Classics for All Coordinator

Department of Classics & Ancient History

Grade 5: - £24,285 - £25,642 per annum (pro rata)
Fixed Term - Part Time Term Time Only (12 Months)
Contract Duration: 12 months; post renewal subject to funding
Contracted Hours per Week: 12
Closing Date: 28-Nov-2022, 7:59:00 AM

Job Title: Classics for All Coordinator   
Department: Classics and Ancient History
Grade: Grade 5
Salary range: £24,285 - £25,642 per annum (pro-rata)   
Working arrangements:   12 hours per week; flexible working conditions can be discussed

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 

The Department of Classics and Ancient History is part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (ranked 13th in the world in the QS 2022 world rankings).

The Department of Classics and Ancient History is one of the very best in the UK, and indeed worldwide, with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching and research. We were ranked fourth in the last national research evaluation (REF2021). We attract large numbers of exceptionally talented undergraduate, MA and doctoral students, and we focus on high quality research-led teaching. The department delivers very high levels of overall student satisfaction. In student-facing guides and league tables we are regularly ranked among the top three Classics departments in the UK.

Classics for All (CfA) is a small national charity founded in 2009 to reverse the decline in the teaching of classical subjects in state primary and secondary schools. We aim to ignite the imaginations and raise the aspirations of young people through introducing them to the ancient world.  Whether it is through myths and legends, archaeology or Latin, we bring the past to life for pupils of all abilities and backgrounds, many from schools in areas of socio-economic disadvantage.  Since 2010, demand for our work has surged as more teachers recognise the benefits of classics for developing pupils’ literacy and cultural awareness.  By 2021 we had reached 1,000 schools, 4,400 teachers and over 150,000 young people, with rising numbers inspired to study a classical subject at university. To meet growing demand and to ensure that we can provide targeted local support to schools, we have set up 14 regional networks across the UK. We are excited about the prospect of establishing a new network in partnership with the Department of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University.

The Classics for All North East Hub Administrator role is an exciting role designed to extend and enhance our outreach and engagement work with a range of stakeholders.  The key purpose of the role will be to coordinate and deliver teaching related Classics activities for teachers and learners in primary and secondary education.

This will be done under the supervision of, and in liaison with, members of academic staff in the Department of Classics and Ancient History.

Core responsibilities:

• Experienced service practitioner, planning and co-ordinating of projects and work streams with inter-related activities.
• Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement with project work streams.
• Specialist support with problem solving and query handling.
• Reactive and proactive service provision with others to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience.
• Relationship building, network participation internally and externally to build and update knowledge and skills.
• Engage with external peers and specialists to exchange knowledge and information.
• Supervises service users and stakeholders undertaking activities, events, project work and exhibitions.
• Interpret, curate, design and present artefacts, information, data, equipment and resources.
• Implement and monitor protocols, procedures, processes and regulations.
• Monitor and report incidents.
• Carry out more in-depth investigations, searches and research information and data to identify trends and patterns.
• Take responsibility for day to day decision making within own area of responsibility for operational aspects of service delivery, translating external requirements into practical application and advice.
• Implement and monitor recognised procedures to ensure compliance and meet University values of inclusion, diversity and participation.
• Contribute to business meetings, working groups and committees to help shape service delivery and stakeholder expectations.
• Accountable for managing/maintaining financial and budget records and reconciling consumable expenditure queries.
• Involved in the purchase and return of goods and services.
• Support the capture of business requirements from users and work with colleagues to translate these into recommendations for future service provision.

Role responsibilities:

• Manage and organise schools liaison processes, activities, events, and resources, to achieve defined targets and outcomes
• Act as a recognised point of contact between the University and key internal and external stakeholders, including schools, colleges, donors and employers.
• Manage frontline stakeholder services in a variety of different buildings and environments and outlets across the University.
• Carry out internal and external presentations and public relations events promoting the Durham reputation, and encouraging participation and income generation.
• Gather, record and analyse customer feedback from all service users.
• Identify potential service improvements, make recommendations.
• Develop, plan and deliver events and activities for students, staff and visitors.
• Responsible for curating the set-up, order, display and information pertinent to the service area and / or activity. 
• Work with other functional areas and families across the University to ensure the most diverse and accessible promotion of services, events and activities.
• Ensure the safety and security of service and public areas, responding to incidents and providing reports.
• Act as first point of contact for student welfare issues where required. (In this context, students will include teachers and learners in primary and secondary education).
• Promote the case for Classics in regional primary and secondary school, and identify schools interested in introducing Classical subjects (especially in areas of socio-economic disadvantage
• To identify schools training and enrichment needs and work with the Department and CfA to address them
• To organise training, CPD and enrichment activities for schools taking up the teaching of Classical subjects with input from the University/ CfA where appropriate. 
• To offer ongoing opportunities for schools and pupils to share ideas and approaches to best practice 
• Under the supervision of, and in liaison with, members of academic staff, build links between regional schools, other stakeholders and the University’s widening access and participation programme through enrichment activity.
• To agree, with the member of academic staff responsible and CfA an annual work plan with key purposes, activities and proposed outcomes. 
• To provide individual advice/support to school contacts.
• Where contacts require more in-depth academic support or pastoral care, to refer them on to an appropriate person.
• To undertake organisational and administrative tasks directly related to activities, including the maintenance of data on schools, pupil numbers and training.
• To review the outcomes of activities through an annual report on activities against agreed targets for submission to CfA. 
• To maintain academic standards and work in accordance with university policies (e.g. regarding equality of opportunity, health and safety, safeguarding).
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

The duties of the post will sometimes include evening and weekend work.

Candidates must demonstrate an ability to work with young people by submitting to an Enhanced Disclosure check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB).
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 children’s clubs in the summer holidays. 
• 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, inclusion and values

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 asterix* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.   

Your application should cover the following criteria:

Essential Criteria

Desirable Criteria

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 criteria within the Person Specification  

Contact details

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Professor Jennifer Ingleheart, would be happy to speak to you. [email protected]

Interviews are anticipated to take place week commencing 12 December 2022.

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 https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/  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.

DBS Requirement: Please note that the succesful applicant will require DBS disclosure.