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Department Overview

Human Resources consists of a number of different directorates which provide strategic specialist and/or generalist support to the University. These include HR Strategy and Projects, the Central Staff Hub, HR Advisory Services, People and Organisational Development and Equality, Inclusion and Wellbeing.

Role Summary

This new role within HR has been designed to allow someone to make a significant contribution to a portfolio of varied projects with impact across HR and the University, managing large or multiple projects as required, all in support of the University’s strategic aims around ‘People and Culture’.

You will manage your assigned project(s), and also contribute to managing other projects, to be determined, across HR.

You will ensure the progression, monitoring, and evaluation of assigned projects and ensure regular updates/communications are devised and disseminated. You will be responsible for developing project plans, identifying workstreams, reporting and collating relevant management information data. Key will be your ability to ensure projects are progressing in accordance with set timelines, that relevant colleagues are engaged and consulted throughout and that objectives are met.

Project details

Your first project and main focus will be on ensuring the smooth running of the various components of the Academic Development Programme. This programme was introduced in 2022 to support newly appointed Assistant Professors to develop and attain promotion to Associate Professor at the end of a 5-year programme. There are now over 180 Assistant Professors on the programme, a number expected to grow to over 500.

The role will include providing authoritative professional advice and guidance to the Academic Development Programme Committee (ADPC)/ Oversight Group, proactively reviewing (together with the academic lead for the programme) all elements and proposing new/revised elements as appropriate, and ensuring all elements are in place for Phase 3 of the programme. Once all phases of the programme are up and running you will be responsible for oversight, review and continuous improvement, drawing on research and feedback to influence changes. You will need to quickly gain an in-depth knowledge of the programme and its running, and develop excellent working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including academic managers and Assistant Professors on the programme, both here and at the University’s campus in Dubai.

ADP Management

• Overall responsibility for the management of the ADP.
  • accountability for the management and overall quality of the of the ADP programme;
  • developing the central review mechanism (years 3&4) by supporting the Academic Development Programme Committee (ADPC) and working with the Annual Process and Service Improvement lead to support application process for promotion to Associate Professor.
  • contribute to the strategic development of the programme including proactively reviewing the content, identifying future needs of participants and managers, identifying any trends to ensure continuous improvement.
  • developing and maintaining excellent working relationships across the University, including with areas of the University which contribute to the programme including People and Organisational Development and the Higher Education Futures Institute in order to integrate and co-ordinate work across the University;
  • establish, support and monitor progress of Peer Support Groups, including appointing PSG leaders for each cohort and supporting the delivery of relevant content as needed.
  • liaising with HR Business Partners, Heads of School and Heads of Colleges to ensure compliance with the requirements of the programme and offering support where required.
  • maintain oversight of staff working in People and Organisational Development on the Programme, including those who maintain the ADP Programme offer webpages and the Peer Support Group Teams site
  • develop and deliver briefing sessions on the ADP and its management for relevant staff, to improve understanding of the programme and its delivery.
  • Developing and running regular induction sessions for participants on the programme, sourcing and securing contributors to ensure sessions are informative and fit for purpose.
  • continuing to develop and support the ADP provision in Dubai, regularly updating the Dubai Provost and Director of Campus Operations on any changes or issues as and when they arise.
  • lead on the management of the ADP Oversight Group (Chaired by the Provost) including meetings, agenda, reporting and data as required.
  • leading on the management of the ADP Committee, chaired by the Provost, including creating and maintaining an overall Committee schedule and ensuring sufficient engagement by all relevant parties;
  • acting as key point of contact for external interest in the Programme.

Main duties

Project Delivery

• Responsible for managing multiple concurrent projects or supporting larger strategic HR projects. This will include some or all of the following:
  • leading on the management of the project, including influencing and developing complex project plans
  • creating and maintaining an overall project management plan for the whole project or projects
  • identifying objectives and indicators of success
  • where appropriate, planning, organising and maintaining a regular schedule of project meetings and ensuring sufficient engagement by all relevant parties to the project
  • establish effective networking relationships with all stakeholders
  • delivering project outputs agreed with senior managers, on time, to budget and to the agreed quality standard
  • identifying opportunities for collaboration across other projects, where appropriate

Monitoring, evaluation and communication

• Develop and implement a comprehensive evaluation strategy for the project.
  • Establish and implement reporting procedures which meet requirements, and ensure all necessary data is gathered in a timely and efficient manner.
  • Analyse data to determine if it is fit for purpose, and take appropriate action to ensure data quality where necessary.
  • Develop reporting mechanisms for the project then report on project progress to the project board or equivalent and highlight any risks.
  • Maintain a risk register as appropriate, and communicate risks in a timely manner, proactively proposing solutions.
  • Engage and communicate with a variety of stakeholders to ensure progress but also to disseminate outputs of the project as appropriate.

General

• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.
• Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Person Specification

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent level qualifications) plus significant relevant practical experience in project management; where no equivalent qualification is held substantial practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly for a variety of audiences, and to produce and analyse source material, information and data.
• Authoritative knowledge of the work practices, processes and procedures relevant to the role, including broader sector/commercial awareness.
• Proven ability to meet targets, with minimal supervision to deadlines
• Substantial experience of engaging, and collaborating, with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven analytical and problem solving skills that will help to identify and implement improvements and efficiencies across the project or projects you work on
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including orally and in writing, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders
• Highly proficient IT skills, including the MS Office suite. You should be confident and able to quickly learn new IT skills and software packages as required
• High level of self-motivation and personal accountability with ability to plan and deliver goals to deadlines under pressure
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Role context

Roles at this level provide authoritative professional advice across a range of activities and/or will lead and manage diverse team(s) and resources. You will use your professional skills to resolve problems where the solution is not immediately apparent. Significant evaluation and independent thought is therefore required to resolve ambiguity. You will have wide discretion to decide on direction whilst ensuring activities are broadly consistent with operational policies. You will be able to influence policy through advising on the impact of policy change and implementation in your area of work. You will need to assess the impact of your activities across your area, with related areas and to ensure they fit with the broader objectives of the University.

Core competencies/transferable skills

Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the following core competencies/transferable skills in each of the areas shown below. You will be expected to take ownership for getting things done, including calling on or joining others to assist. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.

Planning and organising

• provide professional expertise, and manage resources and/or a diverse team;
• integrate and co-ordinate work across different parts of the department/university;
• lead and manage staff who are likely to be carrying out diverse duties, and ensure collaborative working to deliver a successful service;
• project manage activities to facilitate major changes;
• develop policy within functional guidelines, and contribute to strategic development within own area;
• be accountable for the quality and professionalism of service delivery, with an appreciation of longer term issues.

Problem solving and decision making

• anticipate, interpret and assess customer needs, identifying trends, generating original ideas and testing innovative solutions;
• deal with significant people management issues such as change programmes;
• resolve issues which may not have arisen before through use of experience and judgement.

Organisational understanding

• has an excellent understanding of their own working area and a broad understanding of the contribution other areas make to the success of the University;
• has an excellent understanding of how the University operates, together with an understanding of how academia operates in the UK;
• demonstrates empathy with the academic endeavour and seeks to encourage others to do so.

Relationships and communication

• use coaching skills to motivate and develop staff;
• proactively and sensitively manage the performance of their team and create a motivating environment;
• influence others (including across the University) to follow a particular course of action;
represent the department at internal and external meetings/events/network with colleagues in other institutions to share best practice.