Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager

Department: Strategic Projects Office

Directorate: Finance, Infrastructure and Human Resources

Reporting to: SPO Director

Salary: Starting from £60,996, dependent on experience

Location: Penrhyn Road campus, Kingston University, 55–59 Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE

Working Pattern: Typically, staff are expected to be on campus for the majority of their working week, with flexibility required depending on business need

This job post will be advertised for a minimum period of two weeks on LinkedIn. After this time please apply directly to until the closing date of 9am, Monday 3rd November 2025.

The Role

Kingston University is the UK's leading university for Future Skills. Through our progressive new model of education, we are ensuring all our students are prepared for career success. Central to this transformation is our Town House Strategy, a bold, people-focused initiative designed to deliver a successful and sustainable future for our students, staff, and wider community. We are committed to ensuring students develop the Future Skills and personal attributes most valued by industry, enabling them to thrive in their careers. This includes partnering with businesses and external bodies to support innovation and knowledge, and focusing our research, knowledge exchange, and professional practice where it can have real impact through our Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes.

To support this work, and many other projects which will help shape the future of education and our student experience, we have established a new Strategic Projects Office (SPO), a central team dedicated to leading high-impact transformation across the University. As part of this exciting development, we are recruiting multiple Senior Project Managers to join the SPO and help drive strategic change. These roles will be directly focused on delivering the Town House Strategy and related strategic initiatives across the institution, ensuring alignment with our Future Skills ambition and broader organisational goals. Working collaboratively with academic and professional services teams, you will scope, plan, and deliver projects that align with university governance and strategic timelines, contributing to a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing working environment for our staff.

The Person

We are looking for motivated, skilled and experienced Senior Project Managers with a proven ability to deliver strategic or transformational projects in complex organisations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement skills, sound judgement, and the confidence to navigate university governance and decision-making structures.

You will have experience using project management tools and methodologies, with formal certification preferred. Familiarity with the higher education sector or similar regulated or wider public sector environments will be advantageous but is not essential.

You will be highly organised, a clear communicator, and adaptable in your approach to managing competing priorities. A collaborative mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement are key to thriving in this role.

Directorate/Faculty

The newly established Strategic Projects Office (SPO) sits within the Finance, Infrastructure and Human Resources Directorate and plays a pivotal role in advancing the University's strategic objectives. Acting as a central hub for cross-functional collaboration, the SPO brings together teams from across the institution to deliver complex, high-impact initiatives that support organisational change and enhance the student and staff experience.

The Directorate for Finance, HR, and Infrastructure plays a critical role in shaping and supporting the University's strategic and operational success. With a focus on excellence, efficiency, and people-centred practices, it delivers vital services that influence the daily experience of staff and students while enabling long-term institutional growth. These services span financial management, workforce development, and the maintenance of both physical and digital infrastructure - ensuring the University's operations and ambitions are fully supported. With a clear focus on service quality, innovation, and people-first practices, the Directorate operates in close partnership with academic faculties and senior leadership to ensure institutional goals are achieved. It is driven by a commitment to excellence, service and sustainable progress, promoting a culture where collaboration, innovation and transformation thrive. As Senior Project Manager, the successful candidate will be instrumental in delivering high-impact initiatives and supporting organisational change. It is not focused on estates or systems delivery but instead leads high-impact initiatives supporting transformation and organisational change. This is an opportunity to join a proactive, solutions-focused team whose work directly contributes to the University's continued success.

Further Information

This is a full-time, permanent position.

We are a place-based organisation, proud of our location in Kingston and the civic role we play in our community. Our campuses inspire collaborative, innovative and creative communities. Being present on campus is important to us because it helps us to create a sense of belonging for both our staff and students. Therefore, whilst we support flexible working, staff are expected to be on campus for the majority of their working week.

Interviews are scheduled to be held in person on 12 and 18 November 2025.

Inclusion and Belonging

Bring your true self, expertise, and passion to Kingston, where we are continuing to strive to build a university where authentic inclusion and belonging is at its heart. Every one of our staff and students' identities, backgrounds and diverse experiences make us who we are, so harness and embrace yours by applying today. We welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities and those with disabilities.

For further information and to apply through our recruitment partner GatenbySanderson, click Apply.