Economic Development Senior Manager

Job Title: Economic Development Senior Manager      
Department: Research & Innovation Services (RIS)   
Grade: 8 
Salary range: £43,414 to £51,805 per annum  
Working arrangements: 35 hours per week with opportunity for hybrid working from home and on campus
 
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

The Economic Development Senior Manager is a management position within the University’s Research and Innovation Services Directorate. The post will report to the Director of Commercialisation and Economic Development and will work closely with colleagues across the directorate as well as senior colleagues in faculties, academic departments and professional support services.

Durham University is a significant and growing driver of economic growth for County Durham, the North East and the UK. A recent external evaluation concluded that in 2020/21, Durham University generated £1.9 billion Gross Valued Added (GVA) and 17,320 jobs in the UK including £668 million GVA and 10,790 jobs in the North East. The University Strategy sets out to deliver still greater impact and to play a key role as an “Anchor Institution” in the translation of emerging technologies, influencing government policy and enhancing commercialisation opportunities.

The Economic Development team provides a central service for the targeted support for major economic development projects (including capital investment projects) and strategic relationships that deliver intellectual and financial returns to Durham University from economic development programmes. This will be supported from a range of sources, including national and local government. The Economic Development Senior Manager will play a key role in the development and delivery of projects and oversight of relationships.

The Economic Development Senior manager will also support the development of staff and be responsible for a continuous improvement of service delivery and processes

This role has the following key responsibilities:

• Maintain a good understanding of the overall economic development funding landscape including current and future programmes.
• Cultivate links and act as a key point of contact with Local Enterprise Partnerships, Councils, NE Universities, Research England, BEIS, DLUHC and other relevant bodies to facilitate intelligence gathering, information flow and to enhance the University’s profile as a key deliverer of services to the regional economy.
• Promote interest and understanding of economic development funding within the University.
• Be pro-active in the identification of opportunities that could support the objectives of the University Strategy, of academic departments and of externally facing units and subsidiaries of the University.
• Take specific responsibility for the support and development of project ideas to the point of submission by the identified project lead.  Where appropriate, take ownership within the team of project leadership.
• Develop and operate a systematic approach to the presentation and assessment of project ideas by the relevant funder.
• Oversee the development and standardisation of systems and processes for project approvals and financial management in line with funder and University policies and sector best practice. 
• Take overall responsibility for the process whereby all economic development funding proposals are approved within the University.
• Lead and co-ordinate new initiatives designed to improve service and success rates.
• Act as a first point of contact (and expert/trouble-shooter) when issues arise with service delivery by staff and with individual proposals and projects. 
• Supervise Economic Development Team members, including responsibility for induction and development, work output, performance and distribution of workloads, ensuring that staff adhere to funder and University deadlines, deliverables and regulations throughout all stages.
• Work with other support areas to ensure that procurement and finance regulations are maintained and updated as necessary.
• Identify any generic issues and work with the Director to resolve them and continually enhance the University’s approach.
• Organise forums for relevant University staff.
• Undertake relevant CPD to maintain/develop good understanding of the issues and practicalities of economic development funding.

Further information about the role and core 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 
•    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.

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.  

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. 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
•    A supporting statement which outlines how you meet all of the essential criteria within the Person Specification (above)
 
Contact details   

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact tim.hammond@durham.ac.uk

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.

Planning and Organising
•    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  the Economic Development team.
•    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 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:

Economic-Development-Senior-Manager.pdf (durham.ac.uk)
  
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.