Northern Accelerator Administrator

Job description

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

The Role and the Department

Durham University is lead partner for Northern Accelerator, an ambitious research commercialisation initiative involving Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside and York Universities. The core delivery team are based in Durham's Research and Innovation Services (RIS) department, which provides guidance, expert advice and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related work, including undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, and commercialising outputs.

Northern Accelerator provides support that accelerates and enhances commercialisation and knowledge exchange outcomes (specifically including spinout creation), that are based on research undertaken at our partner universities. It has helped deliver a step-change in spinout activity - in support of individual institutional strategies as well as the local strategic economic plans of the relevant Combined authorities and the Government's UK Innovation Strategy. We have secured funding from Research England's CCF-RED Fund to pilot a range of activity that complements and enhances Northern Accelerator's established offer.

The role holder will:

• Manage the day to day administrative requirements of Northern Accelerator;

• Maintain and update appropriate recording systems and ensuring that all documents are filed in a timely and appropriate manner;

• Provide secretariat support for key meetings, including scheduling and minute taking; and

• Support event and marketing delivery.

The role holder will work as a key member of a small delivery team that engages with colleagues from across the university partnership. There will be scope for flexible and hybrid working arrangements to be agreed.

Please note that this role is being advertised as a fixed term position, aligning with the end of our current CCF-RED funded pilot project. If it proves successful our intention is to seek to secure funding to continue these network activities, alongside other elements of the Northern Accelerator model.

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:

• 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 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).
• 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.

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. Five GCSE's at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent experience.
2. Experience of working in a busy office environment delivering front line administrative services or having relevant qualifications for the role.
3. Experience of financial administration
4. Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
5. Good spoken and written communication skills.
6. Good interpersonal and team working skills
7. Good digital skills including experience in using digital devices and apps including email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications (particularly Excel and Word), digital booking systems.
8. Ability to organise and prioritise workload.
9. Attention to detail
10. Ability to solve problems and resolve straightforward issues yourself and as part of a team.
11. Ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of colleagues and partners.
12. Ability to understand and maintain confidentiality when required.
13. Committed to continuing professional development.

Desirable Criteria

14. Experience of providing administrative support in a Higher Education environment.
15. Experience of working on externally funded project.
16. A basic understanding of research commercialisation/technology transfer

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 covering letter which shows examples of how you meet all of the essential (and where possible the desirable) criteria within the Person Specification and states why you have applied for the role.

Contact details
If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role please contact Edwin Milligan, Northern Accelerator Senior Manager ([email protected]) in the first instance. All enquiries will be treated confidentially.

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery
• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values.
• Provide an excellent and timely service to our colleagues, delivery partners and stakeholders.
• Use your experience and problem-solving skills to resolve routine issues with things relevant to your role such as financial processing queries and provide information and updates to help your team find solutions.
• Collect, organise and record data and information accurately, checking and reconciling anomalies and providing reports as required.
• Promote positive wellbeing arrangements which benefit you and your team.
• When carrying out your role, use and apply relevant professional and regulatory standards e.g. data protection when managing data.
• Use standard office-based devices and applications such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and PowerPoint to deliver services.
• Update guidance on standard operating procedures followed by the team.
• Arrange meeting, events, venues and travel arrangements support service delivery.

Teamwork
• Resolve queries and respond to requests for information and advice and bring any complex issues to the attention of more experienced team members.
• Help your team organise and provide administrative services that support key activities undertaken by Northern Accelerator and contribute to team planning activities.
• Help your team ensure that products and services are adapted in response to feedback and to meet changing demands.

Communication/Liaison
• Seek feedback from colleagues, delivery partners and stakeholders on their requirements from your service to ensure that their reasonable expectations are being met.
• Record information and respond to queries which you receive, including preparing records for reporting and financial audit.
• Liaise with colleagues, delivery partners and stakeholders to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way.
• Liaise with external suppliers and providers to plan the delivery of services and events.
• Provide support for meetings, working groups and committees, such preparing and sending documents for meetings, drafting reports and taking minutes.

• Any other reasonable duties.

Useful links
If you would like further information about Northern Accelerator you may find the website and our Digital showcase helpful
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.