Learning & Teaching Manager

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

Dynamic and vibrant, Durham University Business School is one of Durham University’s four Faculties and is comprised of four research-intensive departments: Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Management and Marketing.  Known for its global reputation, its impact on policy and practice and its strong focus on ethics, responsibility and sustainability, the School aims to be a leading European business school with a strong global presence by 2027.  

The School currently has 180 academic and teaching staff, with plans and resource commitments to grow to 230 by 2027.  The School has a high-quality portfolio of programmes at undergraduate, masters and doctoral level, across all subject areas.  The school’s student population is around 4000, across undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes, attracting a talented and diverse student intake (with over 130 nationalities). 

Our vision is to lead business thought and practice to improve global wealth and well-being. Our associated mission is to create, share and use knowledge to deliver equitable and sustainable futures around the world. We pursue this mission by advancing world changing knowledge and securing global impact through increasingly collaborative research across disciplines and around the world. Further information on the School can be found at http://www.dur.ac.uk/business/. 

This is a new role to support the development and delivery of Executive Education programmes for external companies, including those linked to the Senior Leader Apprenticeship and Postgraduate Certificate in Senior Leadership Development, tailored programmes for Industry partners and a series of open programmes.
  
The role will involve extensive internal and external relationship development and partnership working with client companies, course participants, regulatory bodies and university academic and professional services colleagues.   This will include oversight of the efficient processing and reporting of data to the Digital Apprenticeship Service, in compliance with ESFA standard policies and funding regulations, and liaison with the independent End Point Assessment organisation (e.g. Chartered Management Institute). The Learning & Teaching Manager will work towards enhancing the quality of new and existing programmes, contributing towards reviews and evaluation for the purposes of continual improvement. They will work with colleagues to inform planning and developments in line with strategy and mission statements, implementing new programmes and initiatives. 
  
The Learning & Teaching Manager will manage a team of professional service staff, ensuring the provision of an efficient administrative service, supporting a wide range of teaching, learning and assessment activities from the point of student enrolment through to graduation, ensuring the student experience is at the forefront of delivery. 
  
The post holder will provide student support including resolving queries and providing information on academic and welfare related issues, making referrals to other staff, teams and services where appropriate, escalating more specialist and complex queries or issues, as required.

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.

Working Arrangements
At Durham we recognise that our staff and students are our greatest asset, and we want to support the health and wellbeing of all.  Hybrid working supports this ethos and provides many benefits to our colleagues, including empowering people, where their role allows, to work in a manner which is more suitable for them, whilst encouraging our commitment to environmental sustainability.

Depending on the needs of the business and the job role, Durham University is utilising hybrid working for all Professional Services colleagues in the academic year 2023/2024, which may include the opportunity to work both on and off campus and to flex working hours.  If appointed to the post, your line-manager will discuss the specific arrangements with you.  Any hybrid arrangements are non-contractual and may change.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

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 asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.    
  
Your application should cover the following criteria:

Essential Criteria

Qualifications/Experience
1.    Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
2.    Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise used to contribute to the delivery and development of services, events, and activities within the organisation.
3.    Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements. 
4.    Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
5.    Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
6.    Experience of managing and developing a team or teams and/or line management qualification. 
7.    Proven project management, planning and organisational experience. 

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
8.    Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
9.    Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking system, project planning, financial systems, and the capacity to engage with technical aspects of specific areas of concern.
10.    Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
11.    Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
12.    Ability to negotiate successfully towards optimal solutions. 
13.    A capacity to synthesise complex ideas and to analyse procedures and requirements with meticulous attention to detail. 
14.    Ability to anticipate and analyse problems and propose workable solutions. 
15.    Excellent organisational skills, combined with the ability to act calmly and complete tasks when working under pressure. 
 
Desirable Criteria

16.    A postgraduate qualification. 
17.    Experience of managing programmes.at Senior /Masters level 
18.    Experience of working in a higher education environment. 
19.    Experience of working in a multicultural environment 
20.    Capacity to think strategically.

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 essential criteria within the Person Specification.    

Contact details   
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Claire Ketley ([email protected]).  

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery/Development
•    Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
•    Review and look for ways to improve systems and procedures that are relevant to your area of work in line with the University’s frameworks and Regulations.
•    Manage the delivery of operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.
•    Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from staff, students and others who you work with and contribute to ideas and service improvements.
•    Work with your team to look for ways to improve accreditation of programmes, e.g. participating in the annual review of taught programmes, managing the curriculum review process, across all areas of your work.
•    Provide management for all aspects of programme delivery and/or processes ensuring a high quality and timely service to all stakeholders, including prospective, existing and past students, external organisations and staff, ensuring that robust and secure systems are in place to ensure programme delivery to the highest standards, whilst meeting appropriate deadlines. 
•    Experienced manager with responsibility for the management of a complex teaching and learning environment or high level of experience and in depth knowledge of Durham University teaching and learning environment . 
•    Provide high level support in the Executive Education department. 
•    Oversee the process for student engagement, dealing with complaints and complex issues, with referral and signposting to University services where appropriate. 
•    Oversee and support the delivery of open events, promotional activity, and visits. 

Planning and Organisation
•    Manage the delivery of operational activities carried out by the Executive Education team which you are responsible for.
•    Analyse and evaluate student and organisation feedback and provide reports and statistical data to Senior Management, identifying areas for improvement and making recommendations to inform future strategy. 
•    Anticipate changes in the needs of the students and organisations and ensure that support mechanisms are established, maintained and developed to meet and manage student expectations. 
•    Manage specific projects to develop and enhance teaching and learning activities within Executive Education. 
•    Contribute to strategic projects and initiatives, working with colleagues to inform planning and developments in line with the Executive Education strategy and mission statement. 
•    Maintain awareness of the external environment and sector best practice to support high quality services.  

Team Development
•    Manage and monitor the performance, workload, expected outcomes and/or Staff, planning cover to ensure smooth service provision through peaks and troughs.
•    Ensure that your team can deliver the required services and encourage skill development by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members.
•    Carry out regular team and individual performance reviews conducting regular staff ADR, to provide feedback on objectives and expectations, identify any development needs and deal with performance management issues.
•    Lead the team and the HR lifecycle, including recruitment/induction, and ensure that your team continues to develop by coaching and mentoring team members and delivering any training needs.
•    Support the welfare and wellbeing of your team referring more complex issues to specialist services.
•    Work closely with Programme Director(s) and senior management to provide input to the design and development of programmes and service processes for one or more service areas or projects, ensuring that systems are put in place to deliver agreed outcomes. 

Communication/Liaison
•    Provide advice and share guidance with your stakeholders to ensure that the University’s goals, policies, procedures and regulations are complied with, such as widening participation and access.
•    Use your operational expertise to participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees, and provide advice to stakeholders in relation to University, School and/or Department policy, procedures and regulations.
•    Coordinate and oversee committees acting as Secretary to the Board of Examiners, providing advice and support to the Board, demonstrating a detailed knowledge and understanding of assessment rules, regulations and procedures, and providing support for appeals and assessment irregularities. 
•    Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills and swap information with peers and engage and influence future services and the University's reputation.
•    Ensure the department's profile, integrity and quality is maintained through good customer care practices. 

Specific Role Requirements
•    Work outside normal office hours during peak periods. 
•    Undertake national and international travel to support programme activities where appropriate.

•    Any other reasonable duties.   

Useful links

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

Executive Education - Durham University Business School

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 Privacy Notices - Durham University  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.