Senior Programme Manager - MBA Suite

SONICOM; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Generous pension schemes

On-site facilities

Job summary

Imperial College London's Imperial Business School seeks an experienced Senior Programme Manager to lead the delivery and development of the MBA portfolio, including Full-Time and Weekend MBA programmes. Reporting to the Programme Director, MBA Suite, you will oversee staff, partner with academic and professional services colleagues, and drive strategic growth and innovation.

You will lead on planning, delivery and continuous improvement, ensuring an outstanding student experience and strong

Qualifications

• Significant experience in higher education or a comparable educational environment.
• Experience leading programme delivery within a complex stakeholder environment.
• Proven people management experience, including recruiting, developing and motivating staff.
• Strong project management skills with experience implementing improvements, new processes and operational plans.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across a diverse stakeholder community.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational management and delivery of the Full-Time MBA and Weekend MBA programmes, ensuring high-quality administration and an outstanding student experience.
• Manage and develop programme staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performing and customer-focused team culture.
• Deputise for the Programme Director as required, taking the lead on planning, delivery, stakeholder engagement and problem-solving activities.
• Work closely with Academic Directors, faculty and professional services teams to support programme delivery, curriculum enhancement and continuous improvement.
• Project manage programme initiatives including inductions, international residencies, global learning experiences and student competitions.
• Monitor budgets and resources, identify efficiencies and ensure effective financial and operational management.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Careers, Student Life, Alumni Relations, Recruitment and Admissions, Marketing and the IDEA Lab to deliver a seamless student journey from recruitment to alumni engagement.
• Build and maintain relationships with external organisations, accreditation bodies, corporate partners and alumni to enhance the profile and impact of the MBA portfolio.
• Lead service improvement and change initiatives, identifying opportunities to innovate and enhance programme delivery.

Skills

Higher education experience

Programme delivery leadership

People management

Project management

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical and problem solving

Budget management

UK higher education QA knowledge

Customer service orientation

Travel flexibility

Job description

Imperial Business School is seeking an experienced and collaborative Senior Programme Manager to play a key role in the delivery and development of our MBA portfolio.

Reporting to the Programme Director, MBA Suite, you will lead the professional and efficient delivery of the Full-Time MBA and Weekend MBA programmes, ensuring an exceptional student experience and supporting the School's ambitions for continued growth and innovation. You will line manage programme staff, work closely with academic and professional service colleagues across the School and College, and contribute to the strategic development of one of the UK's leading MBA portfolios.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced higher education professional who enjoys combining operational leadership, people management and strategic planning within a fast-paced and internationally focused environment.

What you would be doing

In this pivotal role, you will:

• Lead the operational management and delivery of the Full-Time MBA and Weekend MBA programmes, ensuring high-quality administration and an outstanding student experience.
• Manage and develop programme staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performing and customer-focused team culture.
• Deputise for the Programme Director as required, taking the lead on planning, delivery, stakeholder engagement and problem-solving activities.
• Work closely with Academic Directors, faculty and professional services teams to support programme delivery, curriculum enhancement and continuous improvement.
• Project manage programme initiatives including inductions, international residencies, global learning experiences and student competitions.
• Monitor budgets and resources, identify efficiencies and ensure effective financial and operational management.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Careers, Student Life, Alumni Relations, Recruitment and Admissions, Marketing and the IDEA Lab to deliver a seamless student journey from recruitment to alumni engagement.
• Build and maintain relationships with external organisations, accreditation bodies, corporate partners and alumni to enhance the profile and impact of the MBA portfolio.
• Lead service improvement and change initiatives, identifying opportunities to innovate and enhance programme delivery.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a highly motivated professional who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience working within higher education or a comparable educational environment.
• Experience leading programme delivery within a complex stakeholder environment.
• Proven people management experience, including recruiting, developing and motivating staff.
• Strong project management skills with experience implementing improvements, new processes and operational plans.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across a diverse stakeholder community.
• Experience engaging effectively with senior academic and professional services colleagues.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the confidence to make decisions and drive improvements.
• Experience managing budgets, resources and service contracts.
• Knowledge of the UK higher education environment and quality assurance requirements.
• A commitment to delivering outstanding customer service and student experience.
• The flexibility to occasionally work evenings and weekends and undertake international travel when required.

What we can offer you

Joining Imperial means becoming part of a world-leading institution renowned for excellence, innovation and impact. In return, we offer:

• The opportunity to shape and enhance the experience of students studying on a globally recognised MBA portfolio.
• The chance to work with leading academics, ambitious students and influential industry partners.
• A competitive salary and benefits package, including 41 days' annual leave and generous pension schemes.
• Access to a wide range of workplace benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, cycle-to-work schemes and interest-free season ticket loans.
• A supportive, inclusive and collaborative culture with opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Access to staff networks and wellbeing resources that support both personal and professional success.

Further information

This is a full‑time, open‑ended position based at our South Kensington Campus with some opportunities for hybrid working.

The role is part of the Programmes & Education Quality Division at the Business School which delivers 20+ programmes across UG, MSc, MBA and Doctoral programmes delivering to over 3000 students and working with 200+ academics

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Juliette van Wessem: [e-mail]

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us [e-mail]. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top-ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages .

Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community.

Our values are at the root of everything we do, and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.