Graduate Ambassador (Access and Engagement)

Job Title: Graduate Ambassador (Access and Engagement)         
Department:   Recruitment and Admissions (Access and Engagement)      
Grade: Grade 5 
Salary range: £24,285 – £27,131 per annum        
Working arrangements: Usually 35 hours per week, working 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.  However, due to the nature of the role, on occasions work will be required outside of these times. Durham is currently engaged in hybrid working. There is therefore some flexibility for working remotely but the role is expected to be on campus at least 2 days per week. 
Closing date: 23:59 on Sunday 25 September 2022.       
Potential interview date: Wednesday 12 October 2022.    
  
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. 
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.  Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer. 
We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.  Further information about the University can be found here

The Role and the Department

The role

The Graduate Ambassador (Access and Engagement) will provide support for the delivery of Access and Engagement (A&E) work as directed by the A&E Manager but will be line-managed by the A&E Assistant Manager. The post holder will be expected to help run events and represent the University externally to widen access and participation at Durham and help the University meet its Access and Participation Plan commitments. The post holder should use their recent knowledge of the undergraduate experience to support students with the potential to study at a university like Durham. The role will involve frequent travel both locally and regionally, as well as occasional travel nationally, to schools, higher education fairs, and similar activities. The post holder will also be present on, and support the organisation of, events on and off campus, such as, day events for groups of young people, and residential summer schools, as well as online events such as webinars.

Access and Engagement Graduate Ambassadors typically specialise in one of the two areas (Access or Engagement). However, they will be expected to provide support to a wide range of activities within Access and Engagement, as well as the broader Recruitment and Admissions Department.

This role will specialise in Access in the first instance. Access includes projects to support admissions pathways to the University. In the first instance, this role will primarily focus on supporting Supported Progression, but may also be involved in supporting Durham’s UK Summer School (Sutton Trust) and STEP (Space to Explore Potential) – for Black-heritage young people.

The Access and Engagement Team

Access and Engagement works to inspire, educate, motivate and support the choices of young people traditionally under-represented at university, and Durham University in particular. We are ambitious, passionate about our work and committed to making a positive difference. Widening Participation is a key target in the University’s Education Strategy.

Further information on Access and Engagement can be found at Access and Engagement – Durham University

Student Recruitment and Admissions

Access and Engagement is part of the broader Student Recruitment and Admissions Department. Based in the Global Division, Student Recruitment  and Admissions brings together a number of teams providing services in events, enquiry management, CRM, data analysis and forecasting, projects and compliance and admissions. It provides an essential service to the University in ensuring its financial sustainability and in delivering student number growth and increasing diversity in line with strategic aims and targets. It is the public face of the University in UK schools and colleges, through contact with prospects, enquirers and applicants across the world and through our events programme. The team includes a range of professionals from a number of specialisms including administrators, decision makers, data analysts and forecasters, IT specialists, designers and marketers, events managers and recruiters. It supports academic departments in the development of their contributions to recruitment and provides domestic market insight and customer relationship management. The team is responsible for adherence to requisite regulations and UCAS contract requirements.  

The team works in collaboration with colleagues in the Marketing Team (Marketing and Communications) to develop pre-contact and conversion marketing campaigns and with the International Office for international student recruitment.

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: 

•    27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 39 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
•    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.
•    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).
•    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. 
•    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. 
•    We offer generous pension schemes. 

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.

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.  Where there are desirable criteria we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence. 

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 during the process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails. 
 
What you are required to submit:
•    A CV (no more than two pages)
•    A supporting statement that shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification. Please clearly address each of the essential and desirable criteria. We encourage applicants to list the criteria in a table or with sub-headings and addressing them all in turn.   

Contact details 
If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Rik Coldwell would be happy to speak to you. Please email richard.coldwell@durham.ac.uk in the first instance. 

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

• Resolve queries and requests for information and advice relating to widening participation events and activities and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members.
• Respond to stakeholder needs to deliver and shape an excellent experience for young people, teachers, parents and internal staff.
• Deliver support services to ensure the effective and efficient running of outreach, internal and external activities that enhance the Durham reputation.
• Prepare written reports for consideration by management where required.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Accurately record information within Access databases and the Higher Education Access Tracker, disseminating within internal networks including the Access and Admissions Committee.
• Monitor data accuracy checks to identify anomalies and ensure the integrity of data and information.
• Update data and information on systems and media for recording, storing, communicating and informing service users and team members.
• Analyse data and statistics and provide reports for higher level decision makers.
• Monitor feedback and identify service changes to meet service level agreements.
• Represent the University and provide information to prospective students at events and within activities delivered both digitally and on/off-campus.
• Engage with a variety of young people between the ages of 14 -19 from different backgrounds.
• Visit schools within the North East and beyond, delivering activities designed to raise aspirations as well as supporting the raising of attainment levels of young people.
• Deliver presentations, workshops, and other sessions to a wide range of stakeholders including young people, parents and teachers.

Planning and Organising

• Plan and organise own workload in conjunction with or without involvement of other members of the Access and Engagement Team.
• Organise and schedule resources, activities and events, including but not limited to visits to schools, residential events, on campus day events and online sessions.
• Identify priorities and monitor processes and activities to ensure adherence to the goals of the Access and Participation Plan.
• Analyse work activities to ensure widening participation activities make effective and efficient use of budget and resources.

Teamwork

• Act as more knowledgeable team member without responsibility for team members.  

• Collaborate with and support team members to enhance the delivery of events and activities.
• Monitor and evaluate stakeholder feedback and work with colleagues to translate these into recommendations for future improvements to widening participation activities and service provision.

Communication/Networking

• Provide demonstrations and instruction to others outside the team.

• Collaborate with colleagues across professional and administrative areas to ensure seamless service provision.
• Work collaboratively across the organisation and/or externally with colleagues and stakeholders to deliver a service.
• Contribute to collaborative decision making within the team with service provision and generate ideas to enhance stakeholder experience in accordance with the Access and Participation Plan and other policies and procedures.
• Provide guidance and advice to resolve problems and queries for a broad range of service users.
• Work with internal and external partners to deliver cross-functional services and activities.
• Work with internal and external partners and suppliers to deliver cross-functional products and services.
• Liaise with contacts and participate in networks and communities internally and possibly externally, contributing to effective collaborative working.
• Advise others and make recommendations into work processes and procedures for consideration by senior management to improve services.

Knowledge and Experience

• Apply theory and practice, from academic and professional development to support the team in enhancing the higher education experience for young people.

• Provide in-depth independent research and analysis relating to successful widening participation activities.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policy and procedures within own area of working.

Any other reasonable duties.

Further specific role requirements 

• DBS Check
• Ability to travel independently between remote locations and transport promotional materials and equipment (i.e. display stands), with the requirement to travel and work during evenings and weekends.

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