Durham University
Senior Project Manager
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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 will build on our world-leading research, education, and wider student experience. Over the coming years we will be investing in our people, estate, and IT infrastructure and our ways of working to ensure that we remain one of the World’s great universities. We are looking for a Senior Project Manager to deliver major strategic projects.
The Strategy Delivery Unit is focussed on co-ordinating and facilitating the implementation of the University’s ambitious strategic plans. There are three teams within the unit covering the activities of portfolio management, change and project delivery and continuous improvement. The role will sit in the Change and Projects team but will deliver projects across the University.
The purpose of the role is to manage the delivery of projects within assigned parameters including scope, schedule, finance, risk, quality and resource. The role will be required to:
- Lead the planning and implementation of projects
- Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements and the design of key deliverables
- Oversee and manage project scope, tasks, deliverables, and timelines
- Identify and manage project dependencies and the critical path
- Matrix manage staff teams
- Facilitate the delivery of benefits
The successful candidate will be an experienced project manager with a good understanding of project and change methodologies and techniques. They will be able to build trusted relationships with teams across the university, will be a good communicator, and will be tenacious and pragmatic. They will have experience of delivering change in complex environments, plus, they will be excited about - and motivated by – Durham University’s ambition and the opportunity to play a key part in making it happen.
This is a hybrid role with a minimum expectation of two office-based days each week. Candidates should be willing and able to increase their office attendance, up to five days per week when required by business needs.
This is a fixed term role for 2 years.
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.
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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 workforce 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.
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Your application should cover the following criteria:
Essential Criteria
Qualifications/Experience
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
- Experience of providing professional project management leadership for complex projects.
- Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
- Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships.
- Experience of implementing and ensuring compliance with organisational policies and procedures and supporting service improvements.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
- Ability to solve problems and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.
- Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
- Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.
- Commitment to continuing professional development and learning.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of working in the Higher Education sector or a similarly complex organisation.
- Experience of change management.
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 our e-recruitment system. 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
- 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 rachel.edwards@durham.ac.uk.
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
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