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Job Title: Senior Education Support Officer (Appeals & Academic Misconduct)
Department: Curriculum, Learning & Assessment Service (Academic Office)
Grade: Grade 7
Salary range: £36,333 - £43,155 (pro-rata)
Working arrangements: Monday – Friday, 17.5 hours per week. Current working arrangements are hybrid, with some time in the office and some time working from home.
Closing date: Sunday 30th July 2023

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.

The Role and the Department

This role will support the operation of the University's central academic appeals and academic misconduct processes. The postholder will act as caseworker for these processes, applying the University's General Regulations for Appeals and Misconduct, working with academic departments and faculty appeal contacts to gather relevant information, supporting Student Appeal Panel and Student Discipline Committee meetings, writing appeal and misconduct outcome reports, and communicating outcomes to students.

This role requires the post holder to provide a professional service to students, staff and external parties, high levels of confidentiality and sensitivity, and a commitment to supporting fair and transparent processes. The role may also provide support for reviews of appeals and misconduct policy and process. This role reports to the Senior Manager (Appeals & Academic Misconduct).

The Curriculum, Learning & Assessment Service (CLAS) is part of the Academic Office. The Academic Office provides a professional administrative support service to staff, students and potential students of Durham University. The Academic Registrar is the head of the department and is responsible to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) for its management. The following services fall under the remit of the Academic Office:

• Curriculum, Learning and Assessment

• Student Immigration and Funding

• Student Registry

• Student Recruitment & Admissions

All of the services are based at the Palatine Centre in Durham City.

In CLAS, we develop and implement educational guidance, policy and regulations. We manage engagement with external educational bodies and reviews, support the University’s Education Committee (and its sub-committees), run and analyse Durham's national student surveys, and publish and maintain the University's regulations and handbooks. We work directly with departments and faculties, overseeing quality assurance and enhancement processes, and managing progress and examination processes for research degree students. We oversee student appeals and academic misconduct processes, and run the University’s matriculation and graduation ceremonies. Our Common Awards Team manages the national Common Awards partnership, working with the Church of England and Theological Educational Institute (TEIs) partners across England, Scotland and Wales.

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 (pro-rate where appropriate):

• 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 and access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16 throughout the year.
• 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, we can 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.

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 criterion 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
1. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
3. Experience of writing detailed, evidence-based reports.
4. Experience working with complex regulatory and policy frameworks, with the ability to interpret and apply rules and requirements to recommend appropriate actions within the organisation, supporting compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
5. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
6. Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy whilst working under pressure to deliver to deadlines
7. Experience of implementing policy and procedures and supporting change and service improvements.
8. Ability to effectively network and exchange advice and information for development purposes.
9. Strong digital competence across a range digital devices and apps including email, digital communication tools and Microsoft 365 applications.
10. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
11. A commitment to personal development to maintain skills.

Desirable Criteria
12. Experience of appeals and misconduct cases.

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

Contact details

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Andy Rennie would be happy to speak to you ([email protected]).

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 appeals and academic misconduct processes, across the University to a high standard.
• Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from staff, students 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, policies and outcomes across all areas of your work.
• Identify any learning needs that should be met by the service 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 in support of appeals and academic misconduct.
• Contribute to progressing the strategic and operational priorities of your service.
• Seek feedback from staff, students and other key stakeholders so that the service is adapted to meet customer expectations and to plan future requirements.
• Analyse data on the level of service being provided by the service 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 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.