Learning and Development Manager (Student Support)

Job Title:  Learning and Development Manager (Student Support)   
Department: Student Support and Wellbeing Directorate         
Grade: Grade 7 
Salary range:    £35,333 - £42,155 per annum
Working arrangements: This is a full time post covering 35 hours per week. Durham University have a hybrid working approach to allow staff to work flexibly and with a minimum of 2 days on campus to build a sense of team and give time for collaboration with colleagues.
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

Student Support and Wellbeing Directorate

Applications are invited for a Learning and Development Manager working within the Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) Directorate. The Directorate brings together student support services across the institution  and incorporates the Student Support and Wellbeing Office,  the Counselling and Mental Health Service, the Disability Support Service and the Student Conduct Office. The work of the Directorate is wide ranging and includes:

• providing functional leadership for the pan-University SSW services that are delivered by colleges and faculties/academic departments, ensuring that these work effectively with services within the SSW Directorate;
• providing leadership and oversight of the University’s work in relation to pan university student support and wellbeing across all university services that have direct contact with students but student support is not their primary function;
• providing leadership and oversight of the University’s work in relation to student health and proactive wellbeing including the delivery of faith support;
• leading on the development of strategy and policy in the areas of student support and wellbeing such as student mental health, disability support, student conduct, student wellbeing, and community engagement;
• providing expert knowledge and advice, delivering specialist support to both students and staff, and providing specialist training, such as mental health first aid, supporting disabled students, and responding to sexual violence and misconduct;
• working across the University, particularly in close partnership with the student support teams located in all the colleges and academic departments.

The postholder will be responsible for the design, development and delivery of a targeted, enhanced training offer to ensure all staff have the correct skills and knowledge to provide welfare, wellbeing and academic progress related student support, according to their role. The training offer will be required to work in a hybrid model and give staff the tools they need to efficiently and effectively support students when wellbeing and welfare issues arise. The training and tools should also help to support students to proactively look after their own health and wellbeing. The post holder will be responsible for evaluating learning and organisation development initiatives to ensure that they are sector leading and deliver and demonstrate the required impact. Working collaboratively with the HR Organisation Development team, Student Support and Wellbeing Directorate, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion unit, colleges and faculties/departments they will develop and implement training and initiatives to facilitate the achievement of student support objectives and promote an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. The post holder will also be responsible for promoting and marketing the training offer, monitoring success, tracking data and preparing reports for senior leaders.

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 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  

1.    Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally.   

2.    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.

3.    Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).   

4.    Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition within a training environment.   

5.    Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise used to contribute to the delivery and development of events and activities within the organisation.  

6.    Experience of implementing policy and involvement with future changes for a student support and wellbeing service area.  

7.    Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.    

8.    Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues and students.   

9.    Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence perceptions of the University.   

10. Good commercial awareness, personal presence and credibility.

11. Determination, resilience and enthusiasm.

12. Ability to work under pressure and to set and achieve goals within tight deadlines.

13. Experience of working collaboratively on learning and organisation development priorities and policies.

14. Engaging presentation and facilitation style that maximises audience participation.

15. Ability to contribute to planning at operational level and managing cross organisation projects.

16. Experience of designing, delivering and evaluating learning and organisation development initiatives both face to face and online.

17. Experience of designing and delivering training in a wide range of media eg online to a range of stakeholders at different institutional levels.

18. Experience of evaluating and demonstrating the impact of the training against training objectives

Desirable Criteria

1. Certified member of CIPD or a professional training body and post qualification experience in complex organisations.

2, A thorough understanding of issues in Higher Education, including Student Support and Wellbeing.

3. Knowledge of, or experience of working within a student support role.

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 

•  A Word document with detailed examples of how you satisfy each of the essential criteria within the person specification. Please bullet point your answers in the same order as in the essential criteria. 

Contact details   
  
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Rachel Dickins ([email protected])

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Contribute to development of student support and wellbeing services to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience. 
• Responsible for managing small budgets for consumables and some capital items, keeping records and processing invoices including working with the Head of Student Support and Wellbeing and HROD team to implement student support focused projects in collaboration with Divisional Heads, Departmental Heads, Heads of College, Heads of academic and service departments and other relevant peers and specialists.
• Provide management for student support and wellbeing training and development service areas and/or processes ensuring a high-quality and timely service to all stakeholders, including prospective, existing and past students and staff. 
• Ensure the review and improvement of student support and wellbeing training and development systems and procedures in line with University frameworks. 
• Develop and distribute student support and wellbeing training and development service information and provide advice to stakeholders regarding compliance and regulations. 
• Ensure student support and wellbeing training and development regulations and procedures are updated to take account of internal and external changes. 

Planning and Organisation

• Implement changes to the design and development of student support and wellbeing training and development service processes, techniques and deliverables. 
• Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements and the design and planning of student support and wellbeing training and development services. 
• Analyse service data including conducting research and reporting on monitoring and evaluation of training programmes, including designing impact metrics and collecting participant data and provide reports to Service Heads making recommendations for improvement as appropriate. 
• Work collaboratively with Section Heads and managers across the university to ascertain student support and wellbeing learning and organisation development needs to enable a holistic approach to the provision of development solutions that meet these needs.
• Procure and project manage student support and wellbeing learning and organisation development initiatives that support and develop managers’, teams’ and individual staff's capacity and capability to deliver against the University’s strategic aims and objectives.
• Plan, implement and monitor continuous improvements to enhance the delivery of student support and wellbeing learning and development to stakeholders.

Teamwork

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

Communications and Networking

• Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation. 
• Design and deliver targetted, needs based student support and wellbeing training and development delivery for stakeholders to support the achievement of student support and wellbeing strategy, including training appropriate staff and student leaders as trainers for peer facilitation.
• Contribute to and lead business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at departmental and operational service levels. 
• Provide proactive and comprehensive input and support to Head of Services, School and/or Department to achieve strategic and operational priorities related to training.
• Provide advice to stakeholders in relation to University policy, procedures and regulations with particular referene to student support and wellbeing training and development. 
• Coordinate and oversee committee working and deal with complaints. 
• Provide training and/or instruction to stakeholders. 
• Be responsible for coordinating the delivery of the student support training offered to staff, including the promotion and marketing of training programmes across the University and working with the Students’ Union, the Common Rooms and Student Associations, and external partner agencies to coordinate and deliver training.
• Process and distribute key student support learning and development information to all internal and external stakeholders, communicating proactively using appropriate media and methods.

Knowledge and Experience

• Recognised professional student support training practitioner and service specialist providing proactive professional advice and professional development interventions to managers and staff of all levels across the University.
• Provide specialist expertise and support with complexity of data and information sources, interpretation and analysis. 
• Identify and design student support and wellbeing training packages in both face to face and e-learning  format and instruction for staff and students.
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access, and provision of advice using specialist knowledge. 
• Demonstrate awareness of the external environment and sector best practice to support high quality student support and wellbeing training services, including staying up to date on best practice for delivery of student support related training.
• 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 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.