Vice-Principal

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk.

Job Description - Vice-Principal (24001973)

Job Number: 24001973

St Cuthbert's Society

Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time

Closing Date

21-Nov-2024, 11:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Please note that the successful applicant will require DBS disclosure. Further info: https://bit.ly/3DP5K8y

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.

St Cuthbert’s Society is seeking to appoint and welcome a new Vice-Principal to our friendly, vibrant, and inclusive community. Founded in 1888 by students as a ‘society’, we retain not only the name of the Society, but we consider ourselves ’traditionally untraditional’. The Society has two physical sites in the city – it is part of the World Heritage site on the Bailey and has self-catered student flats nestled by the Durham riverside. The student body has a strong sense of independence and maturity, collaborating and initiating creative responses to opportunities and challenges. St Cuthbert’s Society is led by Professor Tammi Walker who took up the position as Principal/Head of College in August 2021. This is an opportunity to join a leadership team and shape the future direction of the College.

The Colleges and Student Experience Division includes the 15 Maintained Colleges, Experience Durham, the Student Support and Wellbeing Directorate, and the Wider Student Experience Operations Directorate.

The Vice-Principal will be a member of the College senior management team and will have a strong strategic and developmental emphasis. The post holder will be involved in a wide range of activities aimed at furthering St Cuthbert’s Society and University strategy, especially in relation to the personal development of students, embedding the wider student experience, and the future development of the College.

Working as a part of a close-knit team, the Vice-Principal will support the College Principal (a) in ensuring the College offers a supportive and stimulating environment for academic study, cultural and developmental activities, and social interaction which engages students, staff, Senior Common Room members, Fellows, visitors and alumni; and (b) in promoting and enabling intellectual curiosity, personal effectiveness, wellbeing and resilience, and a sense of community and responsibility among all students. Balance and focus of responsibilities will be agreed with the College Principal.

Please note: Interviews are expected to take place between 9am-5pm on Monday 9th December 2024.

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:

1. 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.
2. We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into this University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
3. No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.
7. 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).
8. The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
9. 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.
10. A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
11. 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 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/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.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications/Experience

1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
2. Experience in the promotion of student personal development.
3. A good understanding of higher education in the UK and an appreciation of the role of colleges in a collegiate University.
4. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including students and more senior colleagues.
5. Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence positive perceptions of the University.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues.
3. A commitment to issues of diversity, equality and inclusion and the University’s values.
4. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.
5. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
6. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
7. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
8. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
9. Experience of alumni/stakeholder engagement using an alumni database or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
10. Track record of staff management and development experience.
11. Financial literacy and ability to liaise with finance colleagues over budget matters and financial transactions.
12. Experience of working in a diverse and multi-cultural environment and an understanding of needs of students from minority groups.
13. Experience of providing pastoral support to students.

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

1. A CV
2. A supporting statement 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: Professor Tammi Walker (tammi.walker@durham.ac.uk)

Typical Role Requirements

Role requirements may vary according to the needs of the college, but typically may include:

Service Delivery /Development

1. Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
2. Develop and apply an in-depth understanding of university policy and external developments when carrying out your role.
3. Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met and compliance is documented.
4. Use your professional knowledge and experience to further the aims and strategic objectives of the University, Division and College, especially in relation to the personal development of students; to resolve problems, shape processes and activities, develop systems providing subject matter expertise and advice.
5. Use your managerial and leadership expertise to identify priorities and shape College Community to achieve the required outcomes including for allocating and monitoring the non-staff college financial budget and resources relating to WSE.
6. Take responsibility for student disciplinary matters in consultation with the Head of College, liaising where required with relevant support departments.
7. Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards.
8. Initiate and manage business process reviews to improve the service in your area.
9. Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.
10. Manage quality and regulatory audits of systems and procedures.
11. Support the welfare, wellbeing and employment of your staff by providing professional guidance.

Planning and Organising

1. Contribute to the development of operational plans relevant to your area.
2. Oversee the analysis of data about the service levels provided by your area make recommendations for improvement in reports to senior managers and committees.
3. Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.

Team Development

1. Manage and develop the people, performance and resources of the Society to ensure that a student focused service is provided.
2. Help shape the skills and expertise needed to deliver a professional service by recruiting, inducting and training team members and structuring the team in a way that will best meet operational and strategic priorities.
3. Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members.
4. Carry out regular performance reviews to provide feedback on objectives and expectations and identify any development needs.
5. Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team referring more complex issues to specialist services or more senior managers.
6. Use your professional knowledge to identify and recommend priorities for long-term business plans.
7. Provide professional guidance and advice when managing complaints, referrals and specialist services.
8. Design creative and innovative communications to promote and increase engagement of students, supporters and alumni.
9. Influence University policy, standards and governance by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
10. Create strong working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University’s reputation.
11. Represent the Society, Division and University at promotional events.
12. Identify opportunities to develop and increase participation in special interest groups.
13. Any other reasonable duties.

Specific Role Requirements

1. Being an integral and visible member of the St Cuthbert’s Society community, working some evenings and weekends to support the delivery of Society’s activities and initiatives.
2. Participating in out of hours rota duties for the provision of emergency cover.

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.