Widening Access and Participation 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

The Role and Department

The Role - What will you be doing?

The Widening Access and Participation Manager will be responsible for delivering University widening participation strategies and fulfilling the relevant requirements of the University’s existing and future Access and Participation Plans. They will manage access and participation initiatives, such as projects to support admissions pathways to the University and work with schools and colleges to support recruitment from under-represented backgrounds. This currently includes management of projects such as Supported Progression, the Sutton Trust Summer School Programme, the STEP programme, Insight2Uni, DU Cares, work with Schools and other initiatives such as the Universities partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation. The post holder will be expected to work with senior managers to effect a smooth transition between the current and future deliverables of the University’s Access and Participation Plan and associated strategies, including ensuring that projects within their portfolio continue to evolve accordingly.

The Widening Access and Participation Manager will manage the Access Team within Recruitment and Admissions in the first instance. This is currently a team of five staff and the post holder will have two or more direct reports. They will report to the Senior Manager, Access and Engagement.

The post holder will work collaboratively with colleagues across Recruitment and Admissions and will work closely with internal stakeholders such as academic departments, professional support services, colleges, wider student experience teams, Durham Student Union, Colleges JCR members and current students working as Durham Student Ambassadors, to ensure projects deliver a holistic representation of the University to participants.

The Widening Access and Participation Manager will maintain an up-to-date knowledge of sector wide good practice and developments; using this to continuously develop service provision and improve outcomes, specifically, conversion rates. They will also monitor and evaluate delivery, with a focus on increasing the impact of activity in relation to rates of progression to Higher Education and to Durham University specifically.

The Department and our Team

Access and Engagement is part of the broader Student Recruitment and Admissions Department. Access and Engagement works to inspire, educate, motivate and support the choices of young people traditionally under-represented at university, and Durham University in particular. We are ambitious, passionate about our work and committed to making a positive difference. Widening Participation is a key target in the University’s Education Strategy.

Further information on Access and Engagement can be found at https://www.dur.ac.uk/academic.office/access-engagement/ .

Based in the Global Division, Recruitment and Admissions brings together a number of teams providing services in widening participation, events, enquiry management, CRM, data analysis and forecasting, projects and compliance and admissions. It provides an essential service to the University in ensuring its financial sustainability and in delivering student number growth and increasing diversity in line with strategic aims and targets. We are the public face of the University in UK schools and colleges, through our contact with prospects, enquirers and applicants across the world and through our events programme. The team includes a range of professionals from a number of specialisms including administrators, decision makers, data analysts and forecasters, IT specialists, designers and marketers, events managers and recruiters. All of the services are based at either the Palatine Centre or Mountjoy Centre in Durham City.

Working arrangements: This is a full-time, open-ended/permanent role. Working hours are usually 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday as is standard in Recruitment and Admissions. However, due to the nature of the role, the role is frequently required to work outside of these times and occasionally on evenings or weekends. This role provides leadership to residential activity that takes place at certain points of the year and therefore requires some working residentially. The role is required to travel occasionally, especially around the North East but including nationally, which may include nights away from home. We are currently working in a hybrid way, meaning that some remote working is possible. The role will be required to spend a minimum of 2 days per week on site.

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 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).
• 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 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.



Qualifications :



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

1. Clear and effective oral communication skills with experience of presenting for a variety of audiences.

2. Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to communicate information in a variety of written formats, to high standards of accuracy and clarity.

3. Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.

4. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience) and have a high level of numeracy and literacy.

5. Professional widening access and participation practitioner with knowledge and expertise used to contribute to the delivery and development of widening participation services, events and activities. within the organisation.

6. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.

7. The ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally, with experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence perceptions of the University.

8. Experience of managing and developing a team or teams and/or line management qualification.

9. An understanding of current trends and priorities in secondary and higher education, especially access and participation, social mobility, and student recruitment.

10. A commitment to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion.

11. Ability to inspire and empathise with potential undergraduate students, including sympathy with the role of a leading University, with competitive entry and high expectations on applicants, within the widening participation agenda.

12. Experience of working on complex logistical activities and events for young people, including residential activity, and preferably in a higher education setting.

13. Experience of managing budgets and delivering projects that represent value for money.

14. Knowledge and experience of child protection and safeguarding legislation, policies, procedures, and of applying best practice in a previous similar role.

15. Ability and willingness to drive a car, including having a full UK driving licence.

Desirable Criteria

• Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
• Experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.
• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
• Ability to guide and direct learning by ensuring learning outcomes that support the realisation of academic potential.

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 covering letter or statement which shows examples of how you meet all of the essential and desirable criteria within the Person Specification. We encourage applicants to use a table or sub-headings to ensure they set out clearly how they meet each individual criterion.

Contact details

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Rik Coldwell (Senior Manager, Access and Engagement) would be happy to speak to you (richard.coldwell@durham.ac.uk).

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

• Manage the operation of access and participation initiatives to ensure an excellent experience for young people, parents, teachers, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Responsible for managing and profiling small budgets for consumables and some capital items, keeping records, processing invoices and ensuring good value for money.
• Provide management for widening participation initiatives ensuring a high quality and timely service to all stakeholders, including young people, teachers, parents, internal staff and external organisations.
• Ensure regulations and procedures are updated to take account of internal and external changes.
• Coordinate and oversee committee working and deal with complaints.
• Explore ways in which the University can develop and improve its commitment to equality and diversity in respect of recruitment and admissions.
• Contribute to the measures and targets laid out in the University’s Access and Participation Plan.
• Contribute to business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at departmental and operational service levels.
• Help continue the University’s current success in promoting fair access and support the development of new approaches to encourage and persuade young people from non-HE backgrounds to apply and enrol at Durham.
• Support areas of Recruitment and Admissions’ work, such as open days, confirmation week, and where applicable, clearing.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values

Planning and Organisation

• Responsibility for the design and development of initiatives for one or more access and participation areas or projects.
• Support development and delivery of fair access projects such as Supported Progression, the Sutton Trust Summer School Programme, STEP, Insight2Uni and Schools Engagement.
• Contribute to the analysis of stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements, inputting to the design and planning of access and participation activities and events.
• Analyse widening participation and admissions data and provide reports to the Senior Manager and Service Heads, making recommendations for improvement as appropriate.
• Ensure the review and improvement of access and participation activities and events in line with University frameworks.
• Recruit and induct new team members.
• Implement and monitor protocols, procedures, processes and regulations.
• Monitor and report incidents, with particular reference to young people attending events and activities.

Teamwork and Team Development

• Recognised widening access and participation practitioner and management and/or service specialist with responsibility for the management of team members.
• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR (annual development review) and other performance reviews.
• Handle the vast majority of welfare issues within a team, referring more complex welfare issues to appropriate support services/senior management.
• Delivery of ongoing coaching, mentoring and training to team members.
• Devo lve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development.
• Manage and monitor performance and workload outcomes and/or staff, planning cover to ensure smooth service provision through peaks and troughs.
• Supporting and encouraging team members such as Graduate Ambassadors, Administrators, and Coordinators.
• Supervisory responsibilities for services, resources and people.
• Provide induction and ongoing development support and training to team members.
• Contribute to the ADR process, assisting with the identification of development needs where appropriate.
• Plan and organise own workload, and allocate and monitor work activities for others.
• Act as first point of contact for HR issues when supervising a team.
• Manage student helpers working on student recruitment and/or access and engagement activities.

Communications and Networking

• Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation, particularly with schools and colleges, external organisations such as charities, and internal staff and students.
• Contribute to business meetings, working groups and sub committees to help shape service delivery and stakeholder expectations.
• Provide advice to colleagues as well as young people, teachers and parents and other external stakeholders in relation to University, School and/or Department policy, procedures and regulations.
• Distribute access and participation information and provide advice to young people, teachers, parents, internal staff and external organisations.
• Relationship building, network participation internally and externally to build and update knowledge and skills, particularly with schools and colleges, external organisations such as charities, and internal staff.
• Use a range of digital media and tools to communicate with a diverse range of key stakeholders, both verbally and in written format who may need to access information.
• Establish, maintain and develop productive and ongoing relationships with stakeholders to influence perception of the University.

Knowledge and Experience

• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as access and participation, student recruitment, and admissions.
• Awareness of the external environment and sector best practice to support high quality services, particularly around access, student success and progression.
• Awareness of the external environment and sector best practice to support high quality services, particularly around access, student success and progression.
• Responsibility for ensuring events and activities are suitable for young people in the context of child protection and safeguarding, and for implementing best practice on such events.
• Carry out in-depth investigations, searches and research information and data to identify trends and patterns in higher education progression of under-represented groups.
• Supervise widening participation activities including residential summer schools and school visits.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

• DBS Check

• Ability to travel independently between remote locations and transport promotional materials and equipment (i.e. display stands), with the requirement to travel and work during evenings and weekends. This may involve the occasional overnight stay when travelling for work.

• The role will be required to spend some time in residence when leading or supporting specific activity such as residential summer schools. This normally affects only a few days and weeks during the year, typically in April, July, and August.

• Due to business needs there will be some restrictions to annual leave. This is to assist in supporting the delivery of residential and other project activity, open days, A level confirmation periods and other such tasks as required. Restricted dates are typically known far in advance.

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.