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. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.
Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.
Your application should cover the following criteria:
Essential Criteria
Qualifications/Experience
1. Educated to degree level, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience working in a building services environment.
2. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence service delivery and activities within the organisation.
3. Experience of participating in networks to share and discuss good practice and develop strong and productive working relationships.
4. Experience of delivering and developing Mechanical Building Services Engineering systems.
5. Experience of leading mechanical design and installation of mechanical buildings services and infrastructure ensuring they are safe, compliant, fit for purpose and efficient in operation.
6. Experience of delivering major infrastructure projects involving multi-agency working within an educational, commercial or industrial environment.
7. Experience of providing specialist mechanical engineering services advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
8. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements.
9. Track record of managing and developing engineering teams on both capital and revenue projects
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
10. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
11. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including [digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems].
12. Extensive knowledge and experience in the design and installation of mechanical building services engineering.
13. Experience in project management and contract administration.
14. Achievement of recognised industry and professional standards supported by relevant courses or certifications [e.g. infrastructure services].
15. Professional knowledge and experience of compliance and regulations.
16. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
17. Knowledge and experience of health and safety issues and compliance.
18. Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
19. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
20. Exceptional attention to detail.
Desirable Criteria
1. Membership of a relevant professional institute i.e. CIBSE
2. Hold or working towards full Chartered membership of the Engineering Council
3. Knowledge of energy management and Building Management Systems (BMS)
4. Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
5. Good working knowledge of University structures and estates procedures (including improvements and capital)
6. Experience of working in the higher education sector.
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
We prefer to receive applications online, and to be considered at the shortlisting stage, you will need to submit both of the following:
- A CV; and
- A supporting statement which clearly demonstrates, with examples, how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.
Contact details
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Paul Hammond, Interim Assistant Director of Engineering and Asset Maintenance,
[email protected].
Typical Role Requirements
Service Delivery
- Provide expert professional, mechanical engineering services and managerial and leadership expertise.
- Lead on the design, implementation and monitoring of mechanical engineering services policy and quality standards, procedures and systems to ensure effective working and continuous improvement.
- Lead on the design and installation of mechanical buildings services and infrastructure ensuring they are safe, compliance, fit for purpose and efficient in operation.
- Act as a specialist point of contact dealing with complex mechanical building services systems and act as Authorised Person (AP) for relevant mechanical engineering systems as required.
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
- Develop and apply an in-depth understanding of university policy and external developments when carrying out you role.
- Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met by activities, carried out in services you are responsible for.
- Use your professional knowledge and experience as a mechanical building services engineer and provide subject matter expertise and advice.
- Use your managerial and leadership expertise to identify priorities and shape mechanical building services to achieve the required outcomes.
- Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards.
- Initiate and manage business process reviews to improve the service in your area.
- Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.
Planning and Organising
- Contribute to the development of resource and operational plans relevant to your area.
- Scope, plan and implement large scale/University wide initiatives.
- Deliver professional expertise with the mechanical design, construction and development of infrastructure, estates and services.
- Lead and manage major capital and refurbishment projects across the organisation, monitoring performance, providing progress reports and taking action to ensure agreed outcomes are met.
- Assign activities within agreed operational and strategic plans to relevant project teams for them to deliver.
- Lead the design and implementation of transformative service developments.
- Promote opportunities to change how services are delivered in your area.
- Manage and monitor health and safety assessments procedures to ensure compliance.
- Monitor and repor on the performance of mechanical consultants and suppliers.
- Keep up to date with changes in legislation, codes of practice, industry standards and best practice.
- Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources
Team Development
- Manage and develop the people, performance and resources of the Mechanical Building Services project team, to ensure that a customer focussed service is provided.
- Help shape the skills and expertise needed to deliver a professional service by recruiting, inducting and training team members and structuring the team in way that will best meet operational and strategic priorities.
- Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members
- Carry out regular performance reviews/check-ins to provide feedback on objectives and expectations and identify any development needs.
- Handle appropriate HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team referring more complex issues to specialist services or more senior managers.
Communication/Liaison
- Influence University policy, standards and governance by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees as required.
- Provide professional guidance and advice when managing complaints and specialist services.
- Build and establish contacts and networks with key stakeholders, internal and external staff, suppliers, contractors and industry specialists.
- Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University’s reputation.
- Represent the service and University at promotional events.
- 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, which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.
