The Post
The Programme Management Office (PMO) provides the university’s framework for the effective management and governance of strategic programmes and projects. It supports the university to deliver its strategic priorities by providing consistent approaches to project management, governance, reporting, risk management and assurance.
The Project Manager is a key member of the PMO, responsible for the successful delivery of significant and strategically important projects that contribute to the university's transformation and strategic objectives.
Projects may span the university's academic, professional services and digital environments and could include major initiatives such as student records system implementation, ERP replacement, curriculum transformation, data transformation, service redesign and other institution-wide change programmes.
The postholder will work closely with project sponsors, senior stakeholders, business leads, technical specialists, suppliers and multidisciplinary project teams to translate strategic objectives into clear, deliverable projects and ensure that agreed outcomes and benefits are achieved.
The postholder will operate confidently in a complex organisation, establish effective project structures, provide clear and accurate information to senior governance groups, identify and manage risks and issues, and intervene constructively when projects are not progressing as planned.
The postholder will manage projects through their full lifecycle, from initiation and mobilisation through planning, delivery, implementation, transition and closure, using the university's agreed project management methodology and governance arrangements.
Description of Duties
Lead the Delivery of Strategic Projects
- Take responsibility for the effective management and delivery of assigned strategic projects, ensuring they achieve agreed objectives, scope, timescales, budget, quality standards and benefits
- Establish and maintain appropriate project structures, plans, milestones, dependencies and workstreams, ensuring clear ownership of deliverables and effective progress throughout the project lifecycle
- Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary project teams, including university colleagues, subject matter experts and, where appropriate, external suppliers and partners
- Manage implementation, transition and project closure effectively, ensuring business readiness, operational handover, benefits realisation and lessons learned are appropriately addressed
Establish and Maintain Effective Project Governance
- Establish governance arrangements appropriate to the scale, complexity and risk of each project, in accordance with the university's PMO framework, and support project sponsors and Chairs to ensure clear accountability and decision-making
- Prepare clear and accurate project reports, board papers and management information for project boards, programme boards, steering groups and senior stakeholders, covering progress, budget, risks, issues, dependencies and benefits
- Maintain effective governance documentation, ensuring decisions and actions are recorded, communicated and followed through
- Identify matters requiring escalation and provide clear recommendations, enabling appropriate challenge, assurance and intervention to support effective decision-making
Manage Project Risks, Issues, Dependencies and Change
- Identify, assess and actively manage project risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies, ensuring appropriate mitigation, ownership and escalation
- Monitor dependencies across projects, programmes, business areas and external parties, taking appropriate action where these may affect delivery
- Manage changes to project scope, objectives, timescales and resources through agreed governance and change-control arrangements
- Provide early warning of emerging problems and take timely corrective action to protect successful project delivery
Manage Stakeholders and Enable Effective Collaboration
- Build effective working relationships with stakeholders across the university, including senior leaders, academic and professional services colleagues, technical specialists and external organisations
- Engage and communicate effectively with stakeholders to establish shared understanding of project objectives, requirements, outcomes and responsibilities, while managing differing priorities and perspectives
- Provide constructive challenge and advice, helping stakeholders understand project implications, risks, dependencies and trade-offs and supporting effective decision-making
- Manage relationships with project sponsors, senior stakeholders, suppliers and partners to maintain commitment to project objectives and ensure effective delivery of agreed responsibilities
For a full description of duties please see the attached job description
Essential Criteria
Project Delivery Experience
- Proven experience of successfully managing and delivering projects of an appropriate size, scale and complexity, from initiation through to completion, using a recognised project management methodology or framework. A minimum of three years of experience working in a professional project management environment
Project Governance and Reporting
- Proven experience of establishing, supporting and maintaining effective project governance achieving delivery of milestones against defined timelines; preparing and presenting project information and reports to project/programme boards, steering groups and/or senior stakeholders, ensuring risks, issues, dependencies, decisions and actions are clearly identified, managed and escalated
Stakeholder Management and Influence
- Demonstrable experience of building effective working relationships and influencing multiple stakeholders at different levels within an organisation and external partners or suppliers
Transformation and Organisational Change
- Experience of delivering projects to support organisational transformation, business change, service improvement, systems implementation or process redesign. Ability to understand complex business environments and translate strategic objectives into practical, deliverable project outcomes
Communication, Organisation and Problem-Solving
- Excellent communication, organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to produce clear and concise project information, identify and resolve problems, manage competing priorities and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to achieve successful outcomes
Education
- Degree qualified or be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of experience
Desirable Criteria
- Recognised professional qualification in project management, such as PRINCE2, APM, AgilePM or equivalent
- Experience of working within a higher education or similarly complex public-sector organisation
- Experience of delivering major systems implementation, digital/data transformation, business transformation or organisational change projects
- Experience of working within a formal Programme Management Office or portfolio environment
Additional Information
Full time
Open ended
The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 13 September 2026.
Interviews are expected to take place on the Tuesday 22 September 2026.
There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.
This role may be eligible for sponsorship depending on candidate circumstances under SOC code 2131.
The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.
Please submit a supporting statement of up to 500 words, outlining how your experience and skills match the six essential criteria in the person specification.
Behaviours and Competencies
The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.
- Managing self and personal skills
Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly.
- Delivering excellent service
Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.
- Finding solutions
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.
- Embracing change
Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles.
- Using resources effectively
Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets.
- Engaging with the wider context
Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values.
- Developing self and others
Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential.
- Working together
Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process.
- Achieving Results
Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.
About Us
Information Services delivers the library, IT, digital learning technology and other information needs and services to enable all students and staff of the University of Stirling to learn, research and work here. Our mission is to equip and empower our users and ourselves to function and achieve successful outcomes in the digital age. We strive to achieving excellent customer service and always aim to exceed our users' expectations.
The University
The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe. Driven by our mission to be the difference, we are addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society.
The University has more than 17,500 students globally and employs 1,500 staff, with more than 140 nationalities represented within our community. Our campus environment is ranked first in the UK and top 10 in the world, and our sports facilities rank first in the UK and second in the world (International Student Barometer 2024, wave two), reflecting our long-standing designation as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.
We were shortlisted for University of the Year 2024 at the Times Higher Education Awards and are proud holders of a Silver institutional award from the Athena Swan Charter, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. We have an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings and are ranked top 30 in the UK for postgraduate teaching and learning (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2024). In recognition of our excellence in business education, we are accredited by AACSB International.
Eighty-seven per cent of our research has an outstanding or very considerable impact on society, with more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021), and we are ranked among the top 100 institutions in the world for our contribution to meeting 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize; for our Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and our Institute of Aquaculture (2019).
Alongside partners, the University spearheads the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal – which will deliver three major University-led projects: the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub, Scotland’s International Environment Centre, and the Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub. We are also a central partner in the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni
Job Reference: SERV02067
