Education Portfolio Manager

Role Description

We are inviting applications from experienced project managers to join the MK:U accelerator project team as an Education Portfolio Manager.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Operations and Projects this is a specialist role in which you will play a vital role in leading the drive to expand our portfolio into full-time and part-time undergraduate degrees, accelerated degrees, short courses, and boot camps. As the Education Portfolio Manager, you will be responsible for simultaneously managing several projects that will impact directly on MK:U’s growth and course expansion and you will effectively build networks both within and outside the university to enable you to resource course delivery.

As an experienced project manager, you will ensure the development of new courses is to time, cost and quality, and that resource is allocated accordingly between the projects whilst identifying key dependencies and risks. In addition, you will be confident in engaging with industry, leading the process of setting up Advisory Boards for new courses, presenting course ideas and gathering and implementing their feedback to ensure that course teams design courses that are relevant to industry requirements.

About you

We are open to ideas and think creatively about our resourcing needs.   We are seeking people to join the team who are as a passionate as we are about the educational needs of our current and future workforce.  You must be excited about education innovation and about the idea of further developing MK:U as a new technology university in Milton Keynes. You will hear from our clients about what they want the learner experience at MK:U to be; you will bring this knowledge back to the team and influence the way we design and deliver our student experience.

To be successful in this role you will require previous project management experience and be able to demonstrate that you can confidently collaborate with and influence a network of stakeholders. Comfortable with a fast-paced and fast-changing environment in which each day is different you will have exceptional planning, organisational and leadership skills allowing you to manage complex processes calmly but at pace to ensure projects are delivered on time and to the specified budget and level of quality.

You must have a degree or equivalent level qualification and, whilst you do not need prior knowledge of the Higher Education sector, you will be experienced in handling data and managing projects and/ or in developing education, training or workshops. You must be able to develop your understanding quickly and be a self-starter.  A keen interest in high tech business and new technologies would be useful, as would local knowledge and experience.

Please note that due to the nature of this position, any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

About Us

As a specialist university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

About MK:U

MK:U is an exciting new addition to the Cranfield University educational family; a new model higher education provider for Milton Keynes, designed to meet urgent technological and skills needs. MK:U’s education is designed with and for business to fill growing skills gaps in the digital economy. Find out more about working with us here: Working at MK:U (shorthandstories.com)

MK:U’s education focuses on real-world application of problems using problem-based learning. Find out more here.

Our Values and Commitments

Cranfield’s shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are also committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role.  Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

We currently have hybrid working arrangements and there is an expectation that our staff will spend a minimum of 40% of their time (and more where needed) working from the office in central Milton Keynes.

How to apply

If you have questions about the role, please contact Alex Cossey, Head of Projects, and Operations, by email in the first instance to: alex.l.cossey@cranfield.ac.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk Please quote reference number 4843.

Closing date for receipt of applications:   2 July 2024