Department Manager

Job Title:         Department Manager
Department:         Anthropology
Grade: Grade 8 
Salary range:        £43,414-£51,805
Working arrangements: 

Full time, 35h per week. The Anthropology Department supports flexible and hybrid working.

Closing date:        30 September

Potential interview date:    12 October
 
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. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.  
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.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here

The Role and Department
 

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

The Department of Anthropology at Durham University is one of the very best anthropology departments in the UK with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. We are 29th  in the QS World Rankings, 4th  in the Complete University Guide, and one of the UK’s top five anthropology departments for graduate prospects. The Department of Anthropology has a vibrant research culture with many visitors, seminars, global conferences and workshops, and is set to grow significantly over the next ten years. Our undergraduate and graduate degree programmes have very high-quality students. Each year, we welcome over 100 undergraduate students onto our single honours programmes and ~30 students onto our joint honours degrees with the Department of Archaeology, Department of Sociology and Department of Psychology. Our postgraduate taught degrees attract ~50 students from around the world each year, and we have a postgraduate research student community of ~75, again with substantial international representation. We aim to provide a supportive and friendly environment with a strong sense of community. Currently there are more than 40 permanent members of academic staff, conducting world class excellent research in Evolutionary Anthropology, Social Anthropology and the Anthropology of Health.

The Department Manager role requires an excellent all-rounder with the ability to:

• Work at a strategic level but with an operational focus to support the development and implementation of department strategy in learning and teaching and research.
• Lead and manage the departmental professional services team both in business as usual and also in ensuring responsiveness to change, maximising administrative capacity to deliver departmental strategy.
• Act as a key channel of communication between academic staff and professional services staff, both within the department and across all academic, College and other professional services departments.

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.  
•    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. 

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  

•    Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.  
•    Excellent digital competence with demonstrable skills in using core digital tools including internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking system, project planning, financial systems, recruitment tools 
•    Five GCSE’s at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent experience).  
•    Post-16 qualification (or equivalent experience).   
•    Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).  
•    Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise used to influence events and activities within the organisation.    
•    Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.  
•    Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.    
•    Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.  
•    Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.  
•    Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence perceptions of the University.  
•    Track record of management and development experience and/or an enhanced management qualification applied across a large service team or teams.

Desirable

• Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence perceptions of the University.
• Track record of management and development experience and/or an enhanced management qualification applied across a large service team or teams.

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. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.  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 throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.
  
What you need to submit   

•    A CV: 
•   A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out in the essential and desirable criteria.

A Word document, with examples of how you satisfy the person specification.  Please ensure you give detailed examples of how you meet these criteria.
 

 
Contact details   
  
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Prof Jamie Tehrani, Head of Department ([email protected]) 

Typical Role Requirements 

Hiring Managers  - If you would prefer you can move this to further up the document but we find candidates are keen to have an overview of the role, the benefits and what is required for them to apply.  We have therefore moved it to the bottom. The responsibilities are also scored by the Reward Team as part of the grading process.  It is important that you spend some time contextualising the responsibilities, but please highlight these changes in a new colour. Please feel free to add specific criteria although make it clear what you have added. The headings are to help the candidates and you can change them and/or move the bullet points around accordingly to best fit each category/heading.

Service Delivery
•    Lead on the design, implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures and systems to ensure effective working and continuous improvement. 
•    Ensure all activities, processes and transactions are accounted for accurately and promptly to meet regulatory and professional service and policy standards. 
•    Implement processes to manage the integrity and security of all commercially and professionally sensitive and personal data. 
•    Responsible for allocating and monitoring financial budgets and resources. 
•    Manage quality and regulatory audit process for student and staff services over-arching systems and procedures. 
•    Produce communications for promotion and reporting purposes, designing and structuring information and fact, applying creative and innovative principles to influence and engage.  
•    A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.

Planning and Organising
•    Contribute to the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level. 
•    Maintain an oversight of the service and performance metrics to provide reports for higher level managers and committees. 

Teamwork and Team Development
•    Manage and develop service, infrastructure and people performance across one or more teams. 
•    Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development. 
•    Ensure all stakeholder-facing staff provide an accessible, friendly and professional service by shaping processes for inducting and developing staff. 
•    Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR and performance reviews. 
•    Recruit, induct, train and develop new team members. 
•    Help to shape the skills and expertise of future team members and design work structures to meet operational and strategic goals. 
•    Handle the vast majority of HR issues within a team, referring more complex HR issues to appropriate support services/senior management. 

Communication/Networking
•    Liaise and engage with key stakeholders and internal and external contractors to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services. 
•    Lead internal business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at operational service level to influence governance, organisational policy and standards for the service. 
•    Analyse stakeholder feedback, implementing and reviewing service provision. 
•    Work with team members and stakeholders to build and maintain excellent working relationships. 
•    Provide professional guidance to stakeholders regarding welfare, employment and wellbeing. 

Knowledge and Experience
•    Provide expert professional subject and/or managerial and leadership expertise. 
•    Promote and develop a deep understanding of organisational policy and external developments. 
•    Deliver professional expertise with investigative and service methodologies, make recommendations and identify priorities to achieve business outcomes and objectives. 
•    Represent the service and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations at conferences. 
•    Develop external relations, identify and develop opportunities for communities of practice, employers, alumni and donors via extra-curricular activities and increased levels of participation. 

•    Any other reasonable duties. 

Useful links

If you would like further information about the department you may find the following will help

Anthropology - Durham University
  
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.