Project Manager

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.

Recent infrastructure improvements include investment in a new network backbone, including new cable runs throughout the city to all of the Universities core buildings, network virtualisation, new scalable user facing storage, and a new hosting environment. Corresponding business led investment also continues to be made with a new web programme, training platform, student relationship management system, investment in research administration, and maximising the breadth of opportunities available to the University through Office365, alongside numerous other important initiatives. Investment is aligned to the University’s Digital strategy which seeks to provide a clear vision for how digital services can be an enabler to the overall University strategy and objectives.

CIS is a friendly, but demanding department, where much is expected and can be achieved by competent, self-motivated individuals who are demonstrable in their team work ability.

The University has an exciting programme of activity ahead which spans a range of technical infrastructure enhancements and business led IT projects with corresponding business change. In this role you will play a key part in a number of initiatives or one large project with corresponding complexity. The exact project mix will vary based on demand, skills, experiences and individual development opportunities.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Lead the planning and implementation of project initiatives.
• Identify and manage project dependencies, risks, issues and the critical path.
• Oversee and manage project scope, tasks, goals, deliverables and timelines in accordance with enterprise project management tools and philosophies.
• Monitor the progress of project(s), highlighting exceptions as required.
• In conjunction with others, support the delivery of project benefits as presented in the Business Case.
• Line manage staff including the PMO, Project Managers.

The department’s PMO is a driven and motivated team with a strong vision for what project management can achieve. We are looking for a multi-skilled project manager with a track record of successful project delivery and experience of line management to support the ongoing success of the PMO, wider department and University.

• 
  Recognised professional practitioner and project management specialist.
  
• 
  Implement changes to the design and development of service processes, techniques and deliverables for one or more service strands or project streams.
  
• 
  Provide specialist expertise and support with complexity of data and information sources, interpretation and analysis.
  
• 
  Contribute to development of operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.
  
• 
  Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements and the design and planning of services.
  
• 
  Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation.
  
• 
  Identify and design activities to meet learning objectives and outcomes.
  
• 
  Deliver training, teaching and/or development delivery for stakeholders.
  
• 
  Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access, and provision of advice using specialist knowledge.
  
• 
  Contribute to and lead business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at departmental and operational service levels.
  
• 
  Responsible for managing budgets through the course of delivering a project, keeping records and processing invoices. 
  

• Provide management for stakeholder service areas and/or processes ensuring a high-quality and timely service to all stakeholders, including prospective, existing and past students and staff.
• Contribute to operational leadership teams and decision making to shape the nature and level of support services.
• Analyse service data and provide reports to Service Heads making recommendations for improvement as appropriate.
• Provide proactive and comprehensive input and support to Head of Services, School and/or Department to achieve strategic and operational priorities.
• Provide advice to stakeholders in relation to University, School and or Department policy, procedures and regulations.
• Ensure the review and improvement of systems and procedures in line with University, School, Department or unit frameworks.
• Distribute service information and provide advice to stakeholders regarding compliance and regulations.
• Ensure regulations and procedures are updated to take account of internal and external changes.
• Coordinate and oversee committee working and deal with complaints.
• Provide training and/or instruction to stakeholders.
• Awareness of the external environment and sector best practice to support high quality services. 
• Identify and manage project dependencies and the critical path.
• Oversee and manage project scope, tasks, goals, deliverables and timelines in accordance with enterprise project management tools and philosophies.
• Any other reasonable duties. 

Working Arrangements

At Durham we recognise that our staff and students are our greatest asset and we want to support the health and wellbeing of all.  Hybrid working supports this ethos and provides many benefits to our colleagues, including empowering people, where their role allows, to work in a manner which is more suitable for them, whilst encouraging our commitment to environmental sustainability.

Depending on the needs of the business and the job role, Durham University is piloting hybrid working for all Professional Services colleagues in the academic year 2021/2022, which may include the opportunity to work both on and off campus and to flex working hours.  If appointed to the post, your line-manager will discuss the specific arrangements with you.  Any hybrid arrangements are non-contractual and may change within the pilot and when the pilot ends.

Reward and Benefits

To support the delivery of the University's People Strategy to attract, retain and reward the very best, we offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits to our staff, including:

• 30 days annual leave, plus 4 customary days and 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part time) and the option to purchase additional leave;
• Automatic enrolment into a pension scheme;
• Corporate and local discounts;
• Wellbeing resources and discounted health benefits;
• Health discounts on sports and activities at Maiden Castle Health and Activity Centre;
• Reward and Recognition Schemes;
• Personal and career development;
• And SO much more, with further information available here

Recruiting to this post

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification.  In some cases, the recruiting panel may also consider the desirable criteria, so we recommend you evidence all criteria in your application.  

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply 

We prefer to receive applications online.

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 https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

Information if you have a disability

The University welcomes applications from disabled people. 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, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on [email protected] .

1. A CV

2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;

3. Examples of how you satisfy the essential criteria in the person specification, this will require completion of the 'Questionnaire' application section.

For further information please contact:

Claire Henderson, Head of Project Delivery

E-mail: [email protected]

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to [email protected]

We will notify you on the status of 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 ensure you receive all emails.

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  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.

As a University we foster a collegiate community of extraordinary people aligned to the University’s values .  Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  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, and in doing so, recruit the world’s best candidates from all backgrounds and identities. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

OUR VALUES : We are motivated, inquisitive, challenging, rigorous and innovative.

• 
  Contribute to our learning culture by engaging in mentoring, training and coaching.
  
• 
  Positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
  
• 
  Have due regard to Health and Safety requirements appropriate to grade and role.
  

• 
  Deliver direct and indirect services to stakeholders.
  
• 
  Provide advice and answer queries as part of an enquiry-desk/help-desk function.
  
• 
  Respond to and manage requests for information and resources.
  
• 
  Deliver services to meet regulatory requirements and procedures. 
  
• 
  Plan and deliver a joined-up approach to University business and people services.
  
• 
  Align business processes and services to meet operational and strategic policy objectives.  
  
• 
  Deliver business processes to ensure effective management, governance and the economic viability of the University. 
  
• 
  Encourage, collaborate and participate in the development of productive cross-institution relationships and working.
  
• 
  Provide excellent professional services that meet strategic and operational goals and business needs.
  
• 
  Carry out monitoring, analysis, development and planning to design new services and service updates for continuous improvement whilst meeting changes in regulations.
  
• 
  Engage with specialist professionals, consultants, and suppliers to exchange knowledge and facilitate partnership working.
  
• 
  Work collaboratively and network across the University with staff in other families to ensure a smooth, timely and high-quality delivery of service.
  
• 
  Align and deliver programmes and activities to meet operational and strategic objectives to enhance the stakeholder experience.
  
• 
  Engage and encourage participation with external professionals, schools, alumni and donors.
  

• 
  An economically sustainable approach to delivering Professional Services across the University;
  
• 
  A joined-up approach to University professional services, regardless of location or line management;
  
• 
  A culture and practice of continuous improvement; 
  
• 
  Design services that meet business need;
  
• 
  A stakeholder-focused orientation, offering satisfying careers to all staff;
  
• 
  Support and facilitate programmes that offer intellectual challenge, cohesiveness and a strong sense of progression;
  
• 
  Ensure that an increasingly diverse workforce is treated equally, fairly and with respect, and that all staff are demonstrably valued and actively engaged.