Senior Governance Officer

Job Title: Senior Governance Officer
Department: Governance Support Services
Grade: Grade 7
Salary range: £35,333 - £46,047 per annum
Working arrangements:  Full time; 35 Hours per week, Monday to Friday 9-5; Offering a flexible working environment that offers the ability to work on/off campus and flexibility in ones working hours
Closing date: 30th November 2022  
Potential interview date: TBD

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

Governance Support Services (GSS) is located in the University Secretary's Office (USO). The University Secretary is responsible for overseeing the University's governance, legal, assurance and compliance framework and associated processes and providing independent advice to the University's governing body (council), Senate and the Vice-Chancellor. GSS therefore operates at the highest level of University governance.

The GSS Team includes three Senior Governance Officers and three Governance Coordinators who work with the Head of GSS and the University Secretary to provide professional secretarial support to Council and its Committees, Senate, and the University Executive Committee (UEC) and its Committees. Senior Governance Officers work closely with the chairs and members of these governance forums, including lay (external) members of Council, and with the Vice-Chancellor and their Senior Management Team. Senior Governance Officers also liaise with Heads of faculties, departments and colleges, other staff across the University and external stakeholders.

Senior Governance Officers manage agendas and papers, provide professional secretarial support to meetings, draft minutes and reports on behalf of committees, manage the flow of business to/from the committees, and communicate information from committees across the University. Senior Governance officers also support projects to improve the University's governance and compliance arrangements, executive operations and the effectiveness of USO and GSS business.

Senior Governance Officers work as a team to provide an integrated support service to governance forums, but also develop expertise in the areas for which they are the lead support officer. 

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 dependent 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  

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.

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 Kelly Knapp, Head of Governance Support Services at [email protected]

Further information about the role

Role Delivery

• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Contribute to development of operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience. 
• Responsible for managing small budgets for consumables and some capital items, keeping records and processing invoices
• Provide management for stakeholder service areas and/or processes ensuring a high quality and timely service to all, including prospective, existing and past students and staff
• Ensure the review and improvement of systems and procedures in line with University frameworks. 
• Distribute service information and provide advice to stakeholders regarding compliance and regulations. 
• Ensure regulations and procedures are updated to take account of internal and external changes. 

Planning and Organisation

• Implement changes to the design and development of service processes, techniques and deliverables
• Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements and the design and planning of services. 
• Analyse service data and provide reports to Service Heads making reccomendations for improvement as appropriate
• Develop and maintain business schedules relates to the flow of information for decision making through the University's governance framework

Teamwork

• Contribute to operational leadership teams and decision making to shape the nature and level of support services. 

Communications and Networking

• Relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services  
• Provide training and/or instruction to stakeholders. 
• Contribute to and/or provide professional secretarial support in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at all levels of the institution
• Provide proactive and comprehensive input and support to Head of Governance Support Services, University Secretary, and/or Committee Chairs to achieve strategic and operational priorities. 
• Provide advice to stakeholders in relation to University policy, procedures and regulations. 
• Coordinate and oversee committee working

Knowledge and Experience

• Recognised professional practitioner and service specialist. 
• Provide specialist expertise and support with complexity of data and information sources, interpretation and analysis. 
• Identify and design activities to meet learning objectives and outcomes. 
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals 
• Awareness of the external environment and sector best practice to support high quality services. 
• Any other reasonable duties

Useful links

If you would like further information you may find the following will help: Governance - Durham University

and University Governance (sharepoint.com)

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.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.