Senior Strategic Projects Manager

Job Title:  Senior Strategic Projects Manager     
Department:   Research and innovation Services      
Grade: Grade 8 
Salary range:   £43,414 - £51,805 per annum    
Working arrangements: 35 hrs per week. Hybrid working arrangements available with a mix of on site (minimum 2 days) and home based working
 
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

The Role and Department

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related work, including securing funding, working with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice and supporting professional development.

Durham has ambitious plans to grow our institutional research and research-related income and recognise that to enable this we need to make significant investments in our research community and environment, including in the leadership and support for strategic initiatives. We have therefore created a brand-new role for Research and Innovation Services in Durham, the Senior Strategic Projects Manager, who will provide vital support and leadership as we seek to develop and drive forward our portfolio of strategic institutional projects.

We are looking for a very proactive candidate with strong project management skills and an ability to work with a diverse array of stakeholders. The post will be line managed by the Director of Research Development and Operations who will support the post-holder in agreeing priorities for their portfolio, with an expectation that the post-holder will manage multiple projects and processes at any one time. When appointed the individual will inherit a small number of existing projects, with an expectation that they will then manage these (either to submission or to close) whilst identifying other potential projects to be picked up as part of their portfolio.

The role has the following key responsibilities;

• Lead on a portfolio of strategic initiatives, with a view to securing a number of externally funded projects (from sources such as Research England).
• Maintain a good understanding of the research funding landscape, including priorities of BEIS.
• Establish excellent working relationships with academic and professional service colleagues across the university, including senior colleagues such as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Executive Deans of Faculties.
• Cultivate links with key external stakeholders including funders to facilitate intelligence gathering, information flow and to enhance the University’s profile.
• Promote interest and increase understanding of key strategic opportunities within the University.
• Be proactive in the identification of opportunities that could support the objectives of the University Strategy, of academic departments, faculties, and university research institutes.
• Take specific responsibility for the support and development of project ideas to the point of submission by the identified project lead.  Where appropriate, take ownership within the team of project leadership.
• Develop and operate a systematic approach to the presentation and assessment of project ideas by the relevant funder.
• Contribute to, and where appropriate lead on, securing project approvals, including through the development of Mandates, Outline Business Cases and Full Business Cases (through established university PMO process).
• Act as a first point of contact (and expert/trouble-shooter) when issues arise with service delivery by staff and with individual projects. 
• Line manage the Programme Manager for the Strategic Research Fund.
• Organise forums for relevant University staff, including facilitating information and training sessions where appropriate.
• Undertake relevant CPD to ensure up to date knowledge and expertise.

The Senior Strategic Projects Manager will work closely with various teams within RIS including the Research Development, Partnerships and Engagement, and Commercialisation and Economic Development teams. They will be expected to build strong working relationships with a number of academic teams across the different faculties of the university. They will also be expected to build strong working relationships with other professional service directorates across Durham including (for example) the Strategy Delivery Unit (SDU), International Office, and Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO).

The role will be varied, and we hope it will be of interest to colleagues from a variety of backgrounds.

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: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits: 

•    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, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into this University Superannuation Scheme (USS) which the University will add contributions of 21.4%. 
•    No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
•    There is 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. 
•    Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
•    On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.
•    Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
•    The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
•    Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions. 
•    A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. 
•    If you are moving to Durham, we can 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.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

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 asterix* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.  Your application should cover the following criteria:

Essential Criteria  

Desirable

• Experience of co-ordinating and developing complex applications for external funding.
• A specific project or portfolio management qualification (e.g. PRINCE 2).
• Experience of working in the higher education sector.
• Experience of working in a research management role, with knowledge of the research funding landscape.  
• Experience of developing business cases.

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: and   
•    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 Lorna Wilson, Director of Research Development and Operations ([email protected] ). .

Typical Role Requirements 

Service Delivery
•    Lead on the design, implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures and systems to ensure effective working and continuous improvement. 
•    Ensure all activities, processes and transactions are accounted for accurately and promptly to meet regulatory and professional service and policy standards. 
•    Implement processes to manage the integrity and security of all commercially and professionally sensitive and personal data. 
•    Responsible for allocating and monitoring financial budgets and resources. 
•    Manage quality and regulatory audit process for student and staff services over-arching systems and procedures. 
•    Produce communications for promotion and reporting purposes, designing and structuring information and fact, applying creative and innovative principles to influence and engage.  
•    A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.

Planning and Organising
•    Contribute to the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level. 
•    Maintain an oversight of the service and performance metrics to provide reports for higher level managers and committees. 

Teamwork and Team Development
•    Manage and develop service, infrastructure and people performance across one or more teams. 
•    Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development. 
•    Ensure all stakeholder-facing staff provide an accessible, friendly and professional service by shaping processes for inducting and developing staff. 
•    Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR and performance reviews. 
•    Recruit, induct, train and develop new team members. 
•    Help to shape the skills and expertise of future team members and design work structures to meet operational and strategic goals. 
•    Handle the vast majority of HR issues within a team, referring more complex HR issues to appropriate support services/senior management. 

Communication/Networking
•    Liaise and engage with key stakeholders and internal and external contractors to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services. 
•    Lead internal business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at operational service level to influence governance, organisational policy and standards for the service. 
•    Analyse stakeholder feedback, implementing and reviewing service provision. 
•    Work with team members and stakeholders to build and maintain excellent working relationships. 
•    Provide professional guidance to stakeholders regarding welfare, employment and wellbeing. 

Knowledge and Experience
•    Provide expert professional subject and/or managerial and leadership expertise. 
•    Promote and develop a deep understanding of organisational policy and external developments. 
•    Deliver professional expertise with investigative and service methodologies, make recommendations and identify priorities to achieve business outcomes and objectives. 
•    Represent the service and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations at conferences. 
•    Develop external relations, identify and develop opportunities for communities of practice, employers, alumni and donors via extra-curricular activities and increased levels of participation. 
•    Any other reasonable duties. 

  
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.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.