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 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 the Department The Department of Sociology has an outstanding reputation in research and education. We also hold an Athena SWAN silver award and the Department is committed to promoting equality for all within the workplace and creating a diverse, inclusive and supportive working environment. The Department's research strategy is built around five themes: Communities and Social Justice, Health and Social Theory, Higher Education and Social Inequality, Violence and Abuse, and Criminal Justice, Social Harms and Inequalities. We were ranked 4th in the UK for research impact in REF 2021. The department is seeking a project administrator to support the delivery of our Contextual Safeguarding research programme. The programme is delivered by a team of eight researchers, under the leadership of Professor Carlene Firmin, and features a range of projects that research, and aim to improve, how services respond when young people are at risk of harm in contexts beyond their family homes. The programme is having a significant impact on policy and practice development, and the research team require support from a project administrator on tasks that are central to ongoing delivery and dissemination of their work. This role is required to support the research team with: updating the programme website; development and distribution of the monthly programme newsletter; travel and accommodation bookings for fieldwork and dissemination events; managing the general Contextual Safeguarding email address; liaising with finance department regarding payment of invoices, coordinating event and training requests made to the team; and supporting the programme PI with some diary management tasks where required. This is a fixed term externally funded position, working 14 hours per week (0.4fte). The funding is time limited for a duration of 24 months. This role can be delivered in a hybrid fashion, with working from home available. The successful candidate will be expected to work between the hours of 8.30-17:30, and one of these days being a Tuesday, as key team meetings take place on this day. The remaining working pattern can be agreed upon appointment. 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. The University closes between Christmas and New 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 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). • 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. 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. 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, Rebecca Brown would be happy to speak to you on rebecca.browndurham.ac.uk. Typical Role Requirements Service Delivery • Update the programme website under the management of a programme Co-Investigato Develop and distribute of the monthly programme newsletter Undertake and monitor travel and accommodation bookings for fieldwork and dissemination events Monitor the general Contextual Safeguarding email address, responding to basic queries and triaging those that need a response from the wider team Coordinate event and training requests made to the team; and support the programme PI with some diary management tasks where required. • Resolve queries and requests for information and advice and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members. • Liaise with finance team members in regard to payment of invoices • Respond to stakeholder needs to deliver and shape an excellent stakeholder experience. • Deliver support services to ensure the effective and efficient running of business processes and systems. • Analyse data and statistics and provide reports for higher level decision makers. • Accurately record information and data and disseminate within internal networks including committees. • Prepare written reports for consideration by management where required. • Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values. • Help to develop and implement policies and procedures relating to your service area. • Respond to queries and provide information/advice, 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. • Continually review what is required from the team to make sure the best possible service is provided. • Ensure that processes and business systems effectively support the services being delivered by the team • Ensure that data is accurate and provide reports and analysis of patterns and trends to senior colleagues. • Capture and share information and data that needs to be shared with relevant networks and committees. • Use digital media to update team members Planning and Organising • Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement from the project work streams • Organise and schedule assigned resources, activities and events • Monitor processes and activities to ensure team priorities are met. • Analyse work activities to ensure the effective and efficient use of capital and consumable equipment and resources. Teamwork • Act as more knowledgeable team member without responsibility for team members. • Collaborate with team members to implement service alterations. • 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 [students, staff and anyone else that you come across as part of your role] 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. Provide instruction and demonstrations to others within [area of working beyond immediate team]. 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 in other areas, professional organisations and agencies] 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 external [suppliers, contractors, specialists and service providers] to plan the delivery of services and events. • 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 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. 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. Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure to meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality. 3. Relevant administrative experience of working in a busy office environment 4. Experience of providing advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 5. Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally. 6. Strong digital competence with demonstrable skills in using core digital tools including internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking system, project planning. 7. Competency, or willingness to become competent, in making content updates to websites and using dissemination software tools such as Canva and Mailchimp 8. Demonstrable ability to proactively work with team members to ensure the delivery of high quality services. 9. Ability to solve problems yourself and as part of a team and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions. 10. Evidence of personal development to maintain skills 11. Ability to effectively network to share and exchange advice and information for development purposes Desirable Criteria 1. Knowledge of, or interest in, services that support children, young people and/or families