Organisation Development Adviser

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

People are the most important asset of Durham University and our Human Resources and Organisation Development (HROD) Department is pivotal in ensuring that we attract, recruit, develop, reward and retain the very best talent from across the world into our University community.  Building on our bold and ambitious University Strategy, a key role of HROD is to secure the University’s strategic aim, ‘to be a world leading employer’ by ensuring that our staff can reach their full potential.  The HROD Department plays a lead role in creating a working environment for our staff (and potential staff) which is supportive, stimulating and informative which provides for creative and innovative employment practices and opportunities.  Our aim is to make sure that Durham University is a great place to work.

Professional Services are expected to move into Boldon House (adjacent to the Arnison Centre) commencing Spring 2025, this will be a flagship building devoted to becoming the University’s first ever professional service hub.  The building is being designed with flexible hybrid working in mind and will fully support the University’s Hybrid Working Policy.  HROD will be one of the first occupants of this building.

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 access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16 throughout the year.
•    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, you may be eligible for 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 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 Organisation Development / Learning and Development (OD/L&D) practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and development of OD, L&D and Leadership programmes within a complex 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.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
6.    Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
7.    Strong digital competence across a range digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.
8.    Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition within OD and L&D.
9.    Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
10.    Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.  
   
   
Desirable Criteria

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.    

Contact details   
  
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Raza Rashid, Organisation Development Business Partner, [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.

•    Responsible for a range of leadership and management development programmes.

•    Provide specialist advice and guidance relating to your professional area of expertise, in line with the University’s policies, regulations and values.

•    Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from OD senior managers and other members of staff and contribute to ideas and service improvements.

•    Provide proactive and comprehensive OD support in the form of OD interventions to stakeholder groups to enable them to achieve strategic and operational priorities, delivering activities and events where possible, or collaborating with external facilitators as needed.

•    Look for ways to improve processes, techniques and outputs/results across all areas of your work.

•    Identify any learning needs that should be met by the OD team and design activities and arrange any training.

•    Responsible for delivery of workshops as part of Leadership and Management programmes and the Open Course Programme.

•    Contribute to the delivery of OD events and activities as and when required.

Planning and Organisation
•    Contribute to operational leadership teams to influence the type and level of services that are provided by the OD team.

•    Contribute to the OD plan and provision, ensuring it is aligned to the strategic direction of the university.

•    Contribute to progressing the strategic and operational priorities of the OD team, implementing strategic projects at an operational level.

•    Seek feedback from staff and other key stakeholders on the level of service being provided by the OD team including the leadership programmes and analyse the data to recommend areas for future improvement.  

•    Meet the development needs of your stakeholders, providing training when required.

•    Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services.

•    Benchmarking the provision and making recommendations as required.

Communication/Liaison
•    To work as part of a team of OD Advisers and work closely with the OD Business Partners.

•    Provide advice and share guidance with your stakeholders to ensure that the University’s policies, procedures and regulations are complied with.

•    Use your operational expertise to lead and participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.

•    Coordinate and organise committees and other business meetings and deal with any related complaints.

•    Update policies and procedures in response to any internal or external changes.

•    Use your expertise to provide training or guidance to other stakeholders.

•    Create positive working relationships, including being a member of internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills and swap information with peers.

•    Liaising with external providers to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the Leadership and Management programmes and the Open Course Training Programme.

•    Promotion of the Leadership and Management and Open Course Training programme to Durham staff.

•    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 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.