Community Archaeology and Impact Officer

Job Title: Community Archaeology and Impact Officer

Department: Archaeology

Grade: 6    

Salary range: £28,929 - £35,308 per annum

Working arrangements: Full time, 35 hrs per week 

Closing date: 10th March 2023 - midnight

Potential Interview Date: TBC

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 Archaeology at Durham has a world-class teaching and research reputation. We are regularly ranked one of the top five Archaeology departments in the UK and one of the top eight globally. We run fieldwork projects across the world and our staff are passionate about knowledge exchange with stakeholder organisations, communities and the public. Our research and engagement, as well as our teaching, includes a range of community engagement, including fieldwork, training and heritage protection stretching the North East of the UK, to Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Middle East and North Africa. We host a commercial archaeology unit in the Department and have over 70 years of experience of working in the North East region. We have a track record of undertaking community-centred fieldwork, currently including a vibrant field training programme for our students and public participants at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham.

As part of our commitment to communicating our research and furthering our non-academic engagement, training and impact, we are looking to recruit a Community Archaeology and Impact Officer to implement community projects and design, initiate and evaluate a range of activities that facilitate community engagement and knowledge exchange around the Department of Archaeology and Archaeological Services’ portfolio of activities. The post holder will be responsible for working collaboratively with staff across the Department to develop and maximise the societal impact of our research through fieldwork, training, education and engagement linked to a range of UK and international research projects. The successful applicant will bring proven experience of developing and delivering community archaeology projects, facilitating impact of archaeological research, experience of managing and developing web-based and social media platforms, excellent communication skills, experience of public speaking, teamwork and problem-solving skills and a passion for archaeology.

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 – please include or delete if not applicable.    
• 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 the 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 or 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, Tom Moore would be happy to speak to you. t.h.moore@durham.ac.uk

Typical Role Requirements   

•   Co-produce and implement, with staff partners, a programme of fieldwork and training, in the region and internationally, that integrates student and staff with community engagement.
• Liaise with existing and new stakeholders to forge appropriate external partnerships.

• Provide a reactive and proactive service provision, with others, to deliver impact and community engagement suitable for different project needs and audiences.
• Gather and analyse relevant data to measure the reach and significance of impact and engagement work, with particular emphasis on UK Research Excellence Framework metrics.
• Plan and organise own workload within project work streams.
• 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.
• Provide relationship building with external stakeholders and network participation internally and externally to build and update knowledge and skills.
• Supervise service users and stakeholders undertaking activities, events, project work and exhibitions.
• Disseminate content suitable for web-based and social media platforms, as well as that for oral presentations, print media and displays.
• Implement and monitor relevant protocols, procedures, processes and regulations, including university and departmental health and safety, ethics and inclusion protocols.
• Carry out in-depth investigations and research information and data to identify trends and patterns.
• Implement and monitor recognised procedures to ensure compliance and meet University values of inclusion, diversity and participation.
• Contribute to meetings, working groups and committees to help shape service delivery and stakeholder expectations.

• Provide technical guidance and advice to academic stakeholders who wish to participate in community and impact activities in the UK and abroad and support them in delivering research and learning activities within the field of community archaeology;
• Liaise between Durham University Museums and Department of Archaeology on outreach and community based impact projects
• Collaborate in the development of a department strategy for community engagement in liaison with Research Committee, the Department Management Group and Archaeological Services;
• Work with designated individuals on the co-ordination and support of community fieldwork and research project engagement and impact projects across the Department;
• Provide technical guidance and advice to solve problems and help shape the delivery of community and impact activities;
• Carry out a range of activities that includes the commissioning, construction and set-up of practical sessions relevant to community engagement and training in archaeology;
• Support the development of funding bids to support community and impact activities;
• Create, support and manage the development of online content suitable for web-based and social media platforms, as well as that for oral presentations, print media and displays in close co-operation with others and manage digital communications, including web-based communications and social media relevant to community engagement and research impact activities;
• Take responsibility for carrying out  specialised risk assessments and incident resolution connnected to community engagement and outreach;
• Record, monitor and collate information, analyse patterns and trends as part of community-based activities and impact  activities; in-line with UK Research Excellence Framework guidance;
• Contribute to project-based academic and popular publications and convey project outcomes to multiple and diverse audiences via public speaking and popular media;
• Maintain appropriate levels of training in Safeguarding and Health and Safety relevant to the role;
• Manage personal workload effectively, ensuring all project administration is timely.
• Oversight of volunteer programmes/activities across the Department and responsibility for the implementation of Health and Safety and Safeguarding policy with volunteers;

• Occasional travel and overnight stays in the UK
• Potential for occasional overseas project work  

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.