Continuous Improvement Business Partner

The Role and Department

Durham University has an ambitious strategy that will build on our world-leading research, education, and wider student experience. Over the next ten years we will be investing in our people, estate, and IT infrastructure to ensure that we remain one of the World’s great Universities. Across the University, we are focusing on business improvement activity to ensure that our systems and processes enable our staff to deliver excellent services. 

The Strategy Delivery Unit is focussed on co-ordinating and facilitating the implementation of this ambitious strategy. The Business Improvement Team sits within this unit and its purpose is to ensure that our services are run efficiently and effectively to meet existing and emerging needs, whilst defining the standards for service redesign and change management. 

We are looking for a highly motivated continuous improvement specialist, with outstanding interpersonal skills and a focus on successful implementation. 

The purpose of the role is to deliver service and process improvement activity and reviews to support the operational effectiveness of the University. This includes: the design (in collaboration with the Senior Manager), delivery, organisation and execution of service and process improvement reviews; delivering process workshops, understanding and challenging the as-is model; identifying multiple sources of data to support process and service improvement activity, undertaking analysis and presentation of complex data sets; and facilitating process mapping activities to identify opportunities for improvement.   

We are in an initial phase of building the case for continuous improvement and testing our tools and approaches. The post holder’s main focus will be to act as a process improvement expert supporting a wide range of improvement projects, testing out our approach and contributing to its refinement. You will support the teams work to build change and process capability across the organisation by participating in communities of practice, identifying common themes and sharing best practice. 

You will need to develop quickly an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the University’s structure and processes. You should be able to work collaboratively with members of staff at all levels throughout the University, providing support as well as pro-actively engaging with individuals and groups.

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: 

• 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.  
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year 
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into this University Superannuation Scheme (USS) which the University will add contributions of 21.4%. 
• 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.
• 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. 
• 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).
• 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. 
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. 
• If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

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.