Portfolio Manager

Oxford University Department for Continuing Education (OUDCE) is seeking to appoint a Portfolio Manager (PM) for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Short Courses which is housed in the Department’s Professional and Open Access Courses section. 

The CPD Portfolio provides short open enrolment and bespoke courses that are designed to provide high-level training and professional upskilling for individuals across a range of companies, for professionals in organisations, for government departments, and for research and academic institutions.  

About the role 

The PM will be responsible for line-managing a team of four full-time administrative colleagues and  will undertake the development, planning, marketing and delivery of self-financing CPD courses, workshops and conferences aimed at professionals in a wide range of fields. 

This is a full-time position, available on a permanent contract.  

About you 

You will be highly experienced in the management, development, and delivery of CPD programmes for professionals. In addition, you will have substantial experience in organising and promoting innovative ventures. You will be expected to use your initiative at all times within a framework of performance objectives and financial controls, and exercise meticulous attention to detail in planning complex courses and events. You will be expected to work with a high degree of autonomy. 

Commercial awareness, an entrepreneurial instinct and a strong motivation to achieve sustainable self-financing goals are essential attributes.  You will also have an outgoing, professional approach and a positive orientation towards flexible collaboration. There is a strong emphasis on teamwork, in which willingness to help colleagues to cope with contingencies and unusual pressures is paramount. 

You will draw on the expertise of faculty from across the University and will develop close ties with industry professionals.   

You will be required from time to time to attend receptions, dinners, and other CPD-related events after normal office hours and, sometimes, at weekends. 

You must have a strong marketing awareness, be able to exercise authority appropriately, be diplomatic and able to successfully negotiate agreements. You must be able to communicate confidently with academics, strategic groups across the University, senior managers in industry, board-level executives, and training and development specialists in multinational companies.  

A high level of IT literacy is required.  The Department uses a combination of Microsoft and other packages, including MS Office packages, and new customised administrative database and finance systems.  Familiarity with these (or similar) software packages is required.  You will be expected to use new technologies for efficient and creative communication and administration. 

About us 

The Department for Continuing Education is one of the University’s largest departments and every year than 19,000 students enrol on its courses and programmes.  Our main areas of work are in continuing and professional education, and we engage with individuals and organisations locally and globally. The Department is headed by the Director and the senior management team which includes two Deputy Directors and two Assistant Directors. There are some 200 members of staff in the Department. Facilities include a Residential Centre (with a hotel and catering operation), common room, library, lecture theatre and a range of teaching rooms. We have a dedicated online course production unit, Technology-Assisted Lifelong Learning (TALL), which specialises in course development and consultancy.   

OUDCE provides opportunities for people from a wide variety of backgrounds to benefit from the University’s rich and unique resources. We are ambitious and forward-thinking, with a strong sense of identity and community. Our mission is to inspire people locally, nationally and globally by extending access to Oxford’s world-class teaching and resources through flexible and inclusive opportunities for study and research.  

Colleagues uphold the uphold the Mission, Vision and Values of the Department and actively promote a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. 

For more information, please visit: www.conted.ox.ac.uk. 

What we offer 

Your happiness and wellbeing at work matters to us, so we offer a range of family-friendly, financial and other benefits including: 

• An excellent contributory pension scheme  

• 38 days’ annual leave 

• A comprehensive range of childcare services 

• Family leave schemes 

• Cycle loan scheme 

• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs 

• Discounted bus travel and season ticket travel loans 

Application process 

You will be required to upload the following documents: 

1. A covering letter/supporting statement which clearly states how you meet each of the  essential criteria for the post 

2. An up-to-date CV 

3. The contact details of two referees  

To make informal enquiries about the post please contact Dr Iain Landles at [email protected]  

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 22 January 2024. 

Interviews will take place on 31 January 2024. 

Bring your expertise to the University of Oxford and be a part of a community that values creativity, diversity, and excellence. 

The University of Oxford is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals regardless of their background.