Programme Manager (Higher Education - Service Design)

Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Hays Specialist Recruitment is seeking an experienced programme leader to drive a major transformation in Manchester, combining design, technology, data and change management.

The role is a 12-month contract, largely hybrid with 1-2 days onsite. The assignment pays £675 per day inside IR35 and aims to deliver measurable improvements in student and staff experiences.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex, organisation-wide transformation programmes.
• Strong governance—planning, milestones, risks, issues and benefits tracking.
• Experience with service redesign, technology and data changes.
• Proven ability to manage external delivery partners and contractors.

Responsibilities

• Lead a major transformation programme with a hybrid delivery approach.
• Establish clear plans, milestones and accountability for outcomes.
• Engage senior stakeholders and manage change across Academic Services.

Job description

Employer:

Hays Specialist Recruitment

Location:

Pay:

Contract Type:

Contract

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

01/10/2026

About this job

• Service Design) £675 a day (Inside IR35) Manchester (1-2 days onsite) 12 Months We are looking for an experienced programme leader to bring strong grip, pace and clarity while leading the work in a genuinely hybrid way, combining clear plans, milestones and accountability with iterative design, early testing and adaptation.

They will be an exceptional stakeholder leader, able to build credibility quickly, navigate difficult conversations, challenge constructively and bring academic and Professional Services colleagues with them through significant changes to established ways of working.

Most importantly, they will keep the programme focused on its purpose: designing a trusted and sustainable service around the needs of students, academics and Professional Services colleagues, and turning the ambition behind A&P into measurable improvements in their experience and outcomes.

They will bring: Experience of personally leading complex, organisation-wide transformation involving service redesign, technology, data and significant changes to ways of working.

A strong track record of establishing and maintaining effective programme controls, including integrated planning, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, decisions, resources, budgets and benefits, while also combining this with iterative, user-centred delivery.

Experience of managing external delivery partners and suppliers, including commercial oversight, delivery assurance, knowledge transfer and holding partners accountable for agreed outcomes.

Exceptional stakeholder management, with the credibility and judgement to build strong relationships quickly, navigate complex academic and Professional Services environments, handle difficult conversations and bring people with them through change.

The ability to put students, academics and Professional Services colleagues at the heart of design, testing and decision-making.

A relentless focus on outcomes and benefits, rather than treating project activity, technical delivery or system implementation as success in themselves.

The ability to turn complexity into a clear, credible and adaptable delivery plan.

Strong judgement, constructive challenge and confidence working with senior sponsors, governance bodies and multidisciplinary teams.

An excellent and highly responsive communicator, providing clear, timely and audience-appropriate updates at every level.

The proactive communication discipline to keep the Programme Director, sponsors and senior leaders informed of progress, risks, decisions and emerging issues, while clearly communicating priorities and expectations across the delivery team.

The ability to anticipate information needs, follow through on commitments and escalation early without needing to be prompted.

A collaborative and team-focused leadership style that strengthens the existing A&P team, creates clarity and shared ownership, and builds confidence and stability through the next phase.

The ability to bring business, service design, technology, data, change and testing together as one integrated delivery team.

Experience of building momentum and delivery confidence in a complex or previously challenging programme Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers.

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