Learning and Teaching Administrator (Job Number: 26000811)
Department of Engineering
Grade 4: - £25,844 - £26,663 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contract Duration: Permanent
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Working Arrangements: Monday to Friday
Closing Date: 26-Jul-2026, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.
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.
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. 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.
We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.
The Role and the Department
The Department of Engineering seeks a Learning and Teaching Administrator. This exciting role will be responsible for the provision of a professional, efficient administrative service supporting a wide range of teaching, learning and assessment activities from the point of student recruitment and enrolment through to graduation.
You will be working in a small, dynamic Learning and Teaching Team (which is part of a wider departmental team of professional support staff) who support each other on a daily basis, and which is at the heart of the student experience. You will be required to work with colleagues across the Department and Institution to ensure the service functions effectively in meeting priorities, working in accordance with University and Departmental policies and professionals. The base location for this role is in the Department of Engineering, which is situated on the Lower Mountjoy area of the Science site. Due to the nature of the role, the successful candidate will need to work on campus for the majority of time but, subject to business need, may work in a hybrid capacity 1 day per week once established.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about working in an educational environment, making a difference and achieving results. You will be a proactive and adaptive individual who likes to use their initiative, with strong time management skills and an ability to develop and nurture relationships with others. You will also have a keen eye for detail, a commitment to the principles of continuous improvement and a drive to get things done.
This is an exciting time to join the Department of Engineering, which is continuing a period of strategic growth. Durham’s unified Engineering Department is recognised as one of the strongest in the UK, with an excellent reputation for teaching, research, and graduate employability. The Department is committed to research‑led education and has recently achieved high national rankings, including 5th in The Complete University Guide 2026, 6th in The Guardian University Guide 2026, and 7th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026. It was also ranked 2nd in the UK for Engineering, behind only Cambridge, in a recent Institute for Fiscal Studies report on graduate earnings. Ranked in the top six in the UK for overall profile in REF 2021 (with 95% of publications rated as 4* and 3*), this dynamic Department is an excellent place to work.
The Department holds an Athena SWAN Silver Award, reflecting its commitment to diversity in STEM and its supportive, positive working culture. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing Department and make a meaningful impact on its future direction.
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.
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.
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
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.
To be considered for this role, here are the skills / experience we’re looking for:
Qualifications / Experience
1. Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or a post-16 qualification or equivalent experience.
2. Demonstrable relevant experience of working in a busy office environment delivering front line administrative services to a high standard*.
3. Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality, thereby maintaining accuracy, numeracy and attention to detail*.
4. Demonstrable experience of providing advice and guidance to a range of colleagues and customers.
Skills / Abilities / Knowledge
5. Excellent spoken and written communication skills, including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
6. Demonstrable evidence of strong digital competence across a range of digital services and apps including the internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking systems.
7. Demonstrable ability to be proactive and use own initiative to solve problems and resolve straightforward issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions both yourself and as part of a team*.
8. Committed to continuing professional development.
9. Demonstrable ability to participate in networks to share and discuss good practice and exchange information.
Desirable Criteria
10. Experience of working in Higher Education.
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- A table where you provide evidence of how you meet each of the criteria in the person specification
Contact details
If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Dr Charlotte Quarless (
[email protected]), Learning and Teaching Manager would be happy to speak with you.
Typical Role Requirements
Here are the kind of activities that you’ll be asked to undertake and ways in which you’ll be expected to operate.
Service Delivery
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
- Provide an excellent and timely service to our students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role.
- Use your experience and problem-solving skills to resolve routine issues relevant to your role such as student queries and provide information and updates to help your team find solutions.
- Collect, organise and record data and information, including student marks entry, marks collection and dissemination of student feedback, accurately and provide reports as required.
- Promote positive wellbeing arrangements which benefit you and your team.
- When carrying out your role, use and apply relevant professional and regulatory standards e.g. data protection when managing data.
- Monitor and track data, including assessment submissions and student progress, initiating follow up procedures, and drafting routine correspondence where necessary.
- Use standard office-based devices and applications such as Outlook, Teams / Sharepoint, Word, Excel and Powerpoint to deliver services.
- Process and update key business documentation, including standard operating procedures, handbooks, the virtual learning environment, and student concession requests.
- Make venue, catering, travel and/or equipment arrangements for events, meetings and recruitment and teaching activities where required.
Teamwork
- Resolve queries and respond to requests for information and advice and bring any complex issues to the attention of more experienced team members.
- Help your team organise and provide administrative services that support key activities, from the point of student enrolment to graduation, undertaken within your service and contribute to team planning activities. This will include meetings, student registration and induction, and open days.
- Help your team ensure that products and services are adapted in response to feedback and to meet changing demands.
Communication / Liaison
- Seek feedback from students, staff and anyone else that you come across as part of your role on their requirements from your service to ensure that their reasonable expectations are being met.
- Record information, e.g. student marks and student feedback, and respond, and pass on where appropriate, to queries which you receive.
- Liaise with staff in other areas, professional organisations and agencies to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way.
- Liaise with members of academic staff, University staff, external examiners, professional organisations and other external agencies where necessary.
- Provide support for meetings, working groups and committees, such as preparing and sending documents for meetings, drafting reports and taking minutes, as well as following up on actions and maintaining an action plan.
- Any other reasonable duties.
Useful links
If you would like further information you may find the following will help
Department of Engineering - Durham University.
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.
