Leadership and Research Coordinator

The University

At Durham University, we are proud of our people, because they are at the heart of our globally outstanding institution, which is a key part of our local community. We inspire our people to do extraordinary things and we invite you to join our fantastic team.

Across the University, we have a huge variety of roles and responsibilities, which together make us one large and successful community. 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.

At the University we promote and actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion. It is crucial that everyone can be themselves and can flourish in an environment where everyone respects each other and is treated fairly. We want our people and wider community to feel happy, secure and proud to be a part of Durham. We are looking for the same values in you.

The Role and the Department

This is a fixed-term, full-time, externally funded post. External funding has supported the Laidlaw Programme at Durham University for the last 10 years. Given the success of the programme, there is a possibility of future extension of the role; however, this will be dependent upon future funding received. Secondment applications are welcome, subject to approval from your current Line Manager.

The role holder will provide full administrative support to the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme as well as the Matariki Virtual Student Leadership Programme, supporting the Senior Manager in all aspects of programme delivery.

The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme is a two-year funded programme for undergraduate students dedicated to cultivating the next generation of ethical leaders who are not only skilled researchers, but also champions of integrity and evidence-based decision-making. The programme involves students undertaking independent research; leadership development and training; character development through the Oxford Character Project; and six weeks working with a community of need in a global setting.

The post holder will have responsibility for administering the programme. This may include recruiting scholars to the programme; assessing scholar eligibility; event management, including booking venues and travel and checking risk assessments;

maintaining accurate and detailed records of student outputs and expenses; supporting the creation of marketing materials, PowerPoint presentations and social media content; and undertaking the day-to-day financial recording of expenditure and reporting.

The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme is delivered by 21 universities globally. The post holder will be part of the wider network of administrators who support senior managers at their respective universities. As this is a global programme, the post holder will be required to work flexibly and professionally as part of a busy annual programme schedule. As the programme forms part of student enrichment, training days and events may require working outside normal 9-to-5 hours and at weekends.

In addition, the post holder will be required to attend events organised by the Laidlaw Foundation, typically held over three days and hosted at locations around the UK, with the possibility that future events may also be hosted in Europe. This will require occasional overnight stays away from Durham.

It is anticipated that supporting the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme will require 0.8 FTE of the role holder's time. The remaining 0.2 FTE will be dedicated to supporting other leadership programmes, including the Matariki Virtual Student Leadership Programme, which will commence its pilot year in 2026–27.

The Matariki Virtual Student Leadership Programme is a new initiative in its pilot phase. The post holder will support the Senior Manager with the coordination and administration of this programme. This will include supporting consultation with Colleges and Student Enrichment in relation to the proposed programme; gathering, collating and reporting feedback; assisting with programme marketing and scholar recruitment; liaising with speakers; booking venues; and coordinating the administration of team meetings with global pilot partners.

As the Matariki programme is an enrichment programme delivered across global partner institutions and time zones, some activity may take place outside normal 9-to-5 working hours. The post holder will therefore be required to work flexibly when necessary.

The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme and the Matariki Virtual Student Leadership Programme are part of the Student Experience Directorate. The Student Experience Directorate brings together Student Support and Wellbeing with Enrichment to provide opportunities for students to gain skills and experience through extracurricular activities across the following areas of Sport, Music, Leadership, Volunteering and Theatre whilst also supporting with the welfare of students during their time at Durham University.

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 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days. 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.
• 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.
• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• 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.
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference to the local community.
• 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).
• If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
• We offer generous pension schemes with varying contribution amounts to help you plan for your future.

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.

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. Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent), including English.

2. Administrative experience within a university or equivalent office environment.

3. Experience of working with budgets and previous responsibility for recording and reporting financial expenditure.

4. Experience of working with university students, or an equivalent age group (18–30), in an educational setting.

5. Experience of working with external partners and stakeholders.

6. Experience of working collaboratively with other team members to ensure the delivery of high-quality services, as well as evidence of working independently when required.

7. Experience of managing spreadsheets and Microsoft Forms, with demonstrable attention to detail.

8. Experience of supporting marketing and communications, including the use of platforms such as Canva and PowerPoint, and social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

9. Effective communication skills, both written and verbal – aspects of the role will require short presentations being delivered to student groups.

10. Excellent digital skills, including but not limited to Microsoft 365, Teams, Zoom, email, LinkedIn. Willingness to learn new systems, if required.

11. Excellent customer service skills including the ability to engage with a range of different audiences.

12. Strong attention to detail with a systematic approach to tasks, including an ability to prioritise own workload to manage competing demands on time.

13. Ability to work flexibly when required – this may include working outside normal 9-to-5 hours and occasional overnight stays away from Durham.

14. Strong interpersonal skills to assist with working collaboratively with students on a regular basis.

Desirable Criteria

1. Willingness to learn new skills and undertake continuous professional development

2. Familiarity with web updating within the T4 environment

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

Contact details

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, please contact Chantelle Cumming, Senior Manager: chantelle.cumming@durham.ac.uk.

Typical Role Requirements

• Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values.

• Respond to queries and provide information/advice, while raising more specialist or complex queries with more experienced team members.

• Use your experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve issues relevant to your role and make recommendations based on your findings.

• Scholar Recruitment: including setting up the online application process via the Pebblepad/Microsoft Forms of equivalent system, supporting the Senior Manager with liaising with internal and external stakeholders to ensure opportunities are widely and equitably marketed, providing support to the selection panel and collating information about the participants, under the supervision of the Senior Manager of the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme. This will also involve working with internal University stakeholders and the Laidlaw Marketing team to ensure brand compliance.

• Laidlaw Financial and Programme Reporting: including reporting on financial income and expenditure related to the Laidlaw programme, and compiling relevant reports for internal and external colleagues, under the supervision of the Senior Manager for the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme.

• Enhance Durham University's reputation by providing support to the running of internal and external outreach activities.

• Monitor and analyse the use of relevant IT platforms, and the Scholars Network to ensure efficiency, and report your findings to senior colleagues.

• Provide administrative support for managing workshops: including use of the Personal Development Management (PDMS) software, CANVA, Microsoft Forms, PebblePad, and processing of attendance and evaluation records.

• Monitor feedback on the services and identify changes that will improve the service level that is provided and compliance.

• Ensure that information recorded is accurate and provide reports and analysis of patterns and trends to senior colleagues.

• Prepare reports for consideration by senior managers.

• Support the welfare of students and refer them to appropriate support services when necessary.

• Provide administrative support for some financial operations, which may include ordering and invoicing, processing timesheets, tracking financial spend, monitoring budgets and other associated tasks.

• Assisting in any other office duties, as required.

Planning and Organising

• Plan and organise own workload to deliver the role.

• Organise and schedule assigned resources, activities and events.

• Monitor processes and activities to ensure team priorities are met.

• Help manage and coordinate events, conferences and other activities.

• Laidlaw Scholar Event Management: including sourcing and booking venues, providing appropriate resources, and ensuring accurate event records are maintained, under the supervision of the Senior Manager of the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme

• Assisting students with their travel requirements working alongside Key Travel to ensure all travel is coordinated and aligned to the students Leadership in Action, or conference requirements, reporting to the Senior Manager for the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme for approval.

• Supporting Laidlaw Scholars with the completion of their Risk Assessments prior to their travel, with overall support from the Senior Manager for the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme.

Teamwork

• Provide specialist support and advice to Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme Senior Manager on administration and management of the programme.

• Help your team ensure that services are adapted in response to feedback and to meet changing demands.

• Identify opportunities and contribute to decisions on how to improve services being delivered by the team.

• Seek feedback from students and academic staff on their requirements from your service and recommend improvements to senior colleagues.

Communications/Liaison

• Update and apply changes to processes and procedures.

• Use your knowledge and expertise to provide advice and guidance to resolve problems and respond to a wide range of queries.

• Advise and guide others on standard information and procedures, providing any relevant instructions and demonstrations as required.

• Create good working relationships with other team members and anyone else that you come across as part of your role to work together on joint activities.

• Liaise with staff in other areas to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way.

• Record information using digital platforms for various purposes including event registration, travel requirements, specific participant needs and share with internal partners.

• Contribute and engage with staff, students and the relevant programmes on promotional activities, events and presentations.

• Working directly with students to ensure they are completing their required components of their scholarship contract, with support from the Senior Manager for the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme.

• Laidlaw Programme Publicity: including updating webpages, organising briefing sessions and publicity materials, liaising with scholars on the programme to co-ordinate and deliver information sessions, orientation week, social events, and curating scholar blog posts, under the supervision of the Senior Manager for the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme.

• Laidlaw Scholar Support: including acting as a first point of contact for scholars regarding issues arising, providing advice about aspects of the programme, and ensuring scholars are correctly paid, under the supervision of the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Senior Manager.

• Laidlaw Scholar Development: including registering scholars with external bodies, collating scholars' reports and posters, and creating a poster brochure and display under the supervision of the Senior Manager of the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme.

• Working alongside the Student Experience Finance Team to ensure stipends and student expenses are tracked and paid, in collaboration with the Senior Manager for the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme.

• Create good working relationships with internal and external partners and suppliers to work together on joint initiatives.

• Build relationships with contacts and contribute to internal and external networks to share good practice and exchange information.

• Create and distribute promotional materials and print resources: including weekly emails, memos, newsletters, posters, certificates and handbooks.

• Any other reasonable duties.

SECONDMENT

The post is full-time time, fixed term for the period stated and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.

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 Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Privacy Notice which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

Durham University is a UKVI sponsor. Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK should note that not all roles are eligible. Further information on visa requirements and eligibility can be found on the UKVI website.

Version 07-2026

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

If you have any issues logging in or creating an account, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

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