Job Description
Higher Education sector and/or IT System configuration, customisation or implementation experience is highly desirable
Are you an experienced Project Manager looking for an exciting opportunity to lead large, technically complex projects? We are seeking a dynamic professional to manage and deliver multiple concurrent Student System IT projects. If you have experience of managing projects in the Student Systems or Higher Education space or have integrations experience within a programme we would love to hear from you. You'll work closely with senior staff to establish governance and drive decision-making processes that support our long-term goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Project Management: Lead project teams, manage stakeholders, oversee finances and procurements to ensure successful project delivery within agreed timescales (20%).
- Prioritization and Framework Compliance: Manage priorities, tolerances, and escalations across multiple work streams, adhering to project and technical architecture frameworks (20%).
- Project Ownership: Take responsibility for large, business-critical, and potentially ambiguous projects as agreed with the line manager (15%).
- Communication: Effectively communicate project changes across the organization, involving senior staff and external stakeholders (15%).
- Strategic Alignment: Work with senior staff to keep projects aligned with strategy and continuously improve project processes (10%).
- Continual Improvement: Contribute to improving working practices and identify new project or technical developments for potential use (10%).
- Staffing Assistance: Assist in determining new or replacement posts and selecting new staff for designated projects (5%).
- Other Duties: Perform other duties as allocated by the line manager (5%).
Internal and External Relationships
- Internal Collaboration: Work closely with technical and business colleagues across the organization to agree on project aims and secure necessary resources.
- External Collaboration: Collaborate with IT manufacturers, suppliers, and colleagues in other institutions to ensure successful project delivery.
Special Requirements
- Professional Development: Maintain relevant professional expertise and qualifications. Agree on a professional development program with the Team Manager.
- Out of Hours Work: Occasionally required to work out of hours to perform system tasks while minimizing user disruption.
- Campus Flexibility: Work across multiple campus sites.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications, Knowledge, and Experience
- Professional qualification or postgraduate degree.
- PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent Project Management qualification.
- Significant experience in managing large programs or multiple dependent projects with large teams.
- Proven track record of delivering large, technically complex, and ambiguous projects.
- Understanding of how projects support organizational objectives.
- Experience in tracking and forecasting project finances.
Desirable Qualifications, Knowledge, and Experience
- Experience in public sector procurement processes.
- Knowledge of Agile methodologies.
- MSP Practitioner qualification or equivalent.
- ITIL v3 or higher Foundation certification.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
- Knowledge of practices and drivers across the HE sector.
- Good technical knowledge at an enterprise scale.
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
Expected Behaviors
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Promote and apply these principles in all responsibilities.
- Southampton Behaviors: Demonstrate and embed these behaviors within the team.
Skills and Competencies
- Planning and Organizing: Autonomously plan and manage major projects, ensuring alignment with broader organizational strategy and delivering to time, budget, and quality expectations.
- Problem Solving and Initiative: Solve longstanding, technically complex problems and introduce new approaches to project delivery.
- Management and Teamwork: Create and motivate project teams, manage inter-project dependencies, and provide expert guidance.
- Communicating and Influencing: Develop understanding, gain cooperation, and communicate effectively with technical and business staff.
- Technical Proficiency: Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 applications.