College Administration Coordinator

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? • Information Page. The Role and the Department Josephine Butler College is seeking to appoint and welcome a new College Administration Co-ordinator to our friendly, vibrant, and inclusive community. Opened in 2006, we are named after the 19th-century social reformer, Josephine Butler, who had a profound influence on society's view of women's health and education. Her legacy of advocacy, commitment to social justice and kindness serves as an inspiration to our students, staff, and broader College community. Josephine Butler College is led by Professor Gillian Hampden-Thompson. Working as a part of a close-knit team, you will be involved in a wide range of activities aimed at furthering the College and University strategy, especially concerning the effective administration of Josephine Butler College. The College Administration Co-ordinator will provide an efficient and effective administrative support service to the college management team, will be a primary contact for the college student body, and will support the work of the Junior, Middle, and Senior common rooms In the academic year of 2026-27, the College will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. As such, the role will allow the successful candidate to be involved in supporting various events and activities relating to the anniversary celebrations. This is an in‑person role based at Josephine Butler College. The expected start date is 2nd November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work. 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 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days. 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. • 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. • Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16. • 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. • We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference to the local community. • 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). • If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships. • We offer generous pension schemes with varying contribution amounts to help you plan for your future. 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. 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. Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with colleagues, students, and external stakeholders. 3. Strong proficiency in digital tools and administrative systems, including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, and business systems to optimise operational efficiency. 4. Proven ability to foster an inclusive and collaborative work environment that aligns with the University’s commitment to equity, diversity, and student empowerment while promoting a sense of belonging. 5. Proven ability to anticipate and resolve administrative challenges through effective problem-solving, planning, and decision-making that aligns with institutional priorities. 6. Strong networking and relationship-building skills, with the ability to exchange best practices and contribute to a collaborative workplace culture. Desirable Criteria 7. Commitment to continuous professional development with evidence of proactive skill enhancement relevant to administrative excellence. 8. Experience managing complex workloads with adaptability, balancing competing priorities while maintaining attention to detail and service quality. 9. Strong data management and analytical skills, including proficiency in handling student records, financial processes, or reporting mechanisms to support informed decision-making. 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, Dr Mike Finn would be happy to speak to you. josephinebutler.vp@durham.ac.uk Typical Role Requirements Service Delivery · Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the University’s values. · Supervise the implementation of changes to procedures and practices relating to your service area. · Respond to queries and provide information/advice, while raising more specialist or complex queries with more experienced team members. · Use your experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve issues relevant to your role such as and make recommendations based on your findings. · Enhance Durham University’s reputation by providing support to the running of internal and external outreach activities. · Monitor and analyse the use of equipment and resources to ensure efficiency and report your findings to senior colleagues. · 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 information used to analyse the service being delivered is accurate and provide reports and analysis to senior colleagues. · Ensure that data and information is accurate and share reports with internal networks. Planning and Organising · Plan and organise your workload and the activities of other team members to deliver the role. · Organise and schedule assigned resources, activities and events. · Contribute to planning the operational priorities of your team and make suggestions to senior colleagues on how to improve the service. · Monitor processes and activities to ensure team priorities are met. · Help manage and coordinate events and other activities. Teamwork and Team Development · Supervise and delegate tasks to other members of the team and make sure that they are completed. · Explain systems and procedures to new starters and provide specialist advice and guidance (including any training) to help less experienced team members carry out their role. · Contribute to performance review processes by providing feedback on individual and team objectives and expectations, considering any development needs. · Provide specialist support and advice to team members on areas of expertise. · Make changes to the services provided by your team in discussion with other team members. · 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 for your service and recommend improvements to senior colleagues. Communications/Liaison · Update and apply changes to processes and procedures. · Use your knowledge and expertise to provide advice and guidance to resolve problems and respond to a wide range of queries. · 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 to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way · Record information such as bookings for activities/events and share with internal partners. · Create good working relationships with internal and external partners and suppliers to work together on joint initiatives. · Build relationships with contacts to share good practice and exchange information. · Use creative and engaging ways to communicate and promote information about your service to your stakeholders such as events and activites. · Provide induction for students, staff and external service providers. · 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 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. Version 07-2026