Strategic Programme Manager

Salary

£47,389 to £56,535 per annum - Grade 8

Contractual hours

37

Basis

FT Temporary Fulltime All Year

Interview date

week commencing Monday 16th November 2026

Job category/type

Professional/Support Services

Date posted

12/10/2026

Job reference

B1433

Help shape and deliver the University of Plymouth's refreshed strategy, turning ambitious priorities into programmes that make a lasting difference for our students, staff, research and wider communities.

About the role:

As a Strategic Programme Manager, you will:

• work with Strategy Strand Leads and senior stakeholders to shape and coordinate delivery of major strategic programmes aligned to the University's refreshed strategy.
• report to the Strategic Change Manager.
• help translate priorities into deliverable programmes.
• maintain oversight of progress, risks and dependencies.
• support effective decision-making to achieve strategic outcomes and benefits.
• partner with Strategy Strand Leads and senior stakeholders to shape strategic programmes, define priorities, and establish clear outcomes and benefits.
• lead oversight of one or more complex strategic programmes, maintaining a clear view of progress, risks, dependencies and delivery confidence.
• work across programme and organisational boundaries to manage interdependencies, align activity and support delivery of shared strategic objectives.
• support the balancing of demand, priorities and resources across a dynamic portfolio of work where requirements and expectations continue to evolve.

For this role, you will need to be on site 3 days a week. Although we can accommodate working from home for this role, flexibility to be on-site will be expected due to business needs.

This is a full time, fixed term role, working 37 hours per week for 2 years due to funding.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Tom Berkien: by email at [email protected]

What we’re looking for:

You should have:

• Significant experience of working in a programme management role coordinating the delivery of complex strategic programmes or portfolios involving multiple interrelated projects, stakeholders and organisational priorities.
• Experience of shaping and developing strategic programmes from broad or evolving organisational priorities, translating emerging requirements into coherent outcomes, delivery approaches and plans.
• Experience of developing and implementing benefits management approaches, including defining benefits, monitoring progress and using benefits information to inform decision-making.
• Experience of identifying and managing dependencies, risks and interrelated activity across multiple projects, programmes or organisational functions, recognising how decisions and changes in one area affect delivery elsewhere.
• A relevant professional qualification in programme, portfolio or benefits management, such as MSP, MoP, Managing Benefits or an equivalent recognised qualification.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

About us:

You'll join a team at the heart of the University's strategy implementation agenda. Working closely with senior leaders across academic and professional service areas, the team plays a key role in shaping and supporting delivery of the University's most important strategic priorities. It's an exciting opportunity to help establish new ways of working, influence major programmes of change, and contribute to the successful delivery of the refreshed Strategy 2030.

Application Process:

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, skills and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Our Offer:

A successful external candidate for this position would be employed by the University of Plymouth Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Plymouth. Employees of the University of Plymouth Services Limited work alongside the University of Plymouth colleagues in delivery of Plymouth’s strategic vision, and will adopt the University of Plymouth’s HR policies and procedures in full unless otherwise stated.

We have a wide range of staff benefits available to employees, depending on eligibility:

• Generous annual leave: 35 Days Annual Leave (pro rata if part-time) plus Bank Holidays* & Closure Days*

• Generous pension scheme

• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Development opportunities

• Enhanced family leave

• Flexible working

• Retailer discounts

• On-site nursery

• Pro rata if part-time/fixed term contract

Additional Information:

The University of Plymouth is building an inclusive and equitable university where everyone feels represented, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is guided by the Inclusive Institutions Framework, a strategic and externally validated approach that embeds these principles across the entire institution. To find out more please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages

Closing Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026 at 12 o'clock midnight