Job Description and Person SpecificationLast updated: 08/06/2017

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post title: HR Project Manager

Academic Unit/Service: People and Strategy

Faculty: Professional Services

Career Pathway: Management, Specialist and Administrative (MSA)

Level: 5

Posts responsible to: Director of Business Partnering

Posts responsible for: N/A

Post base: Office-based

Job purpose

To manage the full project lifecycle, from initiation to handover to business as usual, of a range of complex, people change and HR projects instructed by the University’s strategic programme and overall strategic direction of the University. The Project Manager will manage a number of projects concurrently, working with senior stakeholders from across the University to produce accurate and achievable plans to enable projects to be successfully delivered and benefits realised.

Key accountabilities/primary responsibilities % Time

1. To lead the planning and implementation of the People related aspects of the strategic programme. This will include defining the project scope, goals, deliverables, project tasks, resource requirements and development of full scale project plans, working in close liaison with the Academic/Professional Service Leads and, where appropriate, Project Boards. These activities will be large, business critical and possibly ambiguous in nature.

30 %

2. To track, monitor and report on project progress against timescale, budget and resource requirements to all stakeholders, including issue resolution and managing scope changes and interventions to achieve project outputs.

15%

3. To manage project risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies; to resolve cross-functional issues at project level and to manage cross functional relationships effectively.

10 %

4. To manage priorities, tolerances and escalations across multiple work streams while complying with project frameworks.

10 %

5. To communicate change with a wide cross section of the university using current and new communication methods as required. Stakeholders will include senior staff and external stakeholders.

10 %

Key accountabilities/primary responsibilities % Time

6. To work with senior staff to keep projects and programmes aligned to strategy and to continually improve project processes and contribute to continual improvement working practices.

10 %

7. To own complex ER casework supporting the University, Unions and Staff to ensure collegiality and successful outcomes.

5%

8. To work in an agile manner seeking continuous improvement and design through review and analysis.

5 %

9. Any other duties as allocated by the line manager following consultation with the post holder

5 %

Internal and external relationships

Direct links with Managers in the People Workstream and other Professional Services. Working closely with the Academic Leads, including Deans, Associate Deans and Heads of Academic

Units. Engaging with colleagues across all areas of the University including all areas of Professional

Services, Faculties and Academic Units. Attendance and membership at various University committees and working groups.

Special Requirements

To work across multiple University campus sites.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Criteria Essential Desirable How to be assessed

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Skill level equivalent to achievement of a professional HR qualification or postgraduate degree.Significant demonstrable experience of managing programmes or multiple dependent projects that deliver outcomes with large teams.Proven experience of delivering large, technically complex and initially ambiguous projects.Understanding of how projects and programmes support the objectives of the University.Able to appreciate University priorities and to apply these in managing work outcomes.Experience of a applying and adapting project methodologies.

Working knowledge of Resourcelink.MSP qualification or equivalent.Knowledge of practices and drivers across the HE sector.

Application/ Interview

Planning and organising

Organisational ability and ability to work to strict deadlines and manage several projects at one time.Able to plan and manage major new projects

Able to interpret and align work to corporate and departmental strategy

Application/ Interview

2

or significant new activities, ensuring plans compliment broader operational strategy.Ability to progress a broad range of activities within professional guidelines and in support of University policy in a high quality and timely manner.Ability to plan own work as well as work within a team structure.Able to work autonomously, yet collaboratively with senior stakeholders to plan and manage major new projects or programmes, ensuring plans complement broader organisational strategy.Able to review and contribute to roadmaps and future plans using an understanding of long term aims and needs.Able to plan projects and/or programmes and maintain multiple plans to control activity and communicate project progress to a wide audience.Able to deliver to time, budget and quality expectations of all stakeholders.

Problem solving and initiative

Ability to apply professional/specialist knowledge to analyse complex problems and recommend solutions/plans of action.Strong ‘critical thinking’ and analytical skills with ability to analyse and assess trends and complex issues.Shows initiative and demonstrates a “can do” approach.Able to anticipate and deal with problems.Confidence to challenge existing work practices and offer alternative solutions.

Application/ Interview

Management and teamwork

Strong leadership abilities.Proven experience of working pro-actively and in partnership with colleagues in other work areas to achieve outcomes.Able to delegate tasks and responsibility effectively, setting reasonable deadlines and influencing and persuading others when there is no direct line management responsibility.

Experience of Matrix Management environments.

Application/ Interview

Communicating and influencing

High level of written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present complex information in a concise and user-friendly wayAbility to build good relationship with a wide range of colleagues across the organisationStrong negotiation skills, and experience of conflict managementHighly developed influencing skills across all levels of the organisationAbility to use influencing and negotiating skills to develop understanding and gain co-operation.Able to liaise with staff in technical and

Ability to communicate to the whole organisation in a co-ordinated way.Ability to effectively present to large groups.

Application/ Interview

3

business areas affected by projects so that work remains aligned to business need and project status is communicated effectively.Able to autonomously create communication material and plans for use with larger groups across the University.Ability to provide accurate and timely specialist information on complex issues.Able to persuade and influence in order to foster and maintain relationships.Able to resolve tensions and difficulties as they arise.

Other skills and behaviours

Use of Microsoft Office applications: Visio, Excel, Word and MS Project.Attention to detail.Customer focused.Shows flexibility in approach and willing to take on new roles and responsibilities.Flexible and open to change yet with the ability to prioritise and focus on delivery.Confidence, experience and skills to take initiative, but know when to refer queries upwards.Able to apply an awareness of principles and trends in a specialist or professional field and an awareness of how this affects activities in the University.

Use of Microsoft Office applications: Outlook, PowerPoint and Access.

Application/ Interview

Special requirements

Application/ Interview

4

JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS

Is this an office-based post?

☒ Yes If this post is an office-based job with routine office hazards (eg: use of VDU), no further information needs to be supplied. Do not complete the section below.

☐ No If this post is not office-based or has some hazards other than routine office (eg: more than use of VDU) please complete the analysis below.Hiring managers are asked to complete this section as accurately as possible to ensure the safety of the post-holder.

## - HR will send a full PEHQ to all applicants for this position. Please note, if full health clearance is required for a role, this will apply to all individuals, including existing members of staff.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURESOccasionally (<30% of time)

Frequently(30-60% of time)

Constantly(> 60% of time)

Outside work Extremes of temperature (eg: fridge/ furnace)## Potential for exposure to body fluids## Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa)## Exposure to hazardous substances (eg: solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify below:Frequent hand washingIonising radiation EQUIPMENT/TOOLS/MACHINES USED## Food handling ## Driving university vehicles(eg: car/van/LGV/PCV) ## Use of latex gloves (prohibited unless specific clinical necessity)## Vibrating tools (eg: strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) PHYSICAL ABILITIESLoad manual handlingRepetitive crouching/kneeling/stoopingRepetitive pulling/pushingRepetitive liftingStanding for prolonged periodsRepetitive climbing (ie: steps, stools, ladders, stairs)Fine motor grips (eg: pipetting)Gross motor gripsRepetitive reaching below shoulder heightRepetitive reaching at shoulder heightRepetitive reaching above shoulder heightPSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUESFace to face contact with publicLone working## Shift work/night work/on call duties

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