Curriculum Project Manager

Job Purpose

The post holder will be responsible for leading and project managing a key workstream within a University-wide programme of work for Student Administration Refresh and Simplification (StARS).

The purpose of the StARS transformation programme is to deliver, in partnership with Colleges and acrossProfessional Services, a comprehensive review of student-related administration to simplify and, where appropriate, standardise processes. In conjunction with a refresh to the student record system, Banner, the aim of the programme is to enhance the effectiveness of our services and deliver a more responsive and personalised approach for both students and staff.

The post holder will report to the StARS Programme Manager and lead the Curriculum Structures workstream.This workstream is designed to enablemore standardised processes through the delivery of an updated data model that provides the flexibility required to enable the University to move with the changing demands of the Higher Education Curriculum, to enable the optimisation of administrative activities, and to provide the most efficient and effective service for our Students.

With a proven track record of project management within a complex, multi-faceted organisation, the post holder will be able to use their initiative to rapidly drive forward activity; taking decisions where appropriate; addressing barriers and driving change across a range of complex deliverables.

The post holder must have relevant and considerable project management experience with similar large scale and complex projects, and a successful track record of delivering these within timescale and to budget.

Drawing on their significant previous experience, the post holder will excel in developing relationships with senior colleagues to work collaboratively on taking the project plan forward. This initiative is of significant strategic importance to the University and will consequently have a great deal of visibility within the University.

Person Specification

• Formal education to degree level or equivalent
• Relevant project management experience in a complex organisation, with a successful track record of managing projects within timescale and budget
• Formal training in project management techniques and methodology is highly desirable
• Proven experience of managing similar large scale and complex projects and working efficiently with external suppliers
• Experience of working as part of a team, not of all whom are within the same line management structure and where it may be necessary to persuade those who are in a more senior position
• Experience of working in a university setting desirable but not essential
• Considerable experience of stakeholder management including analysis and communication with stakeholders at all levels
• Excellent oral communication skills, including presentation skills
• Outstanding writing skills, with the ability to prepare high quality papers, presentations, reports and briefings to University Committee level. This includes a clear style of communication and the ability to write for different audiences.
• Experience of using facilitation techniques when working with teams and stakeholders is highly desirable
• Ability to prioritise and to schedule workloads in the face of conflicting demands Ability to maintain effective working relationships with staff at all levels within the University and externally
• Highly developed research skills and experience of producing and analysing complex source material, information and data and turning these into purposeful reports that influence policy and assist decision making
• Ability to exercise discretion regarding the handling and management of sensitive information.
• Experience of desktop systems, e.g. word processing, spread sheets, e-mail, diary/calendar software and diagramming packages

Closing Date 30 Apr 2019