Project Manager; Operations

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Salary: 37,369 to £39,560 with progression to £46,970 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 18 November 2026

Newcastle University is seeking an outstanding Project Manager to lead the operational management of two significant regional partnerships: the North East Uni Connect Programme (NEUCP) and Access Universities for North East England (Access UNEE). Together, these partnerships bring universities, colleges, schools and strategic stakeholders together to improve educational outcomes, reduce inequalities and support progression to higher education across the North East.

You will take lead responsibility for managing the Operations Team, to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of all centralised processes and procedures. This will include management of GDPR compliant data collection processes, data related monitoring and reporting requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence regional educational priorities, support innovation across a complex partnership landscape and play a key role in ensuring the successful delivery of programmes that make a real difference to communities across the region.

In this role, you will:

• Take lead responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of core project functions including:
  • Implementation and management of planning and reporting cycles ensuring data collection and financial monitoring is completed accurately and in compliance with OfS grant funding conditions;
  • Participant data collection, management and reporting to meet Office for Students (OfS) reporting timelines and governance board requirements;
• Line manage the central Operations Team, ensuring achievable priorities are set and encouraging a positive collaborative approach to work, fostering greater join up of roles and responsibilities to complement the work of our Delivery staff based across the region.
• Working collaboratively with other Managers across the partnership, develop, implement and communicate key project timelines, roles and responsibilities to team members and monitor effectiveness.
• Lead a continuous improvement approach to managing central processes and procedures to ensure greater efficiency and agility within the Operations Team function, in turn developing common guidance and protocols to support programme delivery with full adherence to Newcastle University policies and processes.
• Work with the Senior Project Manager to create and disseminate governance documents, such as Operating Plans, Monitoring Returns, Collaborative Agreements, Business Plans and Data Sharing Agreements, including the creation and review of compliance documentation, such as Data Impact Assessments, Supplier Information Security Assessments, Risk Assessments and Privacy Notices.
• Oversee procurement of third-party goods/services at Newcastle University in-line with purchasing policies and grant funding conditions, ensuing value for money as directed by the Senior Project Manager.
• Manage internal and external audit requests (both financial and non-financial) at key points throughout the lifetime of the Programmes.
• Consult and negotiate with the other partnership Project Managers, to ope rationalise strategic decisions/direction aligned to nationally set programme guidance to ensure and manage continued compliance with grant funding conditions and GDPR requirements.
• Provide senior level support to the North East Uni Connect partnership strategy group including, managing the calendar of meetings,…