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? - Durham University The Role and Department Research and Innovation Services (RIS) offers guidance, expert advice, and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related activities. This includes securing funding, collaborating with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice, and supporting professional development. This post will sit in the Commercialisation and Economic Development team, under the management of the Senior Policy Engagement Manager. The role will undertake evaluation of a major place-based creative collaboration, Into the Light. This three-year programme, which began on 1 April 2024, is funded by the Arts Council England, the Shared Prosperity Fund, Durham County Council and others. I has been designed to cultivate talent, widen access to creative education, enhance the skills of the cultural workforce, and break down barriers to working in the creative industries .Into the Light is delivered by Durham County Council in partnership with Beamish Museum, The Bowes Museum, Durham University, Ensemble '84, The Forge, No More Nowt, Northern Heartlands, Redhills CIO and TIN Arts. The programme consists of eight projects over three interconnecting themes: Grow (Inspiring Children and Young People), Cultivate (Building the Cultural Workforce) and Engage (Connecting Communities through Culture). Durham University is leading on the evaluation of the programme, with the aim of undertaking a programme-wide study to analyse the impact of investment in cultural and creative programmes, activities and events in the County through the principles of Inclusive Economy, an economic development model adopted by Durham, Newcastle and going forward by the North East Combined Authority (NECA). The Lead Evaluator will be formally line managed by the Senior Policy Engagement Manager in RIS with academic oversight and support provided by Professor Janet Stewart, Executive Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The post-holder will report to the Into the Light Evaluation Advisory Board, chaired by Professor Janet Stewart, Executive Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The Lead Evaluator will have access to the expertise of the Durham Research Methods Centre and will be assisted by two postdoctoral research associates, based in academic departments, who are due to be appointed in June 2025. As well as delivering this important project, the role will offer useful learning to wider work being undertaken to explore a future institutional evaluation offer. These include exploring potential frameworks with partners, which, in addition to providing capacity for programme and process evaluation, enhance the opportunity for a range of collaborative research opportunities. The postholder will have experience of delivering evaluation of large-scale projects using mixed methods. Key responsibilities include: • Reviewing and refining the Theory of Change underpinning Into the Light; • Designing and delivering an iterative evaluation approach for Into the Light, designed to study the impact of investment in cultural and creative programmes through the principles of Inclusive Economy; • Producing information that will be of use to project partners during programme delivery, as well as a final formal evaluation report; • Ensuring that the work of the evaluation team adheres to the relevant ethical approval policy; • Working collaboratively with the managers of the eight projects that form the Into the Light programme, under the direction of the Into the Light programme director, to deliver the evaluation of the programme; • Coordinating and accessing data that is generated through the work of the partner projects; • Managing the work of the postdoctoral research associates, ensuring that your team can deliver the required services by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members; • Keeping stakeholders updated by sharing key information about the programme evaluation; • Using the best media and method to communicate with internal and external stakeholders. From early 2025 the base location for this role will change from our Durham City Centre site to our exciting new professional services hub based at Boldon House. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House will bring a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more about this project, please visit this webpage: Boldon House - Durham University. Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description. 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: • 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 the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). • 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. • 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 plus access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16. • 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, 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. 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 postdoctoral level (or equivalent experience). 2. Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and development of evaluation methods and practices, including quantitative and qualitative analysis of data 3. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues. 4. Experience of managing and developing a team or teams and/or line management qualification. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 5. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally. 6. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps. 7. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition. 8. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions. 9. Ability to plan and deliver projects independently, to a high standard and on time. 10. Ability to engage in effective partnership working across diverse organisational boundaries. Desirable Criteria 11. Knowledge of cultural economics and the policy landscape relating to the cultural sector. 12. Experience of working in the creative, cultural or community development sectors 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 are 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 or covering letter 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 janet.c.stewart@durham.ac.uk. 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. Typical role Requirements Service Delivery/Development • Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values. • Manage the delivery of evaluation of the Into the Light to a high standard and ensure that they are delivered in a customer focussed way. • Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from multiple stakeholders and contribute to ideas and service improvements. • Contribute to the delivery of activities that generate external income as specified above under 'role responsibilities'. Planning and Organisation • Manage the delivery of operational activities carried out as part of the evaluation of the Into the Light programme. • Continually seek to enhance the services provided to your stakeholders and plan and implement any required improvements. • Manage and monitor the performance of the Into the Light programme and make recommendations to relevant Service Heads on how it can be improved. • Manage budgets and expenditure as part of the evaluation of the programme. Team Development • Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members, as appropriate and if required. • Carry out regular performance reviews to provide feedback on team and individual objectives and expectations and identify any development needs, as and if required • Ensure that your team continues to develop by coaching and mentoring team members and delivering any training needs. • Support the welfare and wellbeing of your team referring more complex issues to specialist services. Communication/Liaison • Use your operational expertise to participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees. • Keep stakeholders updated by sharing key service information about the Into the Light programme. • Use the best media and method to communicate with internal and external stakeholders. • Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers. • Use your expertise to participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working, both internally and externally. • Any other reasonable duties. SECONDMENT The post is full time fixed term until 31 March 2027 and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager. 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.