisions on how to improve services being delivered by the team. • Seek feedback from teachers/advisers, parents/carers, students and undergraduate associates on their requirements from your service and recommend improvements to senior colleagues. Communications/Liaison • Use your knowledge and expertise to provide advice and guidance to resolve problems and respond to a wide range of queries whilst delivering presentations and activities in local schools. • Provide instruction and demonstrations to others within the team about your projects. • Create good working relationships with other team members and anyone else that you come across as part of your role to work together on joint activities. • Liaise with staff both within the Widening Access and Participation team at Durham within which the role is based and the collaborative regional Uni Connect team to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way. • Create good working relationships with internal and external partners and suppliers to work together on joint activities. • Build relationships with contacts and contribute to internal and external networks to share good practice and exchange information. • Liaise with Uni Connect staff based at other institutions and third party providers to plan the delivery of services and events. • Contribute to the development and production of appropriate online and printed communication and marketing materials for use with key audiences, including presentations for students, teachers and parents/carers. • Any other reasonable duties. SECONDMENT The post is currently fixed term until 31st August 2026 and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager. If an internal member of staff is appointed to this role on a secondment basis, for pension purposes this will be processed in line with Step-Up arrangements. For further details please click here. 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 Universitywhich 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.