Senior Change Manager (Job Number: 26000649)
Student and Academic Services Directorate
Grade 8: - £47,389 - £56,535 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 2 years
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Working Arrangements: Hybrid Working
Closing Date: 07-Jun-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. 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.
Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page.
The Role and the Department
The Student Journey Futures (SJF) Programme, jointly led by Computing and Information Services (CIS) and Student and Academic Services Directorate (SASD), is delivering a multi-million pound programme of change.
This role will be a 2-year fixed term role on one of the universities key strategic projects. This role will
report into the SJF Programme Director but will work in a matrix management structure with close links into our Strategy Delivery Unit for alignment to our Change and Project Delivery approaches. The Strategy Delivery Unit is focussed on changing the way Durham University thinks about and delivers change, primarily focusing on the co-ordination and professional delivery of the University strategy.
The post holder will work with the following teams:
- Student Recruitment & Admissions,
- Widening Participation,
- Academic and Quality Services,
- Student Finance,
- Student Records and support to academics,
- Teaching and administrative services across the organisation that underpin the day-to-day activities of the whole organisation.
We are looking for a highly motivated individual, with outstanding interpersonal skills and a focus on successful implementation of change. The post holder will be expected to take responsibility for the provision of change management expertise within the SJF Programme. Post holders’ activity will include diagnosing stakeholders needs, providing guidance / promoting best practice approach to change, influencing stakeholders to get buy-in, agreeing a tailored approach to the project, application of change management tools in collaboration with change teams and overall support to change activity.
You will need to develop quickly an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the University’s structure and processes. You should be able to work collaboratively with members of staff at all levels throughout the University, providing support as well as pro-actively engaging with individuals and groups.
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 this 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.
- Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
- 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, 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.
Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.
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.
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.
Your application should cover the following criteria:
Essential Criteria
1. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. Excellent digital competence with demonstrable skills in using core digital tools including internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking system, project planning, financial systems, recruitment tools
3. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
4. Professional change practitioner with demonstratable specialist knowledge and expertise to use influence and deliver large and complex change within the organisation.
5. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
6. Ability to contribute to planning of change at operational and strategic levels.
7. Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships
Desirable
1. Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition (such as a change management qualification e.g. PROSCI or APM).
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 supporting statement which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.
Further information about the role
Role Delivery
- Responsible for operational deployment of the change management approach.
- Oversight of short term or temporary project teams/strands, taking responsibility for decision making as appropriate.
- Lead on the design (in line with SDU approaches), implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures, methodologies and systems, including key tools such as change impact assessments, change plans, readiness plans and training plans ensuring effective working and continuous improvement.
- Ensure all activities, processes and transactions are accounted for accurately and promptly to meet regulatory and professional service and policy standards.
- Produce communications for promotion and reporting purposes, designing and structuring information and fact, applying creative and innovative principles to influence and engage.
- Deliver professional expertise with investigative and service methodologies, make recommendations and identify priorities to develop business plans and achieve business outcomes and objectives.
- Maintain an oversight of the service and performance metrics to provide reports for higher level managers and committees.
- Responsible for allocating and monitoring financial budgets and resources.
- Manage quality and regulatory audit process for student and staff services over-arching systems and procedures.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
Planning and Organising
- Significant input into the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level.
- Carry out the scoping, initiation, resource planning, implementation and evaluation for large scale/University wide change management projects and initiatives, ensuring the delivery of measurable benefits and improvements.
- Promote the improvement and efficiency of departmental services by implementing management, review and improvement procedures.
- Implement processes to manage the integrity and security of all commercially and professionally sensitive and personal data.
Teamwork
- Work with team members and stakeholders to build and maintain excellent working relationships.
- Contribute to operational leadership teams and decision making to shape the nature and level of support services.
Communication/Networking
- Liaise and engage with key stakeholders and internal and external contractors to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services.
- Responsible for shaping the development and learning of others outside of team, through the design and delivery of training sessions and other forms of support to staff leading change within the University.
- Lead internal business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at operational service level to influence governance, organisational policy and standards for the service.
- Provide professional guidance to stakeholders regarding project and change management initiatives.
- Represent the service and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations at conferences.
- Develop external relations, identify and develop opportunities for communities of practice.
Knowledge and Experience
- Provide expert professional change management expertise and problem-solving skills.
- Act as recognised practitioner within own specialist area or discipline, shaping activities, processes and systems.
- Act as specialist point of contact dealing with complexity of data and information sources, interpretation and analysis.
- Promote and develop a deep understanding of organisational policy and external developments, including identifying and, where appropriate, adopting best practice within and outside HE in change management.
- Lead and deliver professional development and support initiatives that would apply across the University.
- Any other reasonable duties.
Useful links
If you would like further information you may find the following will help
About us - Durham University
SECONDMENT
The post is full time, fixed term for a 2 year period and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.
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 https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ 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.
