Senior Manager: Research Systems & Reporting 

 
Job Title:  Senior Manager: Research Systems & Reporting        
Department: Research & Innovation Services        
Grade: Grade 8 
Salary range: £43,414 - £51,508
Potential interview date: tbc
 
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

This role will lead a small team responsible for the day-to-day management of research systems. This will include managing BAU and system improvement activities for existing systems and including working with colleagues across the university to identify and implement new solutions to support research activities. The role will also be responsible for oversight of institutional reports.

This post sits within the Policy, Systems and Performance team in Research & Innovation Services (RIS). The team is responsible for the University’s research information management systems, the overall governance and ethical framework for both funded and unfunded research & research related activities across the institution, support for institutional strategy development and the compilation of relevant returns including HEBCI, KEF, KEC and REF.

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related work, including securing funding, working with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice and supporting professional development.

Key Responsibilities

• To identify, advise on and implement research management systems, reporting and business process improvements across the University.
• Effective project and programme management relating to the overall research management lifecycle. Lead the planning and implementation of project initiatives, which include; project and output management system, CRM and ethics systems. This includes the management of relations and contracts with external enterprise solution providers.
• Working with colleagues across the directorate, wider University and external parties, the role is responsible for ensuring the research systems are fit for purpose and continue to satisfy the required needs of the business.
• To provide data and analysis of key research indicators e.g. research funding, research environment and output evaluation regularly and on request to frame strategic discussions and provide high quality reports and analyses to inform evidence-based decision making.
• Provide leadership and line management for the research systems team (3FTE) and acting (as necessary) as deputy to the Co-Director Research and Innovation Services.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide expert professional subject and/or managerial and leadership expertise.
• Manage and develop service, infrastructure and people performance across one or more teams.
• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR and performance reviews.
• Recruit, induct, train and develop new team members.
• Help to shape the skills and expertise of future team members and design work structures to meet operational and strategic goals.
• Handle the vast majority of HR issues within a team, referring more complex HR issues to appropriate support services/senior management.
• Liaise and engage with key stakeholders and internal and external contractors to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services.
• Contribute to the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level.
• Lead on the design, implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures and systems to ensure effective working and continuous improvement.
• Promote and develop a deep understanding of organisational policy and external developments.
• Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development.
• Ensure all activities, processes and transactions are accounted for accurately and promptly to meet regulatory and professional service and policy standards.
• Ensure all stakeholder-facing staff provide an accessible, friendly and professional service by shaping processes for inducting and developing staff.
• Implement processes to manage the integrity and security of all commercially and professionally sensitive and personal data.
• Lead internal business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at operational service level to influence governance, organisational policy and standards for the service.
• Responsible for allocating and monitoring financial budgets and resources.
• Analyse stakeholder feedback, implementing and reviewing service provision.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description

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 – please include or delete if not applicable. 
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into this University Superannuation Scheme (USS) which the University will add contributions of 21.4%. 
• 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.

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  

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.  
• Excellent digital competence with demonstrable skills in using core digital tools including internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking system, project planning, financial systems, recruitment tools 
• Five GCSE’s at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent experience).  
• Post-16 qualification (or equivalent experience).   
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).  
• Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise used to influence events and activities within the organisation.    
• Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.  
• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.    
• Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.  
• Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.  
• Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence perceptions of the University.  
• Track record of management and development experience and/or an enhanced management qualification applied across a large service team or teams.

• Recognised project management qualification  e.g. PRINCE 2 Practitioner level or equivalent experience of working in a PRINCE 2 or other project management method
• Experience of delivering large and complex projects with multiple stakeholders

Desirable

• Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.  

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 which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.    

Role Responsibilities

• Work with team members and stakeholders to build and maintain excellent working relationships.
• Contribute to operational leadership teams and decision making to shape the nature and level of support services. Matrix management of discrete project teams.
• Provide professional guidance to stakeholders regarding project management and delivery · Produce systems- related communications for promotion and reporting purposes, designing and structuring information and fact, applying creative and innovative principles to influence and engage.
• To lead user groups to receive feedback on the usability of the system, consult on how the system could be developed and priorities for enhancements.
• Deliver professional expertise with investigative and service methodologies, make recommendations and identify priorities to achieve business outcomes and objectives.
• Maintain an oversight of the service and performance metrics to provide reports for higher level managers and committees.
• Represent the service and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations at conferences.
• Oversee and manage project financials, scope, tasks, goals, deliverables and timelines in accordance with enterprise project management tools and philosophies.
• Develop external relations, identify and develop opportunities for communities of practice, employers, alumni and donors via extra-curricular activities and increased levels of participation.
• Line Management of the Research Systems Team, and formal deputy to the Co-Director of Research and Innovation Services in matters related to the broader teams remit.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific Role Requirements

• Provide Computing and Information Services and the Portfolio Management Office with regular project progress and evaluation reports.
• Management of the Research Management Information Steering Group.
• Management of institutional comms relating to research systems · Occasional overnight travel may be required.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Contact details   
  
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Niall O'Loughlin - niall.c.o'[email protected]

Typical Role Requirements 

Service Delivery

• Lead on the design, implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures and systems to ensure effective working and continuous improvement. 
• Ensure all activities, processes and transactions are accounted for accurately and promptly to meet regulatory and professional service and policy standards. 
• Implement processes to manage the integrity and security of all commercially and professionally sensitive and personal data. 
• Responsible for allocating and monitoring financial budgets and resources. 
• Manage quality and regulatory audit process for student and staff services over-arching systems and procedures. 
• Produce communications for promotion and reporting purposes, designing and structuring information and fact, applying creative and innovative principles to influence and engage.  
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Contribute to the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level. 
• Maintain an oversight of the service and performance metrics to provide reports for higher level managers and committees.

Teamwork and Team Development

• Manage and develop service, infrastructure and people performance across one or more teams. 
• Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development. 
• Ensure all stakeholder-facing staff provide an accessible, friendly and professional service by shaping processes for inducting and developing staff. 
• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR and performance reviews. 
• Recruit, induct, train and develop new team members. 
• Help to shape the skills and expertise of future team members and design work structures to meet operational and strategic goals. 
• Handle the vast majority of HR issues within a team, referring more complex HR issues to appropriate support services/senior management. 

Communication/Networking

• Liaise and engage with key stakeholders and internal and external contractors to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services. 
• Lead internal business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at operational service level to influence governance, organisational policy and standards for the service. 
• Analyse stakeholder feedback, implementing and reviewing service provision. 
• Work with team members and stakeholders to build and maintain excellent working relationships. 
• Provide professional guidance to stakeholders regarding welfare, employment and wellbeing.

Knowledge and Experience

• Provide expert professional subject and/or managerial and leadership expertise. 
• Promote and develop a deep understanding of organisational policy and external developments. 
• Deliver professional expertise with investigative and service methodologies, make recommendations and identify priorities to achieve business outcomes and objectives. 
• Represent the service and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations at conferences. 
• Develop external relations, identify and develop opportunities for communities of practice, employers, alumni and donors via extra-curricular activities and increased levels of participation. 

• Any other reasonable duties. 

Useful links

If you would like further information you may find the following will help
  
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.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/  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.