Information Services Manager

Job Title:  Information Services Manager       
Department:   Careers & Enterprise    
Grade: Grade 7 
Salary range: £35,333 to £42,155       
Working arrangements: Nominal 35 hours per week  
Closing date:          
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. 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

Careers & Enterprise sits within the Education Division, which is headed by the Pro Vice Chancellor for Education, and is part of the University’s developmental approach to ensuring effective student engagement, achievement and positive progression.

The Careers & Enterprise (C&E) Centre is a dynamic and developing team, operating across the university through subject departments, colleges, societies and industry facing initiatives to support the development and progression needs of students.  It aims to help them meet the challenges and opportunities of the constantly developing employment market, and become the leaders and innovators of the near future.

The Information Services Manager has responsibility for the strategic development, direction and provision of careers information, communication and support to meet student/graduate, careers practitioner and broader university staff needs. 

Reporting to the Senior Digital Services Manager the Information Services Manager works collaboratively with the Data and Systems Manager to drive the departments digital transformation agenda.  The post also directly line manages 2.5 FTE positions.

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

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 the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
•    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  

1.    Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally, particularly when leading on, commissioning and finalising information provision.

2.    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.

3.    Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).  

4.    Proven/extensive information management / library experience with knowledge and expertise used to contribute to the delivery and development of services, events and activities within the organisation. 

5.    Proven ability to identify, design and produce resources and information/learning materials for publication and use in a variety of contexts including online/web provision, with strong attention to detail.

6.    Ability to plan and manage own workload and able to manage competing demands, including multitasking in a pressured client facing environment.

7.    Experience of planning and leading projects with multiple stakeholders that realise their intended benefits.

8.    Experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.   

9.    Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines (e.g., Data Protection, Copyright, etc.).    

10.    Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.   

11.    Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence perceptions of the University.   

12.    Experience of managing and developing a team or teams and/or line management qualification. 

13.    Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.  

14.    Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.

Desirable Criteria

1. A professional qualification in Information Management / Library

2. Experience of working in an HE institution.

3. Awareness and understanding of the graduate labour market and the needs of a diverse student body.

4. Experience of marketing products and services.

Specific role requirements

1. Occasional evening and weekend work, as required.

2. Willingness and ability to travel to other locations (e.g. other universities/employers/opportunity providers) with occasional overnight stay.

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: and   
•    A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification and which Desirable criteria you meet.     
 
Contact details   
  
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Donna Hay, Interim Co-Director of Careers & Enterprise Service, [email protected]. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.  

Further information about the role

Typical Role Requirements

   
Service Delivery

• Provide management for the operation of a hybrid Information Services function. 
• Develop, maintain and deliver information services support to students/graduates, stakeholders and C&E staff, including the innovative use of technology and online content reflecting stakeholder needs and graduate recruitment practice.
• Co-ordination of, and contribution to, effective and efficient service responses to student and stakeholder enquiries (using diagnostic techniques to help stakeholders make effective use of C&E information and support, and research activity where appropriate.
• Manage of a portfolio of digital information products and lead on the selection and adoption of best-in-class digital products.
• Develop and contribute to department work around the user experience and user journeys in order to improve engagement with the service.
• Lead and co-ordinate the identification and production of accessible information and learning materials designed to meet diverse student/stakeholder career planning, development and information needs across all media and support activity, but most notably online and information room provision, all in response to continuously developing labour markets and recruitment practices.
• Coordination and storage/retrieval of information to facilitate accessibility
• Provide input to the design and development of service processes, techniques and deliverables for one or more service areas or projects.  
• Responsible for managing small budgets for consumables and some capital items, keeping records and processing invoices.
• Deliver support elements of the wider student experience.  
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.

Planning and Organisation

• Manage Information Service operational activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.  to the analysis of stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements, inputting to the design and planning of services. 
• Develop, modify and optimise service protocols and methodologies. 
• Contribute to the production and analysis of statistical service metrics to identify successful delivery and areas for future improvement. 
• Implement continuous service improvements to enhance the delivery of stakeholder services. 
• Contribute to the analysis of stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements, inputting to the design and planning of services. 

Teamwork and Team Development

• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR and performance reviews. 
• Handle the vast majority of welfare issues within a team, referring more complex welfare issues to appropriate support services/senior management. 
• Delivery of ongoing coaching, mentoring and training to team members. 
• Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development. 

Communications/Networking/Stakeholders

• Manage the delivery of key service information to all stakeholders, working with other staff to ensure the effective marketing and communication of Information Services and broader team activities.
• Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation. 
• Contribute to business meetings, working groups and sub committees at departmental and operational service levels. 
• Participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working internally and externally. 
• Network and engage with external and internal stakeholders to gather feedback and identify future service needs, to ensure excellence in service provision. 
• Responsible for developing and planning the use of social media for the C&E centre, and for marketing careers services to raise awareness of provision through promotional activities.

Knowledge and Experience
   

• Professional information management/library manager and/or service specialist, with responsibility for the management of team members.
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access. 
• 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.