Strategic Project Manager

Salary: £45,585 to £48,350 with progression to £54,395 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 07 October 2024

The Role

The Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) is seeking an exceptional leader to undertake the role of Strategic Project Manager. 

The role provides a rare opportunity to be part of the Faculty’s senior leadership team. Reporting to the Head of Strategic Implementation and Change you will work in partnership with senior leaders within the Faculty on the development, management and delivery of Strategic Projects and lead a team of Research Project Managers based within SAgE. 

The Strategic Project Manager will develop, manage, and monitor the implementation of a variety of strategic projects on behalf of the SAgE Faculty to support the fulfilment of the Faculty and University vision and strategy. 
A substantive part of the role is to lead and manage the Research Project Managers based within SAgE.

As a member of the Faculty Professional Services Team, you will be responsible for creating a collaborative environment, fostering a culture of trust and mutual respect and championing the University’s values and guiding principles. You will be a visible role model, demonstrating the highest standards of leadership and behaviour and contributing strategically to the development of an outstanding professional service. 

You will be an experienced manager with a record of accomplishment in leading and delivering a range of projects within a Higher Education environment or similar complex organisation. You will have knowledge of project management tools and techniques but formal project management qualifications are not essential.

For more information about the SAgE Faculty, please click here.

We are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment and we would be happy to discuss arrangements for flexible and/or blended working. Additionally, the post is eligible for blended working between campus and home. 

The appointment is open-ended and available on a full-time basis. 

To apply, please complete an online application and upload a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter is a supporting statement, and you should outline how you meet the essential criteria of the role and evidence this with examples.

For informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Rachel Sparks, Head of Strategic Implementation & Change, at: rachel.sparks@newcastle.ac.uk

Key Accountabilities

• To develop, lead, manage, implement and deliver a range of projects working across a wide variety of teams to ensure the project delivers the desired outcomes in line with Faculty strategy
• This will include project governance, including meeting and reporting structures. These projects will be wide ranging from infrastructure and estates to education or research
• To contribute to the development of the academic vision for the Faculty, making a significant contribution to the formation of the Faculty strategy including planning of the development of short, medium and long term strategic plans to realise the Faculty vision
• To support the Faculty Dean of Strategic Projects and Senior Management team within the Faculty by undertaking external benchmarking exercises and making recommendations to relevant committees
• To prepare project specific Business cases as appropriate for submission to Faculty Executive Board, University Budget Scrutiny Group and Executive Board as appropriate. This includes drafting and costing the plan and identifying the main risks and mitigations for those risks
• To lead the development of specific project plans. To plan and schedule timelines in consultation with all stakeholders and where necessary to broker solutions to keep the project to time and cost
• To monitor and report on project specific progress including performance against budget to the appropriate project meetings. Prepare papers and reports for the Faculty Executive Board and implement and manage agreed changes and interventions to achieve project outputs
• To establish a risk management framework and develop strategies to manage specific projects
• To provide high quality support for the Faculty Dean of Strategic Projects and wider project team in support of the Faculty strategy. To support and coordinate specific project meetings, project budget and follow up action; ensuring necessary communication with the Faculty and University occurs as required
• To play a lead role in ensuring an effective change and communications strategy for projects, including communicating and consulting with key stakeholders
• For infrastructure and estates based projects, to project manage the transition to new facilities. This will include development of a plan to include decant, temporary relocation, plans for installations of facilities and providing evidence (costs, timescales) in informed negotiations with Estates Support Service (ESS) and Heads of Academic Units
• Provide management and leadership to the Research Project Managers based within the Faculty including recruitment, induction and training and development. Provide advice to academic and research colleagues in respect of project management support required for externally funded research projects
• Working within the University matrix structure, coordinating input from colleagues in different departments being versatile in contribution to project progress

The Person

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• A track record in strategic planning and change management demonstrated through experience of managing complex projects
• Knowledge and understanding of the Higher Education sector, including education policies and processes
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to tailor communication style to the audience
• Critical thinking and active problem-solving skills in order to manage risk
• Excellent planning and organising, both personally and on behalf of a team
• Must have excellent influencing skills to facilitate changes in behaviour and direction at both a strategic and operational level 
• In depth understanding of leading a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Knowledge of project management techniques and tools

 
Attributes and Behaviours

• Is inspirational and provides clear direction, particularly in times of uncertainty
• Has the ability to see the ‘big picture’, to think strategically and to manage complex problems and issues
• A positive ‘gets things done approach’ with the ability to be decisive and act when required
• High drive and initiative, able to demonstrate professional resilience
• An articulate, confident, and politically adept communicator, ready and able to deal with difficult situations and to challenge where necessary
• Takes the initiative to develop and implement new ideas and approaches
• Acts in a collaborative way, inclusive, transparent, and open manner, acting with integrity and able to build high levels of trust
• Possesses the personal stature to engage with and earn the respect and good will of peers and more senior colleagues
• Role model for professionalism and commitment to the University’s values and stated goals and to exhibit such professionalism both internally and externally

 
Qualifications

• Graduate and/or equivalent experience

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 27406