Project Manager Innovation & Engagement

Newcastle University; Newcastle; On-site; ZAR 35 000 - 38 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent university in KwaZulu-Natal seeks a candidate to lead engagement and innovation projects. This role involves managing relationships with stakeholders, developing collaborative initiatives, and ensuring the university's excellence in engagement. Applicants should have experience in project management and demonstrate a proactive approach to establishing partnerships. The position offers a salary between R35,608 and R37,694 with potential progression, alongside a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday package

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Pension schemes

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of developing objectives and successfully delivering work streams that support a strategic vision.
• Ability to work in a pro-active and self-directed manner.
• Experience of budget analysis and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a range of projects and programmes with stakeholders.
• Identify and engage key stakeholders for mutual benefits.
• Manage strategic relationships with external stakeholders.

Skills

Knowledge of engagement practices

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Ability to coordinate activity across a large complex organisation

Experience of event organisation and delivery

Excellent planning organisation and prioritisation skills

Education

Project management qualification or relevant experience

Tools

Web authoring

Database use

Job description

Salary : 35608 to 37694 with progression to 46049 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 : 22 October 2025

The role

To develop and lead a range of projects and programmes with internal and external stakeholders in delivery of the Universitys Engagement and Place and Business and Innovation strategies. You will identify and engage key stakeholders and manage key relationships to deliver mutual benefit to both the University and our partners. You will lead on the development and delivery of activities and events that will enhance the Universitys reputation for excellence in engagement and innovation through our research and education.

Any queries or for further information please contact

To apply please upload your CV and cover letter that should evidence how your skills and experience align to the person specification as outlined in job description.

Key Accountabilities

Working as part of the Engagement and Place team in the Business Development and Enterprise unit to lead the delivery of engagement and place projects and programmes in collaboration with the Director of BDE Pro-Vice-Chancellor Engagement and Place and cross-cutting University Deans.

To be responsible for forward planning and take a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for collaboration between the University and regional or national partners to further our engagement agenda. Working closely with the three faculties of Medical Sciences Humanities and Social Sciences and Science Agriculture and Engineering to identify regional and national engagement and innovation opportunities.

To develop coordinate and implement projects including new collaborative initiatives and stakeholder relations and agreements liaising with relevant colleagues across the University and external partners using project management methodologies and best practice.

To take a client-focused approach to internal customers and provide an efficient professional and expert first point of contact on engagement and innovation practices. This will involve managing often conflicting demands on resources and exploring alternative solutions. Assist in the promotion and sharing of best practice between academic colleagues and engagement leads across the University.

To work closely with the wider Business Development and Enterprise team to develop a programme of capacity building and training for Engagement and Innovation.

To take the lead in identifying building and managing strategic relationships with external stakeholders and networks in the North East region in support of the Engagement and Innovation strategies. This may include funding bodies regional governance bodies VCSE organisations or further education institutions. Identifying appropriate internal audiences to develop engagement opportunities across disciplines internally and externally.

To support the Dean of Social Justice and Engagement and Innovation Team in the delivery of our Social Justice workstream.

To devise develop and deliver a range of Engagement and Innovation events involving academics professional services colleagues and external partners to plan resources marketing and communication materials event organisation and evaluation. These events may be outside of normal working hours including evenings and weekend work.

To work with the Communications and Marketing teams to ensure the Engagement and Place and Innovation portfolio is represented across all externally facing University communication channels. Lead on creating content specific to target audiences. Develop and manage appropriate online communication and social media channels using analytics to inform planning and decision making.

To manage monitor and control project budgets ensuring spend is within defined limits highlighting any concerns and liaising with the University Finance Office as appropriate.

To identify set up and develop new systems processes and operations to effectively support collaborative projects and engagement activity. To work with a range of systems and process owners and stakeholders across the University to ensure implementation of effective sustainable and joined up solutions

To research develop and write papers for Executive Board and other relevant Committees drawing on institutional and sectoral trends. Contribute to committees and working groups as required specifically providing updates to University Engagement and Place Committee and Research and Innovation committee on relevant projects.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of engagement practices between higher education institutions and their various stakeholders
• Demonstrable experience of developing objectives and successfully delivering work streams that support a strategic vision and direction
• Experience of working within a complex matrix organisation and of influencing others to achieve desired outcomes
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to relate to a wide range of people
• Ability to coordinate activity across a large complex organisation
• Ability to work in a pro-active and self-directed manner
• Interacts professionally and confidently with all levels of an organisation
• Excellent IT skills web authoring and database use
• Works with a high level of accuracy
• Works calmly and confidently under pressure
• Excellent planning organisation and prioritisation skills
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and contribute to the development of effective and mutually supportive working relationships and practices
• Experience of budget analysis and reporting
• Experience of event organisation and delivery

Attributes and Behaviour

• Thinking Strategically: Has the ability to see the big picture to think strategically and to manage complex problems and issues. Identifies appropriate structures for making the strategic vision a reality. Works through the implications of situations in order to identify the most appropriate way forward in order to meet strategic needs.
• Communicating: Uses clear concise and accurate communication tailoring the approach accordingly and encouraging a two way communication process. Understands how to best appeal to colleagues correctly interpreting the right way to approach a situation. Tailors content of communication to the audience changing style tone and format appropriately.
• Planning and organising: Effective at organising and managing complex heavy workloads. Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives.
• Projecting Confidence: Projects a positive attitude through personal confidence and enthusiasm in order to achieve organisational success. Inspires the trust and confidence of others.
• Influencing: Builds relationships with key players both internal and external to gain support. Explains how proposals will support the interest of others.
• Gathering Information: Gains a deeper understanding of the issues affecting the organisation through various methods / sources. Talks to all relevant stakeholders to understand what is needed. Thorough in investigating an issue.
• Team-working: Plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the organisation where different skills expertise and opinions are valued. Gets involved in external groups across the HE and other relevant sectors. Looks at ways of developing cross-functional co-operation and support. Willing to help others and share workloads. Operates in a number of different teams and groups across the organisation.

Qualifications

Project management qualification or equivalent relevant experience of managing complex projects across large organisations

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a goldAthena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.