Vice-Principal (Job Number: 26000932)
University College
Grade 8: - £47,389 - £56,535 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Working Arrangements: Flexible, some evening and weekend work
Closing Date: 23-Aug-2026, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Please note that the successful applicant will require DBS disclosure. Further info: https://bit.ly/3DP5K8y
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.
The Role and Department
University College (Castle) is home to 1,100 undergraduates, 450 postgraduates, 400+ senior common room members, and nearly 50 staff. Our shared vision: Inspired by our enduring heritage, University College aspires to be a welcoming and inclusive learning community dedicated to empowering individuals, fostering a deep sense of belonging, and enabling all to flourish through service, scholarship, and shared purpose. Our community is co-created by students and staff through facilitation of 40+ student-led sports and societies, enrichment and mentoring programmes, charity initiatives and volunteering opportunities, wellbeing support, performing arts opportunities, vibrant social events, and more.
The highly collaborative college leadership team includes the Principal, Vice Principal, Assistant Principal, Alumni and Development Manager, Chaplain and Solway Fellow, College Operations Manager, Curator, and Food and Beverage Manager. The VP maintains an intentional link with each colleague, providing continuity and big picture perspective to ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of University College.
As a partner in leadership with the Principal, the VP shepherds delivery of our college objectives, enlivens our shared vision and drives culture change. Specific admin responsibilities include coordinating the administrative team, monitoring a complex budget, coordinating college communications, facilitating college misconduct protocols, and managing student internships and employment.
The Vice Principal leads the College’s multi-faceted and highly collaborative enrichment programme. This includes supporting the JCR and MCR, coordinating all new student induction activities, supporting internships, overseeing library and study space, facilitating prospective student visit days, and inspiring academic engagement programmes, all of which enable the University’s current strategy of enabling a unique Wider Student Experience offer.
As the University’s oldest College, Castle partners with a wide range of internal and external constituencies. The Vice Principal plays an important role in maintaining these relationships, including the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Institute for Advanced Studies, International Office, World Heritage Site Senior Manager, local community partners/events, Castle Research Group and the DU World Heritage Site governance framework. Managing the complementary and competing demands for events and engagement here, both internally and externally, requires the VP’s attention to ensure congruence with the college’s co-curricular education focus and support castle access for the broader community.
Please note this role must be fulfilled onsite here at Durham Castle, which is part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site and involves navigating historic staircases, cobbles and environmental controls.
Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.
Please note: We anticipate scheduling interviews on 15 September. We encourage early applications, as this role may close before the advertised deadline if a large number of applications are received.
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 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 although there will be some duty cover required as part of the on call rota during vacations
- 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.
Person Specification
When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills and 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. Educated to postgraduate level (or equivalent experience).
2. Professional practitioner with experience educating / coaching / mentoring / supporting university students in a co-curricular environment.
3. Experience of managing and developing a team.
4. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of students and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
5. Experience of participating in internal or external education or learning networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
6. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting education improvements.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
7. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
8. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
9. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
10. An understanding of issues associated with confidentiality and an ability to balance confidentiality with the need to share information appropriately.
11. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including social media, Canva and Microsoft 365 applications.
12. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
13. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
Desirable Criteria
14. Demonstrable experience or understanding of working in a heritage environment.
15. Experience providing after hours on-call support for urgent situations.
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 and anticipate interviewing shortlisted candidates on Tuesday, 15 September. 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 (max 3 pages)
- A covering letter which outlines your interest in this role and 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 Professor Wendy Powers, Principal and Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor:
[email protected]
Typical Role Requirements
Service Delivery/Development
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
- Collaboratively assess the student experience and college culture, identify and design improvements, and implement meaningful change.
- Use creative and innovative practices.
- Contribute to alumni engagement and fundraising activities that generate support for the college and her students.
- Use your professional knowledge and experience as an educational administrator to resolve problems, shape processes and activities, develop systems, and provide subject matter expertise and advice.
- Use your leadership and managerial expertise to identify priorities and shape the college to achieve the required outcomes.
- Develop and apply an in-depth understanding of university policy and external developments when carrying out your role.
- Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met and carried out in college.
- Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.
Planning and Organisation
- Contribute to the development of operational plans such as emergency response, business continuity, etc.
- Gather student feedback about college progress toward our vision, analyse the feedback and recommend/initiate improvements.
- Lead on the delivery of professional development and support initiatives.
- Monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.
Team Development
- Manage and develop the people, performance and resources [of one or more teams] to ensure that a customer-focused 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 a 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 to provide feedback on objectives and expectations and identify any development needs.
- Ensure that your team continues to develop by coaching and mentoring team members and delivering any training needs.
- Support the welfare and wellbeing of your team referring more complex issues to specialist services.
- Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team, referring more complex issues to specialist services or more senior managers.
Communication/Liaison
- Actively participate in the after hours on-call duty rota. On average, colleagues serve in an on-call capacity one week per term and 3-5 days per vacation period. Most situations can be handled remotely; however, on-call staff must be able to respond in person onsite within 60 minutes if necessary.
- Influence University policy, standards and governance by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
- Provide professional guidance and advice when managing complaints, referrals and specialist services.
- Build and sustain an influential network of contacts, both internally and externally, using these to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University’s reputation.
- Represent the College and the University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations.
- Identify opportunities to develop and increase participation in special interest groups.
- Any other reasonable duties.
Useful links
If you would like further information you may find the following helpful:
Our college website: University College - Durham University- Our 24/25 Year in Review: https://www.durham.ac.uk/media/durham-university/colleges/university-college-castle/handbooks/University-College-year-in-review-2024-25.pdf
- Our College Instagram offers a snapshot into our College education offer www.instagram.com/universitycollegedurham/
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.
