Are you an experienced Project Manager looking to deliver meaningful change at scale within one of the world's leading universities?
The University of Manchester is seeking a talented and motivated Project Manager to join our Strategic Change Office (SCO). This is an exciting opportunity to lead complex projects that support the delivery of the University's Manchester 2035 strategy, including work on Future Foundations, a major programme focused on enabling long-term strategic change across the institution.
As part of the University's central change function, you will manage a varied portfolio of strategic initiatives, often leading multiple projects concurrently. Projects span people, process and technology change, and may involve everything from service transformation and organisational change through to major digital, operational and student-focused improvements that enable the successful delivery of Manchester 2035.
You will work closely with senior leaders across the institution, helping shape solutions, navigate complexity and deliver lasting benefits for our staff, students and wider community. Through your work, you will play a direct role in turning the University's strategic ambitions into tangible outcomes and helping shape the future of The University of Manchester.
About the Role
As a Project Manager within the Strategic Change Office, you will be responsible for shaping, planning and delivering complex projects from initiation through to successful completion. Projects may involve people, process and technology change and will require strong leadership, collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills. You will often manage multiple projects concurrently, balancing competing priorities, dependencies and stakeholder needs to ensure successful delivery across a varied portfolio of strategic initiatives.
You will:
· Lead projects through the full lifecycle, from business case development and planning through to implementation and benefits realisation.
· Build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders across the University.
· Establish and manage effective governance, project controls, risks, issues, budgets and resources.
· Coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful outcomes.
· Facilitate workshops, support decision-making and provide clear and insightful project reporting.
· Drive continuous improvement and promote best practice project management across the organisation.
· Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring effective prioritisation, resource coordination and delivery against agreed timescales and outcomes.
About You
You will be an experienced Project Manager with a track record of successfully delivering complex projects and change initiatives within large and dynamic organisations. You will be skilled at building strong relationships across diverse stakeholder groups and bringing clarity, structure and momentum to complex challenges.
You will bring:
· Experience of managing projects through the full project lifecycle, from initiation through to implementation and benefits realisation.
· Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
· Experience of managing project governance, risks, issues, budgets and resources, ensuring robust controls while maintaining delivery momentum.
· The ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver results through collaboration, fostering strong partnerships across organisational boundaries.
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to navigate ambiguity, overcome challenges and drive informed decision-making.
· Experience of working in complex environments where requirements, priorities and solutions may not always be fully defined from the outset.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively to senior stakeholders.
· Experience of managing multiple concurrent projects within a complex organisational environment, balancing competing priorities and delivering successful outcomes.
· A proactive, adaptable and resilient approach, with the ability to respond positively to changing circumstances and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting time to join The University of Manchester. Through Manchester 2035, the University has set out an ambitious vision for the future, supported by a significant programme of strategic change and investment.
As part of the Strategic Change Office, you will play a key role in turning that ambition into reality. Working on some of the University's most important priorities, including the Future Foundations programme, you will help deliver meaningful improvements that enhance the experience of our students, support our staff and strengthen our global impact in teaching, research and social responsibility.
In return, we offer a supportive and inclusive working environment, opportunities for professional development and the chance to work alongside talented colleagues who are passionate about delivering positive change.
Join us and help shape the future of The University of Manchester.
The University of Manchester is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.