The University of Sheffield
Programme Manager
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The University of Sheffield
A remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities, and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.
Overview
IT Services is delivering an ambitious Operating Model Programme, a significant, multi-year redesign that will change how the department organises, resources, and works in order to better support the University's strategic priorities. The programme spans structures, ways of working, processes, and culture.
This role is central to the day-to-day success of the programme, working closely with the Head of Portfolio, workstream leads, and senior stakeholders across the University to keep delivery on track.
Working to a pre-defined programme scope and governance framework, the postholder will proactively map dependencies across workstreams, manage risks and issues, and track progress against plan. The programme itself is delivering ITS's shift to a product-led operating model, and the postholder will need to work comfortably within that agile, outcomes-focused environment. This is a permanent role: the initial priority is delivery of the Operating Model Programme, and over time the postholder will take on programme delivery management of other key priorities across the ITS portfolio.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
The Operating Model Programme has already been designed, with its scope, plan, and governance framework established. Initially, the Programme Manager is responsible for the coordinated, day-to-day delivery of the programme, working proactively to keep it on track; as priorities evolve, the postholder will take on delivery management of other significant programmes and projects within the ITS portfolio.
- Proactively map, track, and manage dependencies across all Operating Model Programme workstreams, identifying and resolving conflicts before they impact delivery
- Play an active role within the programme's established governance framework, supporting board reporting, decision-making, and assurance processes
- Monitor and report progress against the programme plan, ensuring milestones, actions, and deliverables are tracked, and any slippage is identified early
- Identify, assess, and manage risks and issues across the programme, escalating appropriately and driving mitigating actions through to resolution
- Work closely with workstream leads to ensure plans are realistic, resourced, and aligned to the overall programme roadmap
- Maintain the programme's core artefacts (plan, RAID log, dependency map, benefits tracker) ensuring information is accurate, current, and accessible
- Prepare clear, concise reporting on programme status, progress, risks, and issues for a range of audiences, including senior stakeholders and governance boards, using agreed portfolio reporting standards and formats
- Plan and coordinate programme communications, including regular updates, briefings, and messaging to keep stakeholders and affected teams informed
- Support engagement activity with teams across the IT Services & the wider University, helping them understand and adopt the changes the programme introduces
- Support the Senior Responsible Owner and Head of Portfolio in monitoring programme budget and resource allocation against plan
- Build strong working relationships with stakeholders across departments to support effective delivery
- Identify opportunities for process improvement, sharing lessons learned across the programme and wider portfolio
- Escalate promptly wherever gaps in the programme are identified, risks materialise, or additional management intervention is needed
- As ITS priorities evolve, take on delivery management of other significant programmes and projects within the portfolio, applying the same dependency, risk, and governance disciplines
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
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Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
Essential
- Significant experience of managing complex programmes or projects within a large, matrixed organisation, ideally including organisational or operating model change.
- Demonstrable knowledge of programme and project management methods, processes, and practices, and their application in complex organisations
- Proven ability to proactively identify, track, and manage dependencies and risks across multiple interconnected workstreams.
- Ability to assess, negotiate for, and organise resources and people in environments with significant levels of uncertainty and ambiguity.
- Ability to report on programme activities, progress, risks, and issues in written and oral formats to a range of audiences, including senior stakeholders
- Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise, manage conflicting demands, and work to tight deadlines across multiple workstreams.
- Ability to operate effectively within an established programme governance framework, supporting reporting and decision-making processes.
- Ability to liaise with staff at different levels and from different backgrounds, for example academic and professional services.
- Experience of planning and delivering programme or project communications, and supporting engagement activity to help teams understand and adopt change
- Ability to motivate and influence peers and external parties to carry out required activities.
Desirable
- Experience of working within agile, product-led, or outcomes-based delivery environments.
- Hold, or be working towards, a recognised programme or project management qualification (e.g. MSP, APM PMQ, PRINCE2).
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Further Information
- Grade: 8
- Salary: £48,822 to £58,225 per annum with the potential to progress to £65,509 through exceptional circumstances
- Work arrangement: Full-time
- Line manager: Head of Portfolio (IT Services)
- Direct reports: N/A
Right to work in the UK
If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.
Our website
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/it-services/about (opens in new window)
For informal enquiries about this job contact: Amy Garrett-Payne, Head of Portfolio: at a.garrett@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
The selection process will take place following the closing date. This will consist of an interview and a presentation. We will let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage following. If you need any support, equipment, or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact it-services-recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
What We Offer
- A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out, and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support, and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s, and Parent’s networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development with access to learning and mentoring schemes.
- A range of generous family-friendly policies
- Paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- Access to menopause support in the workplace
- Paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- And more
More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).
We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Closing Date: 11/10/2026
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches, and insights, it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs, and ways of living for everyone.
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