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Well help you find your own pace

We understand that not everyone is looking for a career where they’re encouraged to progress. That’s why we believe everyone should have the opportunity to find their own pace.

If you do want to develop in your role and build an exciting future, you’ll discover that Durham is a place that will inspire you to do outstanding things in the world. And if you’re happy to continue in your current role, then we’ll support you to do that, too.

Either way, we’re committed to making sure you have everything you need to be able to achieve your ambition - no matter what it is.

Our priorities

Our Organisation Development strategy outlines three priorities for learning, growth, development and progression.

We want to:

  • Build our leadership capability with an inclusive focus.
  • Increase the effectiveness of our teams to help us all deliver high performance.
  • Provide opportunities for high quality individual professional and personal development. 

Career pathways in Professional Services

People in Professional Services roles are also able to make the most of our commitment to finding and growing the best talent in the world.

The sheer diversity of our departments, environments and job families, mean that there are opportunities to develop and progress in a wide range of disciplines and specialties.  Our defined career pathways provide a clear route to career success for everyone who joins us. Staff can also apply for career development roles, which span grades 1 to 9 and allow them to develop new skills and qualifications in line with their individual development plan. These roles provide opportunities for staff to develop the specific skills required for the next grade role.

Coaching & Mentoring

We provide lots of ways for you to get involved in coaching and mentoring.

Our External Coaching Framework consists of a number of professionally accredited external coaching professionals each with experience of coaching senior Professional Services and academics within the Higher Education sector.

Our In-house Coaching Network is driven by colleagues who have completed Institute of Leadership and Management development in coaching. Collectively, they form a 'bank of in-house coaches' who are on hand to help our people reach their full potential.

Whats more, we also offer New Starter Mentoring for people who join our University. Plus Informal Peer Pal” Mentoring that requires no official intervention, but which can help anyone play a role in enhancing our academic community and collegial culture.

Continuous Professional Development 

Everyone who joins us is able to make the most of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) time. We encourage all of our Professional Services colleagues to spend at least 21 hours each year on CPD, and this is calculated pro rata for part time colleagues.

We offer a wide range of CPD training including workshops delivered virtually and in-person that can help you build the skills you need to be the best you can be in your role, to deal with change effectively, and to progress in your career if that’s your aim.

They include:

  1. Career development workshops
  2. Competency interview workshops
  3. Dealing with challenge workshops
  4. Focus and planning courses
  5. Improving productivity sessions
  6. And much more.

All training we offer is based on your own individual development needs, regardless of your sex, age, marital status, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin or sexual orientation.

Whatever your role, we really do want you to reach your full potential.

ED&I training courses

We’re here to help everyone learn. Our comprehensive and challenging ED&I training programme helps us embed progressive thinking across Durham - and in all of our everyday activities.

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