HR Recruitment Administrator (12 month Fixed Term Contract)

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

People are the most important asset of Durham University and our HR Department is pivotal in ensuring that we attract, recruit, develop, reward and retain the very best talent from across the world into our University community.

The HR Department plays a leading role in creating a working environment for our staff (and potential staff) which is supportive, stimulating and informative, whilst providing for creative and innovative employment practices and opportunities. Our aim is to make sure that Durham University is a great place to work.

The University HR Recruitment Team provides support for all staff recruitment within the University and the recruitment of world leading colleagues is a strategic priority. This is an exciting time to join our team here at Durham, as we launch our new e-recruitment system. As an HR Recruitment Administrator, you will work as part of a supportive and thriving team to administer each stage of the recruitment process, including tasks such as advertising vacancies, preparing applications for shortlisting along with issuing interview invitations followed by contracts to successful applicants.

You will be an effective team member and work collaboratively with others. You will provide recruitment support and guidance to our colleagues across the business, acting as a first point of contact for recruitment queries. You will use your problem-solving skills to manage and resolve enquiries wherever possible, ensuring a high-quality service and a fantastic recruitment experience for our colleagues and candidates.

You will have previous administration experience including working on multiple tasks at the same time. You will be able to work well in a team, with the ability to multi task, and prioritise workloads to ensure you meet your deadlines. You’ll be comfortable working on a variety of systems, including our Recruitment System, and have working knowledge of Microsoft Office products such as Outlook, Word and Excel.

Within the role, you will get to support on a variety of role types and volume, including casual recruitment..

This post is full-time, 35 hours a week and fixed term for 12 months.

We operate hybrid working and are on site two days per week and remainder from home.

The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub.  Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House – Durham University.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 18 November 2026.

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, inclusion and values

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

To be considered for this role, here are the skills/experience we’re looking for:

Qualifications/Experience