Research Administrator

Updated: 10 months ago
Location: Durham, ENGLAND
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

Research Administrator (
Job Number:
 23000680)
Faculty of Business
Grade 4: - £22,630 – £24,144 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Working Arrangements: Hybrid working permitted, to be agreed with Line Manager
Closing Date
: 28-May-2023, 6:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable. 

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

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/.  


The successful applicant will be a member of the Business School Research Hub Team providing administrative support to the research environment in departments across the Faculty and supporting our 12 Research Centres.  This represents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the active research environment within the Faculty. The successful applicant will be working directly with senior members of the Faculty including the Deputy Executive Dean (Research) and the Directors of Research in each of our four departments.  
The successful candidate must be able to: work independently; act effectively on their own initiative, have an excellent personal manner and keep calm under pressure. The post holder must liaise confidently with staff at all levels throughout the University, including the University library, Research and Innovation Services (RIS) and with other external stakeholders and contractors both orally and in writing. 
Working as part of a small team, the main duties and responsibilities of the role are shown in the typical role requirements below. 

 

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.  The University closes between Christmas and New 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. 

 

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 2022/2023, 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

To be considered for this role, here are the skills/experience we’re looking for:
 

Essential Criteria
Qualifications/Experience

  • Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent experience.
  • Experience of working in a busy office environment delivering front line administrative services or having relevant qualifications for the role.
  • Experience of managing time to meet tight deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality.
  • Experience of working in a team.  
  • Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

  • Excellent spoken and written communication skills.
  • Good digital skills including experience in using digital devices and apps including the internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications and digital booking systems.
  • Committed to continuing professional development.
  • Ability to solve problems and resolve straightforward issues yourself and as part of a team.
  • Demonstrable ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of colleagues and customers.
  • Desirable Criteria

  • Post-16 qualification or equivalent 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 covering letter which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Essential Criteria.  

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

     

    Typical Role Requirements

    Here are the kind of activities that you’ll be asked to undertake and ways in which you’ll be expected to operate.

     

    Service Delivery

    • Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
    • Provide an excellent and timely service to our stakeholders, particularly academic and research staff, students, visitors and also external collaborators. 
    • Use your experience and problem-solving skills to resolve routine issues with things relevant to your role such as the research processes and provide information and updates to help your team find solutions and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues when needed.
    • Collect, organise and record data and information accurately to ensure the accuracy and safety of information and provide reports as required to team members and more experienced staff.
    • Responsible for collation of data relating to research performance and publications.
    • Promote positive wellbeing arrangements which benefit you and your team.
    • When carrying out your role, use and apply relevant recognised professional and regulatory procedures to process, check and reconcile anomalies within data and information sets in relation to research activities.
    • Use standard office-based devices and applications to carry out data recording, communications and networking.
    • Process and update key business documentation.
    • Arrange venue, catering, travel and/or equipment arrangements for events, meetings and activities and support induction of new staff and visitors. 

    Teamwork

    • Resolve queries and respond to requests for information and advice that may arise with regards to supporting research processes, and bring any complex issues to the attention of more experienced team members when needed.
    • Help your team organise and provide administrative services that support key activities within the Department and to support people and business activities for events, meetings and activities directed at the delivery of the research strategy.
    •  Contribute to the planning of team activities, work and deadlines to ensure the smooth running and timeliness of service.
    • Help your team ensure that products and services are adapted in response to feedback and to meet changing demands, with a flexible approach to accommodate the needs of team members and/or service users.

    Communication/Liaison

    • Seek feedback from key stakeholders on their research requirements from the team to ensure the delivery of excellence with the frontline stakeholder experience. 
    • Respond to service users, answering and recording information such as bookings for activities and/or events and respond to queries which you receive.
    • Liaise with other service areas, professional organisations and agencies including Research and Innovation Services (RIS), Finance Office etc. to ensure that services are being delivered in a seamless, smooth, efficient and collaborative way.
    • Liaise with external collaborators, internal and external suppliers, contractors and professional specialists to ensure information, resources etc. are correctly exchanged.
    • Provide support for meetings, working groups, networks and committees, such preparing and sending documents for meetings, drafting reports, taking minutes and communications in standard professional formats.
    • Arrange national and/or international consignment of items.
    • 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.

     



    Similar Positions