Research Project Manager: Heritage 360

Research Project Manager: Heritage 360 (Job Number: 25000467)

Department of History

Grade: 7 - £38249 - £45413 per annum

Fixed Term - Full Time

Contract Duration: 48 months

Contracted Hours per Week: 35

Closing Date: 01-May-2025, 10:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

The Role and Department

Heritage 360: Transformative Interdisciplinary Approaches to Natural and Cultural Heritage is a research project set up to establish an internationally recognised research concentration across the University, focusing on the intersection of cultural and natural heritage. Led by Professor Giles Gasper (History Department), H360 includes academics from departments across the University who will work with newly-recruited world-leading scholars as part of five identified work programmes: Water and Food Security; Heritage Landscapes; Built Environment and Energy; Social Justice and Well-Being; Heritage Collections.

As an experienced manager, you will offer project and administrative support to the PI, Professor Giles Gasper, and the wider project team to enable them to deliver the project outcomes.

Responsibilities Will Include:

• Working with the internal management group to strategize and operationalise the H360 project aims and outcomes.
• Coordinating the work of team members and partners.
• Setting-up and maintaining the project website.
• Monitoring project timeline to keep the project on track and avoid slippage.
• Managing project email traffic and information and documenting ongoing activity across the platform.
• Organising travel and accommodation, including completing travel risk assessments.
• Ensuring compliance with University and external regulations for all activities and documents.
• Managing and monitoring the non-staff budget spend.
• Leading and organising meetings, events and conferences.
• Managing the recruitment of new academic staff.
• Collating data, preparing reports on activities and providing regular updates to key stakeholders.
• Liaising with Research Innovations Service to support the development of external funding bids.

You will liaise with key stakeholders including academics and PS staff in departments as well as staff in Marketing and Communications, Research and Innovation Services, Finance, Event Durham, and HR.

You will be expected to collaborate closely with team members and to manage your own workload, balancing business-as-usual with a responsive approach to meeting sometimes challenging and unexpected tasks. This varied role is an excellent opportunity to develop skills in implementing and managing new processes; engaging with different stakeholders; and employing initiative and responsiveness.

You will be part of the Arts and Humanities Faculty Research Team. The role can be carried out in a hybrid arrangement with all staff expected to spend some time on campus.

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 discounts 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 plus access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• 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, you may be eligible for 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 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 that is supportive and inclusive.

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 criterion has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.

Essential Criteria

Your application should cover the following criteria:

Qualifications/Experience

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and development of services, events, and activities related to a project of this type.
• Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements.
• Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of stakeholders and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
• Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
• Project management experience including set-up and management of processes and establishing key stakeholder relationships.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

• Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
• Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems relevant to the role.
• Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
• Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.

Desirable Criteria

• Research management experience.
• Experience of HR and finance processes.
• Knowledge of external funding application process, schemes and funder requirements.

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

• A CV
• A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.
• Option to ask for case studies to demonstrate how they meet the essential criteria.

Contact details

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Professor Giles Gasper via artsandhumanities.researchteam@durham.ac.uk.

Typical Role Requirements

• Service Delivery/Development
• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Review and look for ways to improve systems and procedures that are relevant to your area of work in line with the University’s frameworks and regulations.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance relating to your professional area of expertise, in line with the University’s policies, regulations and values.
• Manage the delivery of activities and events relating to the project across the University to a high standard.
• Ensure that diverse activities are planned, organised and communicated to ensure consistency and cohesion across the project in line with its defined outcomes.
• Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from stakeholders and contribute to ideas and service improvements.
• Provide specialist knowledge and support when interpreting and analysing complex data and information sources.
• Identify any learning needs that should be met by stakeholders and design activities and arrange any training.

• Planning and Organisation
• Contribute to operational leadership teams to influence the type and level of services that are provided to the project and its members.
• Contribute to progressing the strategic and operational priorities of the H360 project.
• Seek feedback from key stakeholders so that the operation of the project is responsive to customer expectations and to plan future requirements.
• Analyse data on the level of service being provided to recommend areas for future improvement.
• Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services.
• Manage HR processes for project staff.

• Communication/Liaison
• Provide advice and share guidance with your stakeholders to ensure that the University’s policies, procedures and regulations are complied with.
• Work with project members to ensure engagement with and participation in the project.
• Develop and manage a communications plan including web and social media, podcasts and liaise with relevant Marketing and Communications staff.
• Use your operational expertise to lead and participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
• Coordinate and organise committees and other business meetings and deal with any related complaints.
• Update policies and procedures in response to any internal or external changes and ensure the updates are communicated clearly to stakeholders.
• Use your expertise to provide training or guidance to other stakeholders.
• Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills and swap information with peers.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Useful links

If you would like further information you may find the following will help:

H360 - Durham University

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 which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

The post is full time, fixed term for a 4 year period and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.

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.