Senior Project Manager

Job description

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? - Information Page.

The Role and the Department

Durham University has an ambitious strategy that builds on our world-leading research, education and wider student experience.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to support the delivery of major strategic initiatives across our academic portfolio. The initial project will be within the Faculty of Science, coordinating a project designed to transform the Faculty's interdisciplinary and translational research capability, capacity and impact.

The Senior Project Manager will play a pivotal role in leading the delivery of this complex and high-profile project. Working with senior academic and professional services colleagues, the role will be responsible for ensuring effective planning, governance, delivery and benefits realisation across a diverse portfolio of workstreams.

Key responsibilities include:

Engaging stakeholders to understand requirements, gather feedback and translate needs into effective solutions and deliverables.

Leading the planning, mobilisation and delivery of project workstreams, ensuring the successful achievement of objectives, milestones and outcomes.

Managing project scope, schedules, resources, risks, dependencies and deliverables to ensure successful delivery.

Identifying and actively managing interdependencies and critical path activities across complex projects.

Providing leadership and coordination across matrix-managed teams, fostering collaboration and maintaining momentum towards shared goals.

Establishing and maintaining effective governance, reporting and decision-making processes.

Supporting the identification, tracking and realisation of benefits to ensure strategic outcomes are achieved.

The role sits within the Change and Project Delivery Team, which leads and supports complex change initiatives and projects across the University. The team forms part of the Strategy Delivery Unit, alongside Portfolio Management and Continuous Improvement, working together to enable the successful delivery of the University's strategic ambitions.

This is a permanent role with a minimum expectation of two office-based days per week. Candidates should be willing and able to increase their office attendance, up to five days per week, where required to meet business needs.

Further information about the role and its responsibilities can be found later in this job description.

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 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. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the 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. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.
• We have 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.
• 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.
• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• 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).
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• 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.
• Various salary sacrifice schemes are 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.

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. Educated to degree level or equivalent.

2. Significant experience of leading and delivering complex projects, applying recognised project management methodologies, tools and techniques to plan, monitor and control delivery.

3. Experience of working in higher education or similarly complex organisational environments, navigating competing priorities, multiple governance structures and diverse stakeholder interests.

4. Experience of providing leadership to cross-functional and matrix-managed teams, co-ordinating and motivating teams without direct line management responsibility.

5. Experience of supporting the implementation and embedding of change to achieve sustainable outcomes and measurable benefits.

Skills/ability/knowledge

6. Excellent planning and organisational skills; managing project scope, resources, schedules, dependencies, risks and issues to successful completion.

7. Ability to engage, influence and build credibility with senior leaders, academic staff and professional services colleagues.

8. Strong communication and facilitation skills, communicating complex information clearly and tailoring messages to different audiences.

9. Ability to evaluate information, identify solutions and make informed recommendations in ambiguous or challenging situations.

Desirable Criteria

10. Understanding of the research lifecycle and the academic operating environment.

11. Change management qualification or experience.

12. Experience of supporting research, education or student experience initiatives.

13. Experience facilitating workshops and co-design activities.

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. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. 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 throughout the selection process, via automated emails from oure-recruitmentsystem. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What you need to submit

• A CV: and
• A supporting statement which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.

Contact details

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Rachel Edwards at [email protected].

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery/Development
• Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the University's values.
• Develop and promote an in-depth understanding of university policy and external developments relevant to your role.
• Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met by the change and project management activities that are carried out in services you are responsible for.
• Use your professional knowledge and experience as a project management practitioner to resolve problems, shape processes and activities, develop systems and provide subject matter expertise and advice.
• Provide specialist advice on the analysis and interpretation of complex data and information relevant to your area.
• Responsible for operational activity across the Strategy Delivery Unit.
• Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards.
• Instigate and manage business process reviews to improve the service in your area.
• Meet the professional development needs of your stakeholders, providing training when required.
• Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.
• Manage quality and regulatory audits of systems and procedures.
• Support the welfare, wellbeing and employment of your staff by providing professional guidance.

Planning and Organisation
• Contribute to operational leadership teams to influence the type and level of services that are provided by your area
• Contribute to the development of operational and strategic-level plans relevant to your area.
• Scope, plan and implement large-scale/University-wide major projects and other change initiatives.
• Manage projects to deliver agreed objectives while solving any problems which are encountered.
• Provide oversight for short term/temporary project teams.
• Analyse data about the service levels provided by your area and make recommendations for improvement in reports to senior managers and committees.
• Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources

Communication/Liaison
• Use your professional knowledge to identify and recommend priorities for long-term business plans.
• Provide professional guidance and advice when managing service change.
• Design creative and innovative communications to promote and increase engagement relating to the Strategy Delivery Unit and the projects you deliver.
• Influence University policy and standards by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
• Design and deliver training to your stakeholders to support their development and information needs.
• Create strong working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University's reputation.
• Represent the Strategy Delivery Unit and University at promotional events.
• Identify opportunities to develop and increase participation in special interest groups.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Useful links

If you would like further information you may find the following will help

https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/university-strategy/

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.