Head of Sector Development and Place-Based Growth (24002158)

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• Oversee and manage to professional and regulatory standards (for example five case business case preparation and subsidy control regulations), and policies relating to activities carried out by your service.
• Use your leadership and management expertise to implement any significant changes in the optimal way, in collaboration with other senior managers, specialists and institutions.
• Lead on the development of new areas of work or activities including scoping, planning and implementing any changes to achieve the outcomes expected by senior colleagues.
• Look for innovative ways to continually improve the services provided to your stakeholders.
• Develop and implement new or improved policies, processes and standards.
• Use your professional knowledge and experience in business or as an economic development or regeneration professional to identify opportunities for Universities to support economic growth programmes and secure investment.
• Support quality and regulatory audits to ensure that system and processes are operating in an optimal and compliant way.
• Meet the professional development needs of your stakeholders and staff by ensuring that a programme of training and learning activities are available.
• Provide specialist insight that enables data driven decisions to be made about your service and the various market demands or growth sectors which should be in focus for your service.
Planning and Organisation
• Use your expertise to help develop strategic plans and business plans that cover a wide range of operational activities and which can deliver the operational activities of your team in a financially sustainable way.
• Define what needs to be achieved so that other colleagues can scope, plan and implement large scale/University wide initiatives or collaborate partnerships with other organisations.
• Ensure your services are performing at the optimal level by setting clear standards and introducing measurable performance indicators.
• Use your leadership expertise to help project teams understand what needs to be achieved, solve any problems that are encountered and keep implementation plans on track.
• Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources in line with the requirements of the funder and the financial objectives of the University.
• Understand and take steps to address key challenges or barriers to your service achieving its outcomes, for example supporting organisations to understand the contribution of universities to economic growth and developing interventions which can win investment.
Leadership and Team Development
• Set operational and strategic objectives and use your leadership and management skills, to develop the people in your team(s) and ensure high standards of performance.
• Help shape the skills and expertise needed to deliver a professional service by recruiting, inducting and training team members and structuring your team(s) in way that will best meet operational and strategic priorities.
• Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members and considering succession plans.
• Carry out regular performance reviews with colleagues to provide feedback on objectives and identify any development needs.
• Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team, taking advice on more complex issues to specialist services or senior managers.
Communication/Liaison
• Lead internal and external meetings and committees to influence University policy, standards and governance.
• Build and lead an influential network of internal and external contacts to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and use that information to improve and develop your service.
• Identify opportunities to build relationships with external organisations to support the delivery of strategic level objectives.
• Working with specialist teams in the University, plan and manage marketing, communications and public affairs activity to promote your service and secure investment.
• Research new approaches being taken by internal and external stakeholders and other Universities and innovation organisations such as Catapults, so that you can take these insights into account when developing your service.
• Explore options to promote and increase engagement in the work being delivered by your service.
• Design and deliver a programme of professional development activities to your stakeholders to support their development and information needs.
• Any other reasonable duties.
Useful links If you would like further information you may find the following will help: Helping Business - Durham University 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.

1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience). 2. Demonstrable experience of successfully supporting economic development, sector growth and/or place-based regeneration working with businesses, sector organisations and other economic partners. 3. Experience of building projects and interventions which can align organisational objectives to the needs and ambitions of partners and secure investment. 4. Experience of participating positively in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships, deliver services at scale, and positively influence the University's reputation. 5. Experience of working in a complex organisation which operates in a visible stakeholder environment. 6. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements. 7. Track record of cross-functional management and development experience across a large service team or teams, preferably supported by an enhanced management qualification. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 8. An understanding of the rationale and role of Universities acting as key Anchor institutions in their localities and regions and of the range of economic interventions this could involve. 9. An understanding and ability to buiild strong partnerships across organisations and sectors to deliver on shared objectives, including with funders. 10. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally. 11. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communications tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems including those to manage organisations and programmes, and manage and grow stakeholder relationships. 12. The capacity to oversee the development of compelling business cases for public or private investment. 13. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition. 14. Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines. 15. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels. 16. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions. Desirable Criteria 17. An understanding of the public policy framework for public sector action and investment in economic development and to support regeneration. 18. Experience or demonstration of a strong understanding of knowledge exchange mechanisms from universities to businesses and other trading organisations.

At a time of rapid change in the economy and new policies and institutions driving local economic growth and industrial strategy, there is a significant opportunity for Durham University to strengthen its work supporting economic development, contributing to its vision of being an active and strongly engaged anchor institution in County Durham and the North East region. As Head of Sector and Place Development you will provide leadership capacity within the Economic Development, Commercialisation and Policy Team (CEDP) connecting the University's research and skills development capacity to the growth ambitions of key industrial clusters and sectors, and to place based projects and interventions at key sites in County Durham and the wider region. You will work with professional staff within CEDP and with other teams within Research and Innovation Services Division, and with colleagues across University faculties, departments and institutes to develop a clear understanding of the opportunities to support growth in these sectors and clusters and develop plans, interventions and projects which can deliver new partnerships and investment into 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? - Durham University The Role and Department[DEL: :DEL] Research and Innovation Services (RIS) is a professional services directorate at the heart of Durham University. We provide expertise, leadership and support to academics and professional colleagues across the University for all research, research-related, knowledge exchange and economic development activities. Our aim is to strengthen Durham's role at the leading-edge of research and innovation, inspiring extraordinary change across the world and in our region. Our vision is to facilitate world-leading research and knowledge exchange through a high-performing, high-quality service. As Head of Sector and Place Development you will be a senior manager within the Commercialisation, Economic Development and Policy (CEDP) Team reporting to the Director of Economic Development, Commercialisation and Policy. The economic development agenda is developing rapidly across the North East of England, creating a significant opportunity for Durham University to strengthen its work supporting the economy, to contribute to the realisation of its vision of being an active and strongly engaged anchor institution in County Durham and the region. The University is working closely with the County Council and the regions two Combined Authorities to support sector development and place-based economic growth, for example through the County Durham Economic Partnership which oversees the Durham Inclusive Economic strategy, and supporting regional initiatives like Investment Zones and the forthcoming Local Growth Plans. This work is closely connected to national economic policy, including both industrial policy and devolution. This role will provide a leadership capacity within RIS to co-ordinate and enable this work across the University, connecting the University's research and skills development capacities to the growth ambitions of key industrial clusters and sectors, and connecting these to place based projects and interventions at key sites in County Durham and the wider region. Our aim is to maximise the positive impact of our research, skills and innovation activities and ensuring our contribution to future economic change in the region. Working with professional staff within CEDP and with other teams within RIS, and with colleagues across University faculties, departments and institutes you will develop a clear understanding of the opportunities to support growth in these sectors and develop plans, interventions and projects which can deliver new partnerships and secure investment, delivering new and diversified income into the University

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:
• Staff leave includes 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 (Please note that the University closes between Christmas and New Year and these days are included in this number).
• We offer a generous pension scheme, as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into this 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.
• 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.
• Our support for health and wellbeing includes discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• The on site nursery is available plus access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16. We have a range of 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).
• We facilitate and support volunteering, with five days per year paid time allowed for individual or organised 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.
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.