About
The
Job.
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Departmental Manager
About
The
Job.
Pursue the extraordinary
Overview
About the Department
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities has over 3,000 students and approximately 350 expert
and dedicated staff members working to achieve the Faculty’s vision in the following
disciplines: Archaeology; Biblical Studies; English Literature, Language and Linguistics;
History; Modern Languages and Linguistics; Music and Philosophy. The Faculty Office
provides a range of strategic, governance and practical project support to our departments
and schools working closely with Heads of Department and corporate support services.
For further details about the Faculty of Arts and Humanities please see our website
http://www.shef.ac.uk/faculty/arts-and-humanities
The Department of History is one of the major History departments in the UK, with a
total of over 40 staff in all categories. It is committed to achieving and sustaining
excellence in its research and teaching, and its planning is directed to this end. It was
rated 5 in the 1996 and the 2001 Research Assessment Exercises; in the 2008 exercise we
were in tenth position nationally ranked by the proportion of our research judged
'world-leading': 35% of our research was judged to be in this category (4*) and 30% to be
internationally excellent (3*), In 2011 a regular process of Periodic Review commended
the
Department’s strong
commitment
to
research-led
teaching.
A
previous
Independent Evaluation of Teaching had confirmed the Department’s excellent quality
of education, imaginative thinking about the curriculum, and innovative methods of
delivery. The Department also has a particular expertise in the application of IT to
research and teaching in the Humanities.
Job Role
This position has dual responsibilities; the post-holder will be the Departmental Manager
for the Department of History and also provide an administrative lead for projects on the
behalf of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities which will be agreed and regularly reviewed
with the Director of Faculty Operations (DFO).
It is expected that the post-holder’s
time will be split approximately 60:40 between these duties respectively.
As the Departmental Manager for the Department of History you will be responsible for
the delivery of high quality, professional administrative and technical support which is
fully aligned with the Department’s strategy. This will be delivered through the
leadership and management of the professional administrative and technical team of
staff within the Department which is comprised of eleven members of staff of which four
will report directly to this post-holder.
You will support the Head of Department and contribute as a key member of the
Department’s Executive Board to shape and influence the strategic direction of the
Department. In line with these responsibilities, the Departmental Manager will devise
objectives, plans and strategies to respond to Departmental, Faculty and University aims,
initiating and contributing to Departmental, Faculty and University projects, leading on
these where appropriate.
You will also support the Director of Faculty Operations in all aspects of their role and
work with staff across the Faculty to deliver the strategic vision for the Faculty. In line
with these responsibilities, you will devise objectives, plans and strategies to respond to
Faculty and University aims, initiating and contributing to Faculty and University projects,
leading on these where appropriate. You will also lead and/or co-ordinate temporary
teams made up of staff from across the Faculty that are created to deliver specific
projects over fixed timescales as appropriate from time to time.
An immediate project
for the post-holder will be to work with the Department of Music to embed the
outcomes of their administrative review.
You will also participate as a key member of the Faculty’s senior administrative
management team. The context and priorities of the Faculty projects will be set and
reviewed by this team.
Job Description
Main Duties and Responsibilities

Take responsibility for drafting, contributing to and co-ordinating submissions and
responses to University and external bodies, including the Research Excellence
Framework and its successors.

Manage large-scale projects involving the investigation and analysis of issues that have
an impact across the Department/Faculty and the formulation/implementation of
recommendations.

Facilitate executive decision-making through the provision and analysis of information
and statistical data.

Provide leadership and support to the administrative and technical support teams,
ensuring the full range of student support activities are delivered professionally,
effectively and with excellent customer service.

Motivating and developing staff to ensure there is an appropriate level of skills and
knowledge, including managing training, development and performance management.

As an active member of the Faculty’s senior operational management team liaise and
collaborate with other Departmental Managers to ensure coordinated action, minimise
duplication and share good practice and contribute to the planning process.

Act as an advisor to departments within the Faculty who do not have senior
administrative expertise within their own team.

Contribute to the development and implementation of Faculty strategy and objectives
through leading and working on projects at Faculty and sometimes University level and
lead projects as agreed with line managers.

Develop and maintain standing and network with fellow professionals, representing and
promoting own work activity.

Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.
Person Specification
Applicants should provide evidence in their applications that they meet the following
criteria. We will use a range of selection methods to measure candidates’ abilities in these
areas including reviewing your on-line application, seeking references, inviting shortlisted
candidates to interview and other forms of assessment action relevant to the post.
Criteria
Essential Desirable
Qualifications and experience
1.
2.
A good honours degree (or equivalent experience).
X
Experience of financial management including budgeting,
X
forecasting, financial reporting, financial processes and practice.
3.
Understanding of general University systems, services,
X
regulations and procedures.
4.
Knowledge and understanding of the higher education sector
X
and how the core business areas of HE institutions relate to each
other.
Management skills
5.
Ability to think, plan and act to deliver agreed projects and
X
business plans.
6.
Experience of operating at a managerial/strategic level within
X
the HE sector or similar complex environment.
7.
Experience of successfully managing and co-ordinating a diverse
X
range of service areas including research, finance, HR,
marketing, teaching, student support and other administrative
systems and processes within a HE environment.
8.
Successful track record of leading, managing and motivating
X
diverse and complex teams to deliver a high quality service and
achieve positive change.
9.
Experience of reviewing and improving internal processes and
X
systems, and of managing change effectively.
10.
Project management experience to ensure projects are
X
completed to the required quality, on time and within budget.
11.
Awareness of employment regulations and other legal
X
requirements.
Communication skills
12.
Excellent influencing, liaising and networking skills, including the
ability to develop and promote innovative services at all levels.
X
13.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to conduct
X
effective working relationships and to report/present to relevant
groups.
14.
A high standard of persuasion and influencing skills with the
X
ability to remain impartial and objective.
Team working
15.
Experience of building and developing a team and aligning the
X
day-to-day work and goals of the team with the organisation’s
strategic vision.
16.
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse and complex
X
team.
Supporting staff performance
17.
Willingness and ability to encourage staff development by
X
reviewing individual/team progress and performance and
embedding organisational strategy into individual performance
planning.
18.
Ability to motivate high performance in others at both individual
X
and team level.
Problem solving and decision making
19.
Proven ability to tackle and resolve complex and often
X
conflicting problems with an appreciation of the longer term
implications.
20.
Experience of participation in high level strategic decision
X
making.
IT Skills
21.
Good IT skills including Word, Excel and PowerPoint software
X
packages.
22.
Knowledge of Google applications, e.g. Google Docs/Drive,
X
Gmail and Calendar.
23.
Ability to utilise other specialist systems, e.g., research, staff and
X
financial records, etc.
Personal effectiveness
24.
Experience of developing and maintaining a network of
contacts.
X
25.
Experience of proactively adapting own skills to new
X
circumstances and working flexibly to meet the demands of the
post, both to meet current requirements and for anticipated
future skill requirements.
26.
Demonstrable ability to manage a broad-ranging workload with
X
challenging and competing deadlines and to deliver to agreed
timescales.
27.
Evidence of successful track record in delivering excellent
X
customer service.
28.
Ability to maximise opportunities and exploit challenges.
X
Further Information
This post is full-time:
This role has been identified as a full-time post, but we are committed to exploring flexible
working opportunities with our staff which benefit both the individual and the University.
Therefore, we would consider flexible delivery of the role subject to meeting the business
needs of the post. See www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/wellbeing/info/wlb.html for more
information.
Benefits
Terms and conditions of employment: Will be those for Grade 8 staff.
Salary for this grade: £37,756 - £45,053 per annum pro-rata.
Potential to progress to
£50,688 per annum through sustained exceptional contribution.
More details on salaries, terms and conditions and our wide range of benefits for staff are
available at www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/reward/structures
Informal enquiries:
For all on-line application system queries and support, contact:
e-Recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk .
For informal enquiries about this job and department, contact:
Ms Valerie Cotter, Director of Faculty Operations at v.cotter@sheffield.ac.uk or 0114 222
9703.
Selection-Next Step
Following the closing date, you will be informed by email whether or not you have been
shortlisted to be invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process. Please note
that due to the large number of applications that we receive, it may take up to two working
weeks following the closing date before the recruiting department will be able to contact
you.
The University of Sheffield is committed to achieving excellence through inclusion.
The University of Sheffield is proud to be a Two Ticks employer
www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/equality/support/twoticks/