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. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page. The Role and the Department The Student Journey Futures (SJF) Programme, jointly led by Computing and Information Services (CIS) and Student & Academic Services Directorate (SASD), delivering a multi-million pound programme of change. The post holder will be a member of the SASD Senior Leadership Team that reports directly to the Academic Registrar and Director of Student & Academic Services. Working with the following teams: • Student Recruitment & Admissions, • Widening Participation, • Academic and Quality Services, • Student Finance • Student Records and support to academics, • teaching and administrative services across the organisation that underpin the day-to-day activities of the whole organisation. The role will work closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation to ensure their requirements are met and will help build the institution's understanding and capabilities in student administration and its associated systems. The post holder will liaise with programme and project offices embedded in other professional service departments. They will also work with business change managers to ensure a robust plan to ensure that business change and transformation activities are in place. The base location for this role will be at the Palatine Centre. Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: • You'll receive 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, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the 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. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance. • We have 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. • We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. • Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16. • Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). • We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community. • You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions. • Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. • If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for 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. Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here. 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. Your application should cover the following criteria: Essential Criteria Qualifications/Experience 1. Significant experience of successful management of delivering large and complex strategic programmes (multiple projects related together under one initiative) with multiple stakeholders. 2. Experience of managing projects through the entire lifecycle from initiation to completion, including transitioning business areas to new solutions. 3. Experience of obtaining user requirements to implement transformational change, processes, policies and procedures and supporting measurable service improvements through change initiatives. 4. Experience of leading, managing and directing the work of other project managers, other professionals and external consultants to deliver large projects on time and to budget. 5. Experience of effective management of programme/project benefits as presented in the Business Case. 6. Experience of programme financial control and management including the corresponding reporting. 7. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience). 8. Industry recognised programme or project management qualification (e.g. Agile, Prince 2, Prince2 Agile, or MSP). 9. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge in project and agile methods with expertise to develop and lead a programme of work which influences operational and strategic service delivery, events and activities within the organisation. 10. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues. 11. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University's reputation. 12. Track record of cross-functional management and development experience. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 13. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships at all levels including with senior leaders, both internally and externally. 14. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps such as project and agile tools and Microsoft products including Teams. 15. Strong ability to use data insights to predict and drive planning and delivery. 16. Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines. 17. Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines. Desirable Criteria 1. In-depth knowledge of Higher Education-specific software applications and architecture, including Student Information Systems such as Ellucian Banner and Tribal SITS. 2. Experience of managing complex programmes or large-scale projects in a Higher Education setting. 3. Previous experience of collaboration with third party suppliers in order to deliver tangible user benefits. 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 • A CV: and • 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 Pete Wilkinson (Interim Programme Manager) pete.wilkinson@durham.ac.uk. 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 and policies relating to activities carried out by the programme. • Use your leadership and management expertise to implement significant changes related to the projects under your direction in the optimal way, in collaboration with other senior managers and specialists. • Ensure that appropriate governance processes are established with the relevant stakeholders and that meaningful management information is produced that enables appropriate decisions to be made. • Lead on the development of new areas of work or activities encompassed by the programme including scoping, planning and implementing any changes to achieve the objectives/outcomes expected by senior colleagues. • Look for innovative ways to continually improve the services provided to your stakeholders. • Develop and implement new or improved policies, processes and standards. • Use your professional knowledge and experience as a Programme Director 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 designed and delivered to support the new systems the programme will implement. • Provide specialist insight that enables data driven decisions to be made about the systems involved in the area of Student Administration. Planning and Organisation • Use your expertise to help develop strategic plans and business plans that cover a wide range of programme and project activities. • Be responsible for the development and programme management of a range of strategic initiatives with the potential to deliver significant benefits and deliver transformational change across the University. • Ensure the delivery of the agreed outcomes within defined time, cost, and quality criteria, proactively managing project/programme risks and issues and maintaining a detailed project register. • Proactively manage changes in scope, identify potential crises, and devise contingency plans. • Define what needs to be achieved so that you can work with colleagues to scope, plan and implement this large-scale University wide programme. • Ensure 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. • Work with key stakeholders to develop and validate user stories. • 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 services relevant to the programme. • Identify opportunities to build relationships with external organisations to support the delivery of strategic level objectives. • Develop and deliver progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation and presentations. • Research new approaches being taken by internal and external stakeholders so that you can take these insights into account when developing project plans and roadmaps. • Explore options to promote and increase engagement in workshops intended to improve the processes and policies relevant to the area of Student Administration. • Design and deliver a programme of professional development activities to your stakeholders to support their development and information needs. • Any other reasonable duties. 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.