Interdisciplinary Training Lead (

Job Number:

24000346)

Institute of Advanced Study

Grade 7: - £7,419 - £7,869 per annum which is pro-rata to the full time salary £37,099 - £39,347 per annum

Fixed Term - Part Time

Contract Duration: 1 year

Contracted Hours per Week: 7

Working Arrangements: Mon-Fri

Closing Date

: 03-May-2024, 10:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable. 

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 Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) is a home for growing big ideas. The IAS supports, promotes and grows new and creative interdisciplinary ideas that transform our perspectives in challenging and provocative ways. It provides time, space and resources to exchange and integrate ideas, knowledge and skills. The Institute is a home to an inclusive, diverse and supportive community of scholars from Durham University and across the world.

The Northern Ireland and North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is an ESRC funded collaboration involving the universities of Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Queen’s, Sunderland, Teesside and Ulster with over 50 studentships on offer each year. It offers 18 distinct training pathways, with both single and multi-disciplinary foci, and is dedicated to creating a centre of excellence in Doctoral Training across the North East of England and Northern Ireland, bringing together the institutions, students and partners to create a vibrant and dynamic environment in which innovative economic and social science research can thrive.

As experienced practitioners in leading, mentoring, supporting, interdisciplinary training, the IAS will provide NINE students, supervisors and other stakeholders with opportunities to undertake interdisciplinary methods training during their PhD. The IAS therefore seeks to appoint a role that can support the Institute with the development, implementation, delivery and evaluation of a new interdisciplinary methods training programme, and to specifically develop and drive forward a suite of innovative and diverse programmes and packages, including developing and maintaining systems and processes to enable reporting. The role will involve the creation of new training materials in collaboration with IAS Directors, as well as the organisation, administration and roll out of training, including areas such as panel discussions, online masterclasses, as well as a programme of short courses that embrace a range of topics over a range of interdisciplinary area. Liaison and communication with student groups and academic colleagues across the University and the DTP network will be essential.

The successful post holder must be a confident communicator, with a passion for delivering outstanding student and academic focussed services. You will have a keen eye for detail, experience of developing, implementing effective and efficient processes. Excellent project, time management and organisational skills are essential, as well as the ability to manage your own workload. The role will be under the direction of the Director of the IAS. 

You will have demonstrable experience of a senior role in higher education, the private sector or the public sector, and in managing projects. You will have excellent interpersonal skills to build effective networks and working relationships within the Institute, with Departments, Faculties, other URIs, the University and beyond. The role requires fostering a culture of continuous improvement, therefore, the ability to initiate, lead and implement change is important.

This post is a one year, 0.2FTE Fixed Term role. Interviews are expected to take place 13 June 2024.

The role will be based in the Institute of Advanced Study, Cosin’s Hall. 

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 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 demonstrable work experience in a similar role).

2. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships. 

3. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.

4 Experienced individual who has led teaching or research projects working within an educational, commercial or industrial environment. 

5. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements. 

6. Experience of commissioning, creating, implementing and evaluating agreed programmes and policies and procedures, including online provision, and supporting change and service improvements.

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 digital devices and apps including [digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems].

9. Achievement of recognised industry and professional standards supported by relevant courses or certifications.

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

11. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.

12. Contribute to and support an overall communication plan for the training programme/project

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

Desirable Criteria

14. Experience of creating and maintaining records/reports to meet internal and external regulatory/reporting requirements.

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 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 Professor Alex Easton (alexander.easton@durham.ac.uk)

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery/Development

• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Review and look for ways to improve systems and procedures that are relevant to your area of work in line with the University’s frameworks and regulations.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance relating to your professional area of expertise, in line with the University’s policies, regulations and values.
• Manage the delivery of the Interdisciplinary Research Training programmes and processes across the University, and key stakeholders to a high standard.
• Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from staff, students and others who you work with and contribute to ideas and service improvements.
• Provide specialist knowledge and support when interpreting and analysing complex data and information sources.
• Look for ways to evaluate and improve processes, techniques and outputs/results across all areas of your work.
• Identify any learning needs that should be met, and design activities and arrange any training.

Planning and Organisation

• Contribute to operational leadership teams to influence the type and level of services that are provided by your role.
• Contribute to progressing the strategic and operational priorities of your role.
• Seek feedback from staff, students and other key stakeholders so that IAS interdisciplinary research methods training provision is being adapted to meet customer expectations and to plan future requirements.
• Analyse data on the level of service being provided by [your area] to recommend areas for future improvement.
• Meet the development needs of your stakeholders, providing training when required.
• Provide specialist advice to resolve technical problems, plan projects and continually develop and improve the service.
• Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services.

Communication/Liaison

• Provide advice and share guidance with your stakeholders to ensure that the University’s policies, procedures and regulations are complied with.
• Use your operational expertise to lead and participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
• Coordinate and organise committees and other business meetings and deal with any related issues.
• Update policies and procedures in response to any internal or external changes.
• Use your expertise to provide training or guidance to other stakeholders.
• Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills and swap information with peers.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Useful links

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.

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