Insurance Assistant Officer - Durham

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. 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? – Durham University
The Role and the Department
The role of Insurance Assistant Officer sits within the Finance Department of Durham University and is to support the Insurance Manager in delivering all aspects of insurance services across the University. This will include assisting with the annual data collection for the insurance renewal exercise, the provision of travel cover via our in-house system for staff and students travelling on University business, updating the Motor Insurance Database with changes to the University\’s fleet vehicles, dealing with Durham Student Organisations, providing advice and guidance on all manner of insurance queries from travel to liability, updating the SharePoint site for the Insurance Service on all manner of queries and the handling of all types of claims in conjunction with our cover providers from travel claims to liability claims .
The role will involve working with all levels of staff across the University and close liaison with our cover providers and insurers and with loss adjusters on claims and the opportunity to get to know a wide range of people both within the University and external to the University. As the nature of insurance can be quite reactive no two days are the same.
This is a hybrid role so will involve a minimum of 2 days in the office each week.
From early 2025 the base location for this role will change from our Durham City Centre site to our exciting new professional services hub based at Boldon House. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House will bring a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more about this project, please visit this webpage: Boldon House – Durham University. The office days for Boldon House will be determined prior to the move to Boldon House.
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:
• 27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 39 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• 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.
• 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.
• On site nursery is available plus access to 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).
• 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.
• 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, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• We offer generous pension schemes.
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. 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 GCSE\’s at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or a Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience.
2. Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience, preferably with the Chartered Insurance Institute.
3. Relevant experience in the insurance industry handling a broad range of covers in a large organisation.*
4.. Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality.
5.. Experience of providing advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues.
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 digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.
8. Ability to solve problems yourself and as part of a team and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.
9. Committed to continuing professional development.
10. Ability to participate in networks to share and discuss good practice and exchange information.
11. Ability to accurately record information and data
12. Demonstrable ability to proactively work with team members to ensure the delivery of high quality services
Desirable Criteria
1 Evidence of personal development to maintain skills
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 supporting 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, Claire Robinson would be happy to speak to you. Please contact Claire initially on
Typical Role Requirements
Service Delivery
• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University\’s values.
• Ensure that relevant regulatory and professional standards are being used within services being delivered by your team.
• Help to develop and implement policies and procedures relating to your service area.
• Respond to all manner of insurance queries and provide information/advice, while raising more specialist or complex queries with more experienced team members.
• Handle all types of insurance claims including but not limited to travel, motor fleet, property, employers liability, public liability and professional indemnity.
• To be the point of contact for Durham Student Organisations that are part of the University for all insurance matters.
• To update the Motor Insurance Database and internal records for changes to the University\’s motor fleet vehicles.
• To assist the Insurance Manager in the collation of data for the annual insurance renewal exercise.
• To review and process applications for staff and student travel in the University\’s in-house travel system.
• To update the Sharepoint site for the Insurance Service.
• Use your experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve issues relevant to your role and make recommendations based on your findings.
• Continually review what is required from staff, students and others who you work with to make sure the best possible service is provided.
• Ensure that processes and business systems effectively support the services being delivered by the team on all insurance matters.
• Monitor and analyse the use of equipment and resources to ensure efficiency and report your findings to senior colleagues.
• Ensure that data is accurate and provide reports and analysis of patterns and trends to senior colleagues.
• Capture and share information and data that needs to be shared with relevant networks and committees.
• Use digital media (e.g. SharePoint, Social Media) to update team members and colleagues, students and external contacts.
• Prepare reports for senior managers.
• To deputise for the Insurance Manager during leave or absence.
Planning and Organising
• Plan and organise own workload to deliver the role and meet deadlines imposed both internally and externally.
• Organise and schedule assigned(resources, activities and events.
• Monitor processes and activities to ensure team priorities are met.
Teamwork
• Provide specialist support and advice on all manner of insurance queries).
• Explain and provide instruction to other team members on how to correctly record and manage data.
• Make changes to the services provided by your team in discussion with the Insurance Manager.
• Identify opportunities and contribute to decisions on how to improve services being delivered by the team.
• Seek feedback from students, staff and anyone else that you come across as part of your role on their requirements from your service and recommend improvements to senior colleagues.
Communications/Liaison
• Use your knowledge and expertise to provide advice and guidance to resolve problems and respond to a wide range of queries.
• Provide instruction and demonstrations to others within other areas of the University.
• Create good working relationships with other team members and anyone else that you come across as part of your role to work together on joint activities.
• Liaise with staff in other areas, professional organisations and agencies to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way.
• Create good working relationships with internal and external partners and suppliers to work together on joint activities.
• Build relationships with contacts and contribute to internal and external networks to share good practice and exchange information.
• Liaise with external cover providers, loss adjusters and brokers to plan the delivery of services and 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 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