Internal Only - Confucius Institute Manager

12535BR

School of Modern Languages

Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS

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This post is currently open to employees of Cardiff University only.  Please do not apply if you do not have a current contract of employment with the University.

Internal Only - Confucius Institute Manager
School of Modern Languages

The School of Modern Languages is seeking a Confucius Institute Manager. The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring the effective daily operational management of the Institute, in compliance with School, University and Chinese International Education Foundation policies, liaising closely with relevant university staff on those matters managed centrally.

The post is part-time (28 hours per week) and is fixed term until 30 September 2022 covering a secondment.

Salary: £34,304 - £40,927 per annum, pro rata for hours worked (Grade 6) 

For informal enquiries about the vacancy please contact the School Manager Helen Walker, [email protected] 

Closing date: Friday, 24 September 2021

External applications are currently not being considered for this post.  If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply – please check back periodically for details.

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

Key Duties

To prepare the annual budget with the Directors of the Cardiff Confucius Institute (CI) and monitor the budget on a monthly budget.

To  support the Directors of the Cardiff CI in translating and implementing the Institute's strategic plans and work packages, ensuring that all approved projects are fully planned, resourced and implemented.

To manage the provision of accurate, timely, regular and ad-hoc data and management information reports including regular Project Reports, End of Year Returns and New Annual Project Proposals toChinese the International Education Foundation , the CI Board and to other collaborative and fund-providing partners including British Council Wales and the Welsh Government.

To contribute to the management and maintenance of the strong partnership between Cardiff University and Xiamen University and to ensure that the outputs of Cardiff CI are in line with the aims and objectives of the CI by approval of the CI Board.

To liaise with external partners and collaborative organisations to develop existing and new project initiatives; to act as a University link on matters related to the Cardiff CI with the Welsh Government, Cardiff City Council and British Council Wales.

To line manage the staff within the Confucius Institute, supporting them in the effective execution of their roles by providing appropriate pastoral and welfare support as and when required; conducting annual Professional Development Reviews and planning, organising, evaluating, recording (where applicable) of training activities, ensuring that learning outcomes are discussed and transferred to the workplace.

To deputise, as appropriate for the Cardiff CI Executive Director as and when required.

To promote effective communication channels, both informally and formally, throughout Cardiff CI and with other teams in the School and across the University.

To manage and maintain the Cardiff CI web pages. To represent Cardiff CI on working groups and committees as appropriate.

To undertake continuous professional development, acquiring and refining skills and expertise in new or related areas, and to engage with the annual appraisal process and other performance review activities as appropriate.

To ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.

To ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in respect of equality and diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other University policies, procedures and codes as appropriate.

To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, EC directives and the University’s Safety, Health and Environment Policies and procedures and to cooperate with the University on any legal duties placed on it as the employer

To perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Our Person Specification is split into 2 sections: essential and desirable.  Please demonstrate clearly how you meet all of the essential criteria.  Where possible you should give examples of how, when and where you have used your experience, knowledge, specific skills and abilities to match those required for this particular job role.

Please ensure that you communicate this fully by creating a supporting statement document, listing all of the criteria and commenting against each one as to how you meet them.  This will need to be completed before you begin making your application on line as you will be required to upload it.  

When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you put your name and the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for NAME XXXXBR.’

The desirable section contains a list of skills, qualifications and experience that it would be beneficial for the jobholder to have.

All short-listing decisions will be based initially on essential criteria, with desirable being used to further select or deselect candidates as appropriate.  

We interview those candidates who are the closest match to the identified criteria.

Essential Criteria 

1.    Degree/NVQ 6 or equivalent Professional membership/experience., or significant experience in a similar role.

2.    Evident excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to receive, understand, analyse and convey information in a clear, effective and accurate manner, in both oral and written form, including writing briefing papers and update reports.

3.    Excellent organisational skills and ability to effectively manage and prioritise own workload as well as the work of a section over year plus time scales, reacting to changes in workload and strategic direction of the section.

4.    Relevant experience of planning and monitoring budgets.

5.    Evidence of ability to research and solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solution.

6.    Relevant experience of managing staff.

7.    A good understanding of project management tools and techniques, alongside experience of managing and delivering projects to agreed timescales and budgets, and managing staff in relation to such projects.

8.    Relevant experience of liaising with and building strong working relationships with multiple stakeholders, and of negotiating with a broad range of organisations and partners to agree project initiatives and delivery of activities.

9.    Experience of providing management information, briefings, updates and reports.

10.    Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional travel within Wales and internationally which will require early starts or late finishes. The role holder will be required to hold a full driving licence for this purpose.

Note – due to COVID and travel restrictions, this may not be required during the period of this contract, but may be required if the post holder remains in post past the current end date

Desirable Criteria 

1.    A demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the Confucius Institute Programme, Chinese International Education Foundation and China.

2.    Experience of working on a Welsh Government and/or British Council funded project.

3.    Experience of working with Hanban and/or the Chinese Embassy.

4.    A recognised Project Management qualification.

Job Category

Management & Executive