Requirements
Candidates must be educated to degree level and possess a proven track record in performance sport environments, preferably within higher education. Strong leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills are essential for managing complex sports programmes and stakeholder relationships.
Job Description
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 Experience Directorate is striving to play a pivotal role in developing, delivering and transforming a Wider Student Experience that is as impactful as anything in the world. We remain steadfast in our core commitment to accelerating the growth of far-reaching and market leading programmes across performance, participation, community outreach and engagement, whilst fostering a culture that safeguards academic excellence. We are guided by the belief that an investment in the Wider Student Experience is ultimately an investment in the quality of graduates that the University produces and are motivated by the opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation of talent. In doing so, we feel confident that we are making a positive contribution to the development of rounded, global citizens.
Sport
Durham University is one of Europe’s leading sport universities and has been ranked in the top three for BUCS performance since 2013. In 2019 the University completed the construction of a £32m Sports & Wellbeing Park, adding to a prior investment, on the same site, of £8m in 2012 making it the sporting facility in the north of England. As a result of the significant work that has been carried out across our performance, participation and community networks the University was awarded the Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year for 2023.
Our performance sport programme supports 12 sport clubs and over 50 students who are on professional or international playing pathways each year. Additionally, the programme has won 134 BUCS National Championships since 2009 and supports National League programmes in Football, Hockey and Rugby.
Typical Role Requirements
The Senior Performance Sport Manager will be the strategic lead and oversee delivery of our Performance Sport Programme. Working directly with the Head of Sport, the Senior Performance Sport Manager will seek to develop partnerships which strengthens our performance programme with national and regional national governing bodies, professional sport clubs as well as local community relationships.
Team Durham is seeking a professional who can bring innovation to a changing landscape in Higher Education sport, strong leadership to a dedicated team and strategic thinking which values collaboration and partnerships.
The role itself has key delivery strands in which it will strategically oversee:
· Performance Sport services management
· Scholar recruitment at undergraduate and postgraduate level
· Develop new and maintain existing partnerships with external stakeholders
· Line management for Head coaches and other delivery staff including Strength & Conditioning lead and Recruitment team
This role is ideal for an experienced professional wanting to lead one of the UK’s top university performance sport programmes.
The Senior Performance Sport Manager will form part of a Management Team for Sport and will be expected to contribute to the leadership of all areas of the Team Durham programme.
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. The University closes between Christmas and New 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.
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.
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. A track record of successfully working in performance sport environments with a preference towards higher education sector.
3. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and proven experience to influence delivery, and services in Performance Sport environments.
4. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of stakeholders, including more senior colleagues.
5. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s strategy for performance sport.
6. Experience of implementing policies and procedures supporting service improvements.
7. Track record of management and development experience or an enhanced management qualification applied across a range of teams.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
8. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally
9. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
10. Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
11. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
12. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
Desirable criteria
13. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps
14. Knowledge and understanding of the UK University Sport system
15. Baseline knowledge of other sporting environments outside the UK, namely the NCAA.
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 essential criteria within the Person Specification.
Contact details
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Dave Coldwell, Head of Sport & Physical Activity, [david.j.coldwell@durham.ac.uk].
Service Delivery/Development
· Contribute 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.
· Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met in services you are responsible for.
· Use your professional knowledge and experience as a strategic delivery lead to [resolve problems, shape processes and activities, develop systems] and provide subject matter expertise and advice.
· Use your managerial and leadership expertise to identify priorities and shape the university’s performance sport programme to achieve the required outcomes.
· Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards.
· 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.
· Manage quality and regulatory audits of systems and procedures.
· Support the welfare, wellbeing and employment of your staff by providing professional guidance.
Planning and Organisation
· Contribute to the development of operational plans relevant to your area.
· Oversee the analysis of data about the service levels provided by your area and make recommendations for improvement in reports to senior managers and committees.
· Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.
Team Development
· Manage and develop the people, performance and resources of the identified 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.
· 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
· Use your professional knowledge to identify and recommend priorities for long-term business plans.
· Provide professional guidance and advice when managing complaints, referrals and specialist services.
· Design creative and innovative communications to promote and increase engagement relating to your service.
· Influence University policy, standards and governance by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
· Create strong working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University’s reputation.
· Represent Sport and the University at promotional events.
· 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 will help
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 Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Privacy Notice which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.
Durham University is a UKVI sponsor. Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK should note that not all roles are eligible. Further information on visa requirements and eligibility can be found on the UKVI website.