Community Manager for Digital Research Infrastructure

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

The role is full time, but we are undertaking a hybrid pilot looking at how best our staff can work flexibly and on and off campus.

Durham University’s Department of Computer Science and the Institute for Data Science have recently secured multiple research projects within the remit of Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) upskilling. These projects aim to create an upskilling landscape – predominantly for simulations and AI running on HPC machinery – for the whole UK DRI community. This includes creating material for this upskilling, organising upskilling events, but also understanding the needs and requirements of the target community. Therefore, we are searching for a community manager who can liaise with the UK’s DRI landscape – this includes research software engineers, platforms experts, PhDs, PDRAs and academics – and build up a thriving community which is committed to world-leading research. The candidate will work in close collaboration with the PI (located in Computer Science) and will be placed in the offices of the Institute for Data Science in Montjoy.

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• 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 the 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is 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.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply:

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and development of in-person and hybrid events, e-learning material, and brand-building/PR activities within the organisation.
• Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements.
• Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
• Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and to positively influence the University’s reputation.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
• Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools to create e-learning content, collaboration tools, and social media.
• Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
• Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
• Ability to contribute to planning at an operational level.

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.

Submitting your application:

• A CV
• A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.
• Links to created e-learning and community outreach material within the cover letter.

Contact details:

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Tobias Weinzierl (tobias.weinzierl@durham.ac.uk).

Typical Role Requirements:

• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance relating to your professional area of expertise in line with the University’s policies, regulations and values.
• Manage the delivery of community engagement and DRI upskilling to a high standard and ensure that they are delivered in a customer focused way.
• Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from the DRI community both in Durham and UK-wide, as well as the associated academics and contribute to ideas and service improvements.
• Provide specialist knowledge and support when interpreting and analysing complex data and information sources.
• Look for ways to improve processes, workflows and outputs across all areas of your work.
• Identify any learning needs that should be met by DRI upskilling projects and design activities and arrange any training.
• Contribute to the delivery of activities that generate external income through upcoming DRI upskilling calls and liaise with RIS business development partners.
• Support activities which enhance the wider student experience.
• Contribute to the development of operational and strategic plans and service level agreements.
• Continually seek to enhance the services provided to your stakeholders and plan and implement any required improvements.
• Seek feedback from DRI professional staff from Durham and across the UK so that DRI upskilling and community building workflows are being adapted to meet customer expectations and to plan future requirements.
• Manage and monitor the performance of specified services and make recommendations to relevant Service Heads on how it can be improved.
• Analyse data on the level of service being provided by Durham’s DRI projects to recommend areas for future improvement.
• Meet the development needs of your stakeholders providing training when required.
• Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services.
• Use your operational expertise to lead and participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
• Keep stakeholders updated by sharing key service information about Durham’s DRI projects.
• Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills and swap information with peers.
• Use your expertise to participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working, both internally and externally.

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.