PG Admissions Assistant Manager

Job Title: PG Admissions Assistant Manager (x3 positions) 

Department: Recruitment & Admissions

Grade: Grade 6

Salary Range: £27.929 - £34,308 per annum

Working arrangements: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, with some evening and weekend work. We operate hybrid working and are on site two days per week with the remaining time working from home.    

Closing Date: Thursday 9th February 2023

Potential Interview Date: w/c 27 February 2023

 *Please note, we have three positions available, x2 permanent, x1 fixed term - approx. 7 months 

 
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

Based in the Global Division, Recruitment and Admissions Services brings together a number of teams providing services in events, enquiry management, CRM, data analysis and forecasting, projects and compliance and admissions. It provides an essential service to the University in ensuring its financial sustainability and in delivering student number growth and increasing diversity in line with strategic aims and targets. We are the public face of the University in UK schools and colleges, through our contact with prospects, enquirers and applicants across the world and through our events programme. The team includes a range of professionals from a number of specialisms including administrators, decision makers, data analysts and forecasters, IT specialists, designers and marketers, events managers and recruiters.   

The Admissions Coordinator will line manage and lead a sub-team of Admissions Coordinators and Administrators responsible for PGT admissions decisions for one of the University's 4 faculties, providing a professional, knowledgeable, effective and efficient admissions service delivering the University’s strategic aims and targets and ensuring that University and external regulations and policies are adhered to. This varied role requires the exercise of independent judgement and initiative, strong administrative and technical skills as well as excellent interpersonal and management skills.  The role also involves providing information, advice and guidance and developing positive working relationships with other staff within the Recruitment and Admissions Office, across the wider University, and beyond. A commitment to maximising personal and team effectiveness and the principles of equality and diversity is essential. 

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 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  

Desirable

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 word document that uses a table format to detail your experience, strengths and potential in relation to the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. 

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

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

•    Reactive and proactive service provision with others to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience. 
•    Ensure team activities and documents comply with internal University and external regulation, policy and procedures. 
•    Ensure accuracy by instituting recognised and routine checks, assessment criteria and techniques. 
•    Implement and monitor recognised procedures to ensure compliance and meet University values of inclusion, diversity and participation. 
•    Develop, implement and enforce recognised procedures to ensure compliance, co-ordinate effort and contribute to team goals. 
•    Record data and information accurately, provide reports and distribute information to key stakeholders in the process or service. 
•    A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.

Planning and Organising

•    Responsible for organising and overseeing all day to day aspects of defined area of operational service delivery.  
•    Implement and monitor protocols, procedures, processes and regulations. 
•    Monitor and report incidents. 
•    Manage and organise professional admissions processes, staff and/or resources to achieve defined targets and outcomes. 

Teamwork and Team Development

•    Supervisory responsibilities for services, resources and people. 
•    Provide induction and ongoing development support and training to team members. 
•    Contribute to the ADR process, assisting with the identification of development needs where appropriate.  
•    Plan and organise own workload, and allocate and monitor work activities for others. 
•    Act as first point of contact for HR issues when supervising a team. 

Communications and Networking

•    Relationship building, network participation internally and externally to build and update knowledge and skills. 
•    Contribute to business meetings, working groups and committees to help shape service delivery and stakeholder expectations. 
•    Use a range of digital media and tools to communicate with a diverse range of key stakeholders, both verbally and in written format who may need to access information across different geographic and time zones. 
•    Establish, maintain and develop productive and ongoing relationships with stakeholders to influence perception of the University and deliver the admissions operation.

Knowledge and Experience

•    Provide professional guidance and advice to staff and students with the operational running of admissions processes, data and information recording and assessment data.  

•    Independently assess and make accurate admissions decisions and recommendations on applications in accordance with agreed criteria.

•    Take part in the review of admissions areas to identify improvements and maintain high standards of service delivery. Proactively support projects and initiatives to improve the undergraduate admissions process.

•    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.