The Role and the Department
The purpose of the role is to provide a professional communication service to various stakeholders including students, their advisers, agents, and University staff. The postholder will influence stakeholder perceptions by positively promoting and marketing the University and the service they offer. They will develop, maintain, and use a Knowledge Base of common enquiry topics, and develop knowledge of Admissions processes and student experience offered by Durham University.
This post requires the holder to represent the University to global audiences and maintain a professional manner in sometimes challenging situations.
Based in the Student and Academic Services Directorate, Student Recruitment and Admissions (SRA) comprises approximately 100 staff and brings together several teams providing services in events, enquiry management, widening access and participation, outreach, schools liaison, CRM campaigns, data analysis and forecasting, systems development, and admissions.
We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where our people feel supported and valued, enabling them to not only succeed but thrive. The opinions and expertise of our teams are welcomed to help shape departmental activities.
SRA provides a critical service to the University in ensuring its financial sustainability, delivering target student numbers and increasing diversity in line with strategic aims and targets. It is the public face of the University in UK schools and colleges, through contact with prospects, enquirers and applicants across the world, and through our events programme. The department includes a range of professionals from a number of specialisms including administrators, decision makers, data analysts and forecasters, IT specialists, designers and marketers, events managers and recruiters. Teams work collaboratively, using the expertise across the department to jointly deliver the optimum service to our internal and external customers. The department is also responsible for adherence to requisite regulations and UCAS contract requirements.
SRA works in collaboration with colleagues across the University, most notably with the Marketing Team (Marketing and Communications) to develop pre-contact and conversion marketing campaigns, the International Office for international student recruitment and Strategic Planning and Insight in managing numbers. It also works alongside academic departments, faculties and colleges in the development of their contributions to recruitment, conversion and admissions activity. SRA also provides domestic market insight and customer relationship management. Current students are closely involved in the delivery of some of our recruitment, conversion, widening access and participation activity.
Holly Chatbot, an AI Assistant developed by Student Recruitment and Admissions with colleagues in Computer and Information Services and an external company (ICS.AI) was shortlisted for the .
SRA has adopted a hybrid working model, with staff currently working a minimum of 40% of their time per week on-campus or attending external events, and for the rest of their working time having the option of working from home.
Staff leave is not permitted during the week that JCQ results are published (that date in 2024 is week commencing 12 August) and on occasional days through the year when major recruitment events are delivered, such as open days.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .