EDI+ Administrative Assistant

Job Title:  EDI+Administrative Assistant
Department:    Anthropology     
Grade: Grade 5 
Salary range:    £24,285 -£27,929 per annum
Working arrangements: Full time/ Fixed Term 
Closing date: 7th November 2022
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 role is to be assistant to the project manager for the EPSRC-funded network for EDI in the Energy Research Community, ‘EDI+’. The vision for the EDI+ network is to acknowledge and address key challenges and equip a cohort of researchers and their organisations to make lasting changes towards a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible research community. This will have impact beyond the academy and set a precedent, offering the means to tailor EDI action among the diverse organisations participating in energy research. The network takes the form of a fellowship programme, which will recruit EDI champions from diverse energy research institutions; train them in EDI issues, research methods for analysing organisational contexts, how to make organisational changes, and how to implement and evaluate plans of action; and supports them to publish their results. All fellows will have the support of a named senior executive of their organisation, all of whom will engage in cross-institutional reciprocal mentoring to embed learning and change in the institutional context. The 'fellows' will form a mutually supportive network that should endure beyond the life of the funding scheme. EPSRC funded fellows will be complemented by industry- and government- funded fellows to expand the network beyond the funded call, and with the establishment of an alumni network, will offer the potential for the network to endure beyond the funding period.

Selected training events will be open to the wider energy research community, who will also have access to a toolkit on EDI actions in context and all other network publications. Additional impact activities will include workshops and presentations to coincide with existing conference and research events, to maximise the reach of the network. Findings will be shared and promoted through a 'network of networks' approach across the energy research community nationally, and internationally.

The Administrative Assistant will work closely with the project manager in supporting the coordination of multiple work strands across the project to meet funding objectives. The administrator will prepare and distribute written materials to support the workstrands, such as registration documents, evaluation forms and publicity materials in written and electronic format. The ability to manipulate data and produce high quality reports and dashboards to monitor and report on progress is essential.

The postholder will be a highly organised, excellent communicator with administrative experience. An interest in, and knowledge about equality, diversity and inclusion is essential.

The post will sit within the department of Anthropology at Durham, and will be associated with the Durham Energy Institute. The postholder will work across departments and faculties for the benefit of the project.  

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.  
•    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   
   
1.    Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.   
2.    Strong digital competence with demonstrable skills in using core digital tools including internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking system, project planning. 
3.    Five GCSE’s at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent experience).    
4.    Evidence of personal development to maintain skills.   
5.    Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience.   
6.    Relevant administrative experience in a busy office environment.    
7.    Demonstrable ability to proactively work with team members to ensure the delivery of high quality services.   
8.    Demonstrable ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues.   
9.    Experience of working on the front line with service delivery, and the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.  
10.    Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.   
11.    Ability to effectively network and exchange advice and information for development purposes.     

Desirable Criteria

12. Awareness of EDI guidance and training practices
13. Event management experience

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 supporting statement which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification  

• Optional - covering letter

Contact details 
If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role Prof Simone Abram would be happy to speak to you: [email protected]

 
Service Delivery

•    Resolve queries and requests for information and advice and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members. 
•    Respond to stakeholder needs to deliver and shape an excellent stakeholder experience. 
•    Deliver support services to ensure the effective and efficient running of business processes and systems. 
•    Monitor and evaluate service delivery to ensure compliance with regulatory and professional procedures and standards. 
•    Monitor data accuracy checks to identify anomalies and ensure the integrity of data and information. 
•    Update data and information on systems and media for recording, storing, communicating and informing service users and team members. 
•    Analyse data and statistics and provide reports for higher level decision makers. 
•    Accurately record information and data and disseminate within internal networks including committees. 
•    Prepare written reports for consideration by management where required.
•    A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.

Planning and Organising

•    Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement with project work streams. 
•    Organise and schedule resources, activities and events. 
•    Identify priorities and monitor processes and activities to ensure success. 
•    Analyse work activities to ensure the effective and efficient use of capital and consumable equipment and resources. 

Teamwork

•    Act as more knowledgeable team member without responsibility for team members. 
•    Collaborate with team members to implement service alterations. 
•    Support the capture of business requirements from users and work with colleagues to translate these into recommendations for future service provision. 
•    Provide training to team members on data handling and recording. 

Communication/Networking

•    Collaborate with colleagues across professional and administrative areas to ensure seamless service provision. 
•    Contribute to collaborative decision making within the team with service provision to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience in accordance with policy and procedures.  
•    Work collaboratively across the organisation and/or externally with colleagues and stakeholders to deliver a service. 
•    Provide guidance and advice to resolve problems and queries for a broad range of service users. 
•    Provide demonstrations and instruction to others outside the team. 
•    Liaise with contacts and participate in networks and communities internally and possibly externally, contributing to effective collaborative working. 
•    Advise others and make recommendations into work processes and procedures for consideration by senior management to improve services. 
•    Work with internal and external partners to deliver cross-functional administrative, business and financial work streams. 
•    Work with internal and external partners to deliver cross-functional services and activities. 

Knowledge and Experience
 
•    Apply theory and practice, from academic and professional development and previous knowledge within a service team. 
•    Provide more in-depth independent research and analysis activities within the role. 
•    Contribute to the development and implementation of policy and procedures within own area of working.  

•    Any other reasonable duties. 

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