Research Development Manager

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.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Durham University

The Role and Department

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related work, including securing funding, working with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice and supporting professional development.

The Research Development Team is a small unit of research funding specialists dedicated to supporting academic colleagues to develop their research from inception to application. Our team covers all four Faculties across the breadth of mainstream funding remits and we are active in providing funder intelligence and working with academic colleagues to keep abreast of future trends in the funding landscape. We focus on the ideas-formation and relationship building end of the spectrum and work with individuals and groups to explore ideas with a view to developing these into strong research funding applications.

Durham has ambitious plans to grow our institutional research income and are therefore investing in this post to help support our academic community. We are advertising 1 post to support the Department of Geography (0.5FTE)

Reporting to the relevant Senior Research Development Manager, the Research Development Manager will increase the quality and value of funding applications at Durham University, embedding good practice in the identification of opportunities and development of successful proposals. You'll work closely with the Director of Research, Senior Research Administrator and the wider academic community in the Department of Geography, as well as with colleagues from the Research Operations team and other professional service units in the university. To succeed in this role, it will be necessary to assimilate a very wide brief and to rapidly gain an understanding of a broad spectrum of academic knowledge.

We believe this role presents an excellent opportunity for candidates to begin a career in research development. We welcome applications from individuals with strong transferable skills and experience from different careers and sectors. You may have worked in research management for a number of years and be looking for another opportunity. You may have recently finished a PhD and wish to explore an alternative career path to academia. You may work outside of HE but have experience of proposal development and fundraising. We welcome applications from individuals who feel they meet the below essential criteria, regardless of background or experience. Training and support will be provided if successful in being appointed.

From early 2025 the base location for this role will change from our Durham City Centre site to our exciting new professional services hub based at Boldon House. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House will bring a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more about this project, please visit this webpage: Boldon House - Durham University.

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 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 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 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.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

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

Your application should cover the following criteria:

Essential 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 within the organisation.Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers 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.
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 digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems. 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
Knowledge of research funding landscape.Experience of working in Higher Education.Experience in a similar role.
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: and
• A supporting statement or covering letter 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 Maria Aznarez; maria.aznarez@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 Research Development activities to a high standard.
• Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from staff and others who you work with and contribute to ideas and service improvements.
• Provide specialist knowledge and support when interpreting and analysing complex data and information sources.
  
• Look for ways to improve processes, and outputs/results across all areas of your work.
  
• Identify any learning needs 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 by the Research Development team in RIS.
  
• Contribute to progressing the strategic and operational priorities of Research and Innovation Services.
  
• Seek feedback from staff, and other key stakeholders so that the services being adapted to meet customer expectations and to plan future requirements.
  
• Analyse data and provide reports making recommendations for future improvement.
  
• Meet the development needs of your stakeholders, providing training when required.

Communication/Liaison

• Provide advice and share guidance with your stakeholders to ensure that the University's policies, procedures and regulations are complied with.
• 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.
• 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.

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.

SECONDMENT
The post is part time, fixed term for a 2 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.

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