Senior Project Manager

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 thecomingyears 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 greatuniversities. 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.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of 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 :

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. It's important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

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

Your application should cover the following criteria :

Essential Criteria

Qualifications / Experience

1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).

2. Experience of providing professional project management leadership for complex projects.

3. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.

4. Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships..

5. Experience of implementing and ensuring compliance with organisational policies and procedures and supporting service improvements.

Skills / Abilities / Knowledge

6. Ability to solve problems and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.

7. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.

8. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally

9. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.

10. Commitment to continuing professional development and learning..

Desirable Criteria

11. Experience of working in the Higher Education sector or a similarly complex organisation.

12. 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 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

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

Planning and Organisation

Communication / Liaison

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 Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.