Consultant Project Officer

Main Function of Job:

The Project Officer will provide support to the Head of Strategic Projects and Project Managers in the delivery of the Universitys strategic programmes and change initiatives.

This is primarily a project coordination and administration role, supporting the planning, documentation, and governance of multiple projects across the University and, where applicable, partner institutions. The role will involve preparing and maintaining project documents, coordinating meetings, supporting reporting cycles, and ensuring information flows effectively between stakeholders.

The postholder will help maintain momentum across delivery activity by monitoring progress, tracking actions and dependencies, preparing and distributing papers, and producing progress summaries and status updates for senior stakeholders and governance groups. Working collaboratively across departments, the Project Officer will contribute to consistent project management practice and support the delivery of a structured, well-governed change portfolio.

Specific Responsibilities:

Administrative support to the project team in order to assist in any of the following:

• Track progress of project tasks and milestones by liaising with Business Leads and Project Managers.
• Reviewing and managing project dependencies, risks, and issues. Escalating as required.
• Setting up meetings, preparing papers and servicing meetings.
• Taking accurate minutes/actions at Programme Boards, Steering Groups and other meetings.
• Maintain and update the Risk and Issue log, the Action and Decision log and the Assumptions and Dependency log.
• Capturing project and workstream updates and compiling them into status reports. State and publish project milestones and reports to stakeholders and monitor slippage
• Develop communication updates for wider stakeholders.

Project Management

• Production of project deliverables, documentation and reports. This includes tracking project status, actions and decisions, providing regular reports and ensuring that each project is clearly recorded and tracked.
• Provide effective project management support to project teams for allocated projects, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and to the standard required.
• Work with multi-functional project teams.
• Assist with creation and maintenance of project plans.
• Take ownership of project documentation to ensure version controls are in place, documents are produced and disseminated on a timely basis to appropriate stakeholders as required.
• Develop links with the Executive Board team and their functions, to ensure all appropriate parties are clear on project status and delivery.
• Carry out detailed fact-finding, data-gathering, investigation & analysis as appropriate to support project analysis and goals.
• Support the wider team such as organising (and sometimes chairing) meetings & other related events. Taking minutes & recording actions to communicate out to the rest of the team and University.

Professional Skills

• PRINCE 2 or equivalent qualification
• Organisation and problem solving
• Attention to detail
• Actively take responsibility for your own personal career development in all respects
• Through active networking and research, develop a comprehensive awareness and knowledge of the legal, education and commercial markets nationally and internationally

General Responsibilities

• Adheres to Corporate Policies and Procedures, including code of conduct.

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the job holder may be required to perform other duties as assigned by the Head of Strategic Projects from time to time.

This job description is to be read in conjunction with the relevant Roles and Responsibilities Career Level document.

This job description is correct at November 2025. It may vary in consultation with the post holder to reflect changes within the market place, the Projects team, and the University.

Person Specification

Job Title: Project Officer

Role: Team Member

Department: Strategy and Planning

1.

Essential:

Graduate level or equivalent

2.

Essential

Project Officer, coordinator or admin experience

A demonstrable track record of supporting successful completion of tasks in at least one of the following areas:

- Business Improvement

- Student/Customer focused

- Data/Information

- Project/Programme Management

Desirable

Experience of the higher education sector

Experience in projects that streamline, simplify and standardise process to improve student (customer) and staff experience.

3.

Essential

- PRINCE 2 foundation qualification

- Knowledge of project management and associated methodologies, in relation to planning, monitoring and controlling projects throughout their lifecycle

- Experience of servicing meetings, project boards and Steering groups

- Ability to provide innovative thinking

- Demonstrable success of data analysis

- Strong technical and analytical ability, plus a good degree of literacy in applications such as MS Project, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Sharepoint and Teams.

- Excellent level of business understanding and acumen

- Excellent communication skills, along with the necessary confidence to build relationships and help drive forward major change programmes.

Desirable

Qualification in a recognised structured method for effective project management, such as PRINCE 2, Agile, Six Sigma

Knowledge and demonstrable success in change management

Understanding of the student lifecycle and core processes that underpin the student journey

4.

Essential

- Accurate with high attention to detail

- Methodical in approach

- Self-motivated with a hands-on, positive attitude

- Quick learner

- An ability to work and contribute effectively within a team

- An ability to work on own initiative and with minimum supervision

- Ability to work under pressure, coordinate several tasks efficiently, prioritise and ensure all deadlines are met

- Ability to secure quality and timely output from others