At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the PMO for a transformative student record system project, ensuring smooth operations and governance.
- Company: Join Cardiff Metropolitan University, a values-driven institution with a strong community spirit.
- Benefits: Enjoy 35 days annual leave, pension contributions, and access to excellent development resources.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of inclusion and flexibility, with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on student experiences while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Proven PMO experience and strong communication skills are essential for this role.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The Student Record System (SRS) Programme is a multi-year, institution-wide initiative to replace our core student data infrastructure with a modern, integrated suite of best-in-class systems. Spanning a new student record system, admissions platform, international compliance automation, and curriculum management system; all connected through a Central Data Hub. This programme will fundamentally improve how students, staff, and partners experience Cardiff Met.
You will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the PMO, working closely with the Programme Manager to ensure that governance, planning, reporting, and assurance processes are consistently applied and fit for purpose across all workstreams. Your work will provide the structural backbone that enables the programme to run with rigour, transparency, and confidence.
You will lead the way by:
- Managing the PMO function across all SRS workstreams, ensuring standards, tools, and processes are consistently applied throughout the programme lifecycle.
- Maintaining and developing the integrated programme plan, proactively identifying interdependencies, conflicts, and critical path risks.
- Managing the programme-level RAID log, ensuring risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies are identified, updated, escalated, and resolved in a timely manner.
- Producing high-quality programme reports for the Programme Board, senior sponsors, and the University's Executive Group, covering progress, financial monitoring, and risk.
- Centrally co-ordinating the programme's change control process, ensuring all proposed changes to scope, cost, or timeline are properly assessed, documented, and approved in line with governance arrangements.
- Supporting the Programme Manager in resource and capacity planning activity across the programme team.
You will bring proven PMO experience from within a large-scale transformation programme, with a thorough understanding of programme governance, integrated planning, and RAID management. Your analytical instincts will help you spot emerging risks early, while your communication skills will enable you to translate complex programme information into clear, concise reporting for senior stakeholders.
Organised, methodical, and collaborative by nature, you will be comfortable operating across technical, operational, and strategic stakeholder groups. You will have the confidence to maintain governance standards under pressure and the interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships across a complex, multi-disciplinary programme team.
You will also have:
- Demonstrable experience maintaining integrated programme plans and managing interdependencies across multiple concurrent workstreams.
- Experience producing clear, accurate, and timely programme reports for senior stakeholders and board-level audiences.
- Excellent working knowledge of programme and project management tools (e.g. MS Project, SharePoint, or equivalent).
We are a values-based University. We are proud of our culture, and we are there for our people. Our community spirit is the golden thread that underpins our values and behaviours. We support and embrace inclusion that enables everyone to feel respected and able to perform at their best. By joining our University, you'll find yourself in a unique environment where a wealth of knowledge and resources are readily available, supporting you with your career development.
Annual leave of 35 days, plus 12 bank holiday / concessionary days (pro rata if part time). Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with generous monthly contributions. Excellent family friendly policies – take a look on our Policy Hub page. Opportunities to learn and develop your skills with access to library and digital services facilities. Excellent sports and fitness facilities with subsidised membership. Free family access to our independent specialist wellbeing support provider, Health Assured.
All applications must be submitted online. The person specification will be used as a tool for shortlisting; so please make sure you use this information when writing your application. Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. Should a high volume of applications be received, we may need to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage you to apply as early as possible.
Cardiff Metropolitan University is proud to be a Disability Confident employer and a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. All applicants with disabilities, or those who are part of the Armed Forces community who during the shortlisting process meet the essential criteria for the role will be progressed to the next stage. The University is committed to creating a highly inclusive culture. We offer family friendly and flexible working arrangements and a range of staff networks, forums and events to support and develop our people. We warmly welcome applications from those traditionally underrepresented in the higher education sector.
Why Work Here? We invite you to join our collaborative community! Dating back to 1865, we remain rooted in Wales with a global reach, offering you a world of opportunity. Our education, research and innovation deliver positive impact for equality, social inclusion and environmental sustainability, locally, nationally and internationally. Are you ready to contribute to something remarkable? Join us in helping us to progress and deliver real change. Explore what makes our community an exceptional place to be by clicking 'Find out more' today.
Programme Management Office (PMO) Lead (SRS) in Cardiff employer: Cardiff Met
Cardiff Metropolitan University is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture, prioritising the well-being and professional growth of its staff. With generous annual leave, access to excellent sports facilities, and a commitment to diversity, employees are supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance while contributing to meaningful educational initiatives. Join us in a vibrant community where your skills will be valued and your career can flourish.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Management Office (PMO) Lead (SRS) in Cardiff
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Cardiff Met on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into the SRS Programme. Understand its goals and challenges, and think about how your PMO experience can help tackle them. Show us you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! You’ll need to translate complex info into clear reports, so try explaining your past projects to friends or family. The clearer you are, the more confident you’ll feel in the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our community at Cardiff Met.
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Management Office (PMO) Lead (SRS) in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know the Job Inside Out:Before you start writing, make sure you really understand the PMO Lead role and what it entails. Dive into the job description and highlight key responsibilities and skills. This will help you tailor your application to show how you fit the bill.
Showcase Your Experience:When detailing your experience, focus on your PMO background and any large-scale transformation projects you've been part of. Use specific examples that demonstrate your governance, planning, and reporting skills. We want to see how you’ve made an impact!
Be Clear and Concise:Your application should be easy to read and straight to the point. Avoid jargon and keep your language simple. Remember, we’re looking for clarity in communication, so make sure your application reflects that!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the resources you need to make your application shine.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cardiff Met
✨Know Your PMO Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the PMO function and its role in large-scale transformation programmes. Familiarise yourself with governance standards, integrated planning, and RAID management, as these are crucial for the position.
✨Prepare to Showcase Your Reporting Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience in producing high-quality programme reports. Bring examples of how you've translated complex information into clear, concise updates for senior stakeholders. This will demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
✨Highlight Your Analytical Instincts
During the interview, share specific instances where your analytical skills helped identify risks or interdependencies early on. This will show that you can proactively manage challenges and maintain the programme's momentum.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaborative Nature
Emphasise your ability to work across technical, operational, and strategic groups. Share examples of how you've built effective relationships within multi-disciplinary teams, as collaboration is key to success in this role.
