About

• 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? - Information Page.
• The Role and the Department
• The Student and Academic Services Directorate provides a professional administrative support service to staff, students and potential students of Durham University.

The Academic Registrar is the head of the directorate and is responsible to the Chief Operating Officer for its management. The following services fall under the remit of the Student and Academic Services Directorate

• Academic Registrar’s Office
• Curriculum, Learning and Assessment
• Student Immigration and Funding
• Student Recruitment and Admissions
• Student Registry
• All of the services are based on the Mountjoy site in Durham City.
• The Student and Academic Services Directorate operate a hybrid working model with the opportunity to split working at home and in the office, which is in the Palatine Centre, South Road, Durham.
• The Student Information Systems Managers are based in the Student Registry office as part of the Student Information Systems team. This team works across the Student and Academic Services Directorate. The roles report to the Deputy Head of Student Information Systems Development and work together as a professional business unit.
• The Student Information Systems Team Managers play a key role in optimising and enhancing the use and development of all IT systems related to the student lifecycle which underpin the work of the directorate and the wider University.

The Student Information Systems Managers will work with one or more teams within the directorate utilising a ‘business partner’ approach covering a portfolio of business systems (both in use and in development) and will undertake a range of duties from the following list

• Identify user needs and trends – develop user stores and acceptance criteria
• Support IT colleagues in monitoring progress with developments and bug fixes and proactively escalate issues
• Ensure directorate technical issues are addressed and any issues IT colleagues identify are communicated back to business areas
• Proactively identify system developments and enhancements including ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy, guidelines and reporting
• Working with relevant IT colleagues – plan system releases and upgrades, communicating plans and any down-time to business users
• Ensure appropriate Standard Operating Procedures are place and followed by business and IT teams
• Facilitate a collaborative, joined-up approach to project scoping, initiation, planning and implementation for student information systems related projects and continuous improvement initiatives across the directorate
• Design and deliver training materials and ensure appropriate documentation is in place for all student systems
• 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’ll receive 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, and 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 ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.
• • We have 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.
• • We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• • Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• • Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• • We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• • You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
• • Various salary sacrifice schemes are 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
• 1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• 2. Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and analysis of IT projects and management information systems.
• 3. Experience of implementing policies and procedures, and supporting change and service improvements within an IT environment.
• 4. Experience of providing technical advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
• 5. 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
• 6. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
• 7. Strong digital competence across a range of management information systems.
• 8. Knowledge/experience of records based systems.
• 9. Experience of preparing and delivering user training and materials via a variety of delivery methods.
• 10. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain up-to-date skills.
• 11. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
• 12. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to listen and interpret complex business needs.
• 13. Strong customer service skills.
• 14. Ability to work well in cross organisational teams.
• Desirable Criteria
• 15. Familiarity with Agile/Scrum
• 16 Familiarity with Banner and CRM

• 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 Peter Fieldhouse (peter.fieldhouse@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 bug fixes and improvements to student information systems across the University to a high standard.
• · Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from key stakeholders 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, techniques and outputs and results across all areas of your work.
• · Identify any learning needs required by stakeholders 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 Student Information Systems team.
• · Contribute to progressing the strategic and operational priorities of the Student and Academic Services Directorate.
• · Seek feedback from key stakeholders so that fixes and improvements are being prioritised to meet customer expectations and to plan future requirements.
• · Analyse data on the level of service being provided by the Student Information Systems team to recommend areas 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.
• 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.