Work based learning and Employer Services Senior Manager (Job Number: 26000961)
Careers and Enterprise
Grade 8: - £47,389 - £56,535
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 54 weeks
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Working Arrangements: Hybrid role, dependent on the needs of the role, 2 days minimum in office
Closing Date: 17-Aug-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.
The Role and Department
The Careers & Enterprise department sits within the Chief Operating Officer’s directorate and is part of the University’s developmental approach to ensuring effective student engagement, achievement and positive progression. Careers & Enterprise (C&E) is a dynamic and developing team, operating across the university through subject departments, colleges, societies and industry facing initiatives to support the development and progression of all students. It aims to help them meet the challenges and opportunities of the constantly developing employment market, and become the leaders and innovators of the near future.
The post holder will lead the work of the Work Based Learning Team and the Employer Services Team to deliver a comprehensive programme of employer engagement activities as well as the strategic and delivery lead of funded work-based learning initiatives, including externally funded programmes, extra-curricular internships and in-curriculum work-based learning support. As a member of the Senior Management team, a key role for the post will be to attract local, national and international business to establish opportunities for Durham students and graduates and to work innovatively to generate external funding to improve the Careers and Enterprise offer for key stakeholders. This post will work in close partnership with University departments ensuring effective collaborative practice and referral to support opportunity curation. The post will also engage more widely with internal and external stakeholders, acting as a champion for employer engagement and work experience activity and aim to learn from best practice delivery elsewhere.
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’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.
- 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. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
2. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise of employer engagement and developing, delivering and evaluating internship and work experience interventions.
3. Experience of providing employability related specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including academics and more senior colleagues.
4. Experience of networking effectively to share and discuss good practice, and working collaboratively with a range of businesses, employment support groups and regional agencies to positively influence the University’s reputation.
5. Experience of creating and implementing work experience and procedures and supporting service improvements.
6. Track record of management and development experience and/or an enhanced management qualification applied across a large service team or teams.
7. Experience of delivering funded projects including ensuring project compliance, budget management, target setting, action planning and carrying out evaluation activities.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
8. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally and produce resources, support materials and reports for a range of audience.
9. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including all Microsoft 365 applications and social media
10. Commitment to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition and supporting the CPD ambitions of others.
11. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
12. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels including the capacity to conceptualise and take initiative in recommending and implementing new ideas.
13. Ability to work innovatively and collaboratively to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
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.
Contact details
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact the hiring manager, Laura Dorian, Deputy Director of Careers and Enterprise (
[email protected]) or Donna Carr, Work-based Learning & Employer Services Senior Manager (
[email protected])
Typical Role Requirements
Service Delivery/Development
Show a commitment 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 your role and promoting work based learning and employer engagement activities across the University.
Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met by work experience delivery, student recruitment and employer engagement activities that are carried out in services you are responsible for.
Use your professional knowledge and experience as an employability practitioner to initiate projects, resolve problems, shape processes and provide subject matter expertise and advice to a range of stakeholders including colleagues, academics, businesses and students.
Use your managerial and leadership expertise to identify priorities and shape Careers and Enterprise to achieve positive outcomes for all students and graduates.
Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards.
Help develop standards for your service defined in service level agreements.
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.
Identify and implement improvements to processes and service delivery across all areas of your work.
Use creative and innovative ways to promote employer engagement and work based learning activity to all key stakeholders
Identify, contribute to and deliver activities that generate external income to support service delivery and student opportunity.
Planning and Organisation
Contribute to the development of operational plans relevant to Careers and Enterprise.
Oversee the analysis of feedback and impact on the level of service provided to a range of key stakeholders and develop strategies for future improvement.
Lead on the delivery of professional development and support initiatives across the University.
Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.
Team Development
Manage and develop the people, performance and resources of the Work based learning and Employer services teams 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 to provide feedback on objectives and expectations and identify any development needs.
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
Influence University policy, standards and governance by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
Provide professional guidance and advice when managing the Careers and Enterprise service.
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 Careers and Enterprise and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations.
Identify opportunities to develop and increase participation in special interest groups.
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.
MATERNITY COVER
Appointment to this post is fixed term to cover the substantive post holder’s maternity leave and is not anticipated to be extended.
SECONDMENT
The post is full time, fixed term for a 1 year period and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.
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.
