Contract Duration: until 01 June 2027.
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 P&G Liaison Officer will support and enable the strategic partnership between Durham University and P&G. This will include acting as a key point of contact across both organisations for collaborative activity, coordinating portfolio of projects, and proactively managing interactions and engagement.
As part of our Business Development team, the P&G Liaison Officer will lead on the organisation of events, engage with the academic community across Durham to explore new opportunities for collaborations with P&G, provide administrative support to the P&G-Durham Board, attend external events, produce communication and engagement materials, and support operational delivery of projects across the partnership.
The role will be crucial to scaling the partnership, leveraging existing and developing new relationships and networks across the organisations, driving new opportunities for collaborative R&D including potential development and commercialisation of new products and services.
We’re looking for a colleague who has previous experience of developing and delivering research and innovation projects with industrial partners, particularly collaborative work related to new product development or emerging technologies would be useful. The role involves engaging diverse stakeholders across various organisational functions, therefore strong collaboration and communication skills are highly sought after. Familiarity with technical facilities, analytical services, and contract research environments is also desirable.
Lead responsibility for the role at Durham University lies with the Research and Innovation Services (RIS) team. The post holder will report to a Senior Business Development
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.- 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.
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 Language and Mathematics or a Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience.
2. Experience and expertise in the development and delivery of administrative services.
3. Experience of providing advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues.
4. Experience of implementing policies and procedures.
5. Experience with academic-industrial partnerships
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 digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.
8. Committed to continuing professional development.
9. Ability to plan and organise events, meetings, and activities involving the service.
10. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
11. Ability to participate in networks to share and discuss good practice and exchange information.
Desirable Criteria
12. Previous experience working with industry, including co-sponsored PhD studentships.
13. Technical expertise in biosciences, chemistry, mathematics, computer science.
14. Experience collaborating with academic colleagues.
15. Experience with university administrative processes.
16. Understands impact case studies and REF.
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 covering letter or statement which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification
Contact details
If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Dr. Chris Howell, Business Development and Partnerships would be happy to speak to you. [email protected]
Typical Role Requirements
The P&G Liaison Officer responsibilities on a day-to-day basis include:
- Acting as the main point of contact for all parties involved (academics, researchers and commercial staff) in the strategic relationship.
- Providing logistical support including setting up meetings and providing administrative support for project and broader partnership meetings.
- Support activity that would help to grow value from the DU / P&G strategic relationship and drive scale, including leveraging and building on networks from the portfolio of projects between Durham University and P&G.
- Delivering bespoke collaborative research and innovation support activities for DU and P&G, this can include:
o Supporting large scale external grant funded projects involving DU and P&G, they would assist collaboration between relevant academics at External Universities and P&G partners by:
i) co-ordinating consortium meetings.
ii) tracking contributions.
iii) enabling access to university facilities for project consortium partners and staff.
o Supporting administrative tasks for internal reporting, scheduling and running partnership Board meetings including pre-reading and timely reporting of summaries and progress against agreed actions.
o Managing the DU / P&G project portfolio and highlighting key needs and opportunities, to assist the partnership board.
o Supporting contracting tasks for income generation, enabling rapid setup of new projects, co-ordinating between departments and across DU and P&G to ensure fast start, including troubleshooting where necessary.
o Supporting business development activity at events and meetings, as an externally facing representative for Durham University at regional networking events and other external engagements to amplify communication of partnership impact.
o Supporting reporting for Impact Case Studies and REF Return.
o Producing written reports and / or presentations for DU, P&G, external partners.
o Producing marketing materials for external business engagement activity.
- Expected to work flexibly with academics, researchers and commercial staff to deliver business and innovation support and collaborative activities for the Durham University P&G partnership. This could include project scoping, assessing needs, facilitating consultations and supporting project team staff.
- Provide specialist advice and guidance relating to your professional area of expertise, in line with the University’s policies, regulations and values.
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion, and both Durham University and P&G’s values.
Service Delivery
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
- Ensure that the University’s procedures and values are always reflected in all aspects of the service provided and adapt ways of working where this is not evident.
- Provide specialist advice and make decisions to resolve problems relating to the services you are responsible between DU and P&G.
- Use your experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve issues relevant to your role and make recommendations based on your findings.
- Manage, maintain and monitor designated systems between DU and P&G to ensure safety, security and compliance.
- Provide the best possible service to DU colleagues and P&G collaborators by reviewing and making suggestions to improve the service.
- Collect and record data and information accurately.
- Organise and analyse data and statistics to ensure it is accurate and provide reports to senior colleagues.
- Implement any changes or processes to ensure the accuracy and integrity of data and information.
Planning and Organising
- Plan and organise your workload to deliver the role.
- Plan, manage and deliver assigned projects, activities and events in accordance with agreed objectives.
- Supervise the work of staff and teams involved in delivering events, project work or core operational service to support the DU / P&G relationship.
- Seek feedback from DU colleagues and P&G stakeholders to ensure that the service is updated to meet customer expectations.
- Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services, and provide related advice and guidance to other staff.
Communication/Liaison
- Develop and improve services by taking part in meetings, working groups and committees.
- Create good working relationships, including internal and external networks which allow you to increase your knowledge and skills, while swapping information with peers.
- Build relationships with external collaborators to share good practice, exchange information and work together on joint initiatives.
- 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 Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Privacy Notice which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.
SECONDMENT
The post is full time, fixed term until June 2027 and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.
If an internal member of staff is appointed to this role on a secondment basis, for pension purposes this will be processed in line with Step-Up arrangements. For further details please click here.
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.
