Regional Graduate Ambassador (North East)

Job Title: Regional Graduate Ambassador (North East)
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 it is likely the 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 2 days per week. 
Closing date: 23:59 on Sunday 18 September 2022
Potential interview date: w/c 10 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

A post has arisen as part of the Uni Connect Programme, an Office for Students (OfS) funded project, which aims to increase the number of young people from targeted wards entering higher education. The North East Uni Connect Programme (NEUCP) involves all colleges and universities in the North East region working together to promote higher education opportunities through a sustained programme of interventions called FutureMe (www.futureme.ac.uk). 

Based at Durham University, but working across the region, the post holder will have a role in supporting the development and delivery of a student engagement programme of outreach activities in targeted schools/sixth forms. The role sits within Access and Engagement, which is part of the Recruitment and Admissions department at Durham (see below for further info).

The Regional Graduate Ambassador will be hosted at Durham University and line managed by a NEUCP Project Coordinator who will normally also be based at Durham.  They will work with identified schools across the region as part of a regional team supported by the NEUCP Central Team and NEUCP Project Manager (Schools) to raise awareness of the full range of higher education opportunities in the region.  As such they will be required to work from, and support colleagues at, other partner institutions across the region for which expenses or access to a vehicle will be provided.  Blended working opportunities may also be available subject to business need and the requirements of the role.

Please note that this post is fixed term until 31 July 2023. The role is not expected to continue beyond that date.

What will you be doing?

The Regional Graduate Ambassador role within the Uni Connect Programme is a great opportunity for you to apply the skills and knowledge you have acquired during your undergraduate degree. You will have the chance to work within a regional higher education team, supporting students within the North East to make informed, confident decisions about their future through widening participation activity. You will develop a wide range of key transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, presenting, leadership and teamwork, and the opportunities provided within this role will enhance your CV for future employment. You will be given lots of support and guidance throughout your employment by both Durham University where the role is based, and across the wider Uni Connect team.

The Regional Graduate Ambassador role is an exciting, fast paced, and varied role which gives you the chance to sample many different areas of this programme including project planning, content development, outreach delivery and evaluation, all of which are valuable for a multitude of career paths. Our previous Ambassadors have gone on to roles within education, progressed within the University, moved into other higher education related employment or gone back into further study. While a large part of the role focuses on delivery of workshops and sessions within schools and online for students, teachers and parents or carers, you will also be working with a team of undergraduate mentors and local stakeholders, supporting event planning and developing relationships with our partner schools.

This opportunity is likely to appeal to recent graduates (within 24 months of role appointment). Due to the nature of the role and traveling to schools across the region, a full UK driving licence is essential. You do not need your own car.

Durham is currently engaged in hybrid working. There is therefore some flexibility for working remotely. The role will nominally be based at Durham and will be expected to attend the offices at Durham on a regular basis (typically 2 days a week). However, in between times, the role may work from home or choose to base themselves at one of the other North East universities.

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.  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

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.  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 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 listing 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

•    Attend events at schools and colleges to talk about university and deliver a variety of sessions and activities for young people, typically aged 14 -19.

•    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 support both Durham and NEUCP. 
•    Monitor feedback and identify service changes to meet service level agreements.
•    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. 
•    Accurately record information and data and disseminate within internal networks including committees, including using the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT). 
•    Prepare written reports for consideration by management where required.
•    A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.

Planning and Organising

•    Plan and organise own workload with involvement with NEUCP project team. 
•    Plan, arrange, and carry out activities for schools as directed by the NEUCP Assistant Managing, including organising and scheduling resources.
•    Identify priorities and monitor processes and activities to work toward the goals of the NEUCP partnership. 
•    Analyse work activities to ensure widening participation activities make effective and efficient use of funding.

Teamwork

•    Act as a knowledgeable team member without responsibility for team members. 
•    Collaborate with and support team members to enhance the delivery of events and activities, contributing to the development of student-focused interactive activities and materials that raise awareness of higher education opportunities, topics and courses available to study at both college and university. 

Communication/Networking

•    Collaborate with colleagues across professional and administrative areas in Durham to ensure seamless service provision on behalf of the NEUCP project team. 
•    Contribute to collaborative decision making within the NEUCP project team and generate ideas to enhance stakeholder experience in accordance with the NEUCP project delivery plan. 
•    Work collaboratively across Durham and the regional NEUCP team, and externally with other colleagues and stakeholders to deliver a service. 
•    Provide guidance and advice to resolve problems and queries for a broad range of service users. 
•    Provide demonstrations, instruction, and training to others outside the team, particularly student workers. 
•    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. 
•    Work with internal and external partners to deliver cross-functional administrative, business and financial work streams. 
•    Work with internal and external partners to deliver cross-functional services and activities. 

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 more in-depth independent research and analysis activities within the role. 
•    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
• Full clean UK driving licence is required. Access to own car would be useful but is not necessary.
• Ability to travel independently between remote locations and transport promotional materials and equipment (i.e. display stands and session resources), 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