Project Manager - Integrated Workplace Management System

Reporting to the Director of Estates Operations this is a fixed term role until October 2023 you will be responsible for the Integrated Workplace Management System Project Coordinators.

Offering:

• 30 days annual leave, plus 4 customary days and 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) and the option to purchase additional leave
• Automatic enrolment into a pension scheme
• Corporate and local discounts
• Wellbeing resources and discounted health benefits
• Health discounts on sports and activities at Maiden Castle Health and Activity Centre
• Reward and Recognition Schemes
• Personal and career development

The Estates and Facilities Directorate provides a number of essential services to Durham University and is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure and building fabric of the various campuses, including:

• maintaining and regularly reviewing a maintenance programme which takes account of short, medium and long term needs of all buildings and University grounds
• implementing the works identified and funded within the various maintenance programmes and operating a system for dealing with day-to day requirements, including the provision of an out-of-hours emergency service
• providing a professional, technical service to the University for the design, construction and procurement of new buildings and adaptation works to existing buildings
• identifying and recording the use of space and advising on ways of increasing space utilisation
• property and asset management
• acquisition and disposal of built environment related assets
• procuring and managing utilities and services
• providing postal, delivery and security arrangements and advice to the University
• delivering a wide-range of customer-facing services, including contract management; estates and facilities relationships management; housekeeping and cleaning, business resilience, event management; reception helpdesk; university retail; business support; health and safety; and management information.

The IWMS Project Manager will be responsible for delivering the project deliverables associated with the implementation of a new integrated workplace management solution, within the specified timeframe and cost, and to the quality agreed. Additionally, the role will:

• lead the planning and implementation of the project
• identify and manage project dependencies, risk, issues and the critical path
• oversee and manage project scope, tasks, goals, deliverables and timelines, in accordance with agreed parameters
• monitor the progress of the project, highlighting exceptions, as required
• matrix manage teams to deliver project successes
• support the delivery of the project benefits, as presented in the business case.

Role responsibilities

• Provide management for the delivery of high-quality estates and infrastructure support services across the University.
• Promote and foster positive and highly collaborative approaches to problem solving and project implementation, helping to motivate, mentor and coach other team members.
• Supervise team members, ensuring work streams and activities are allocated correctly and performance expectations are met.
• Make decisions about the nature and level of problem solving, physical and analytical tools, techniques and protocols to deliver the IWMS project and objectives.
• Collaborate with other specialists within the service and across the University, regarding the use of modelling and analytical tools, methods and standards to deliver integrity and consistency with service delivery.
• Schedule and monitor the installation of the new IWMS system across the University.
• Provide regular status/highlight reports and identify risk management and contingency planning to the Senior Leadership Team
• Maintain oversight of all those engaged with the project, to ensure project deadlines are achieved.
• Liaise with internal and external agencies, local authorities, industries and visitors, as appropriate.
• Manage any changes in project scope, identify potential crises and contribute to the development of contingency plans.
• Take responsibility for monitoring and updating risk assessments and safety procedures, providing guidance to others where necessary.
• Develop, modify and optimise protocols and methodologies.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific Role requirements

• May be required to work evenings and weekends, as business demands.
• May be required to participate in local, on-call arrangements, as relevant to the role.
• Attend all training and CPD, as required.

Person specification - essential criteria:

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally.
2. Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office/365.
3. Educated to degree level or HNC/D or equivalent in a relevant discipline or relevant experience working at a similar level in a large complex organisation.
4. Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
5. Experience of being able to network internally and externally effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships.
6. Ability to solve problems and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.
7. Experience of delivering and developing specialist services for buildings or estates, services.
8. Experience of delivering system projects
9. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
10. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
11. Experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.
12. Successful track record at a Project Manager level of leading, directing and managing a system-based project.
13. Good negotiating and problem-solving skills, with a balance of innovation and a pragmatic approach.