At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex client projects and mentor the Project Management Team.
- Company: Join a dynamic education-focused tech company with an award-winning culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 9-day fortnight, competitive salary, and extensive health benefits.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while developing your career in project management.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management, especially in higher education and Microsoft technologies.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 85000 £ per year.
Role Overview: Senior Project Manager at CPS, reporting to the Head of Delivery. The role combines senior project delivery, engagement leadership, mentoring and delivery governance across the Project Management Team. It requires a confident, commercially aware project professional who can lead complex client engagements, build trusted relationships and help raise delivery standards across CPS. Experience within the education sector is essential, ideally within higher education, Microsoft-based technology delivery and digital transformation environments.
This role will entail:
- Lead client engagements from pre-sale support through mobilisation, delivery, commercial control, handover and sustainment.
- Own delivery quality, governance, scope, planning, RAID, change control, reporting, financial control and client acceptance.
- Provide consultative leadership to clients and internal teams, ensuring delivery reflects client objectives, adoption needs, business change impacts and the realities of education-sector stakeholders.
- Maintain strong commercial awareness, protecting project profitability while identifying opportunities to grow client relationships.
- Improve and embed CPS Project Management standards across engagements.
- Support resource utilisation, escalation handling, problem resolution and client issue management.
- Mentor Project Managers, supporting objectives, appraisals, development plans, career roadmaps and succession planning.
- Support PM Team Lead cover, annual leave planning, sickness cover and recruitment activity.
Primary Duty: Deliver high-profile and complex client projects while supporting the PM Team Lead with team guidance, governance and development. The role owns the full project lifecycle, from pre-sales and mobilisation through to delivery, commercial control, client acceptance and handover. The Senior Project Manager sets the standard for delivery quality, commercial control, client confidence and PM team capability.
Requirements:
- Confident, credible and commercially aware
- Structured, thorough and quality-focused
- Resilient, persistent and solutions-focused
- Strong communicator and relationship builder
- Able to influence without imposition
- Quick to assimilate information and solve problems
Experience and Capability:
- End-to-end project lifecycle delivery experience in professional services, consulting or shared services.
- Proven ability to manage multiple clients, projects, priorities and commercial commitments.
- Strong financial control, including budget delivery, billing, forecasting and commercial performance.
- Able to lead multi-disciplinary teams across CPS, clients and partners.
- Experience delivering Microsoft and third-party technology projects, from design through release and sustainment.
- Experience delivering Microsoft-based digital transformation programmes, ideally using Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Azure, Copilot or related Microsoft ecosystem technologies.
- Understanding of higher education operating environments, including academic departments, professional services, student experience, research, governance and complex stakeholder groups.
- Business analysis awareness, with the ability to shape, review and challenge requirements.
- Experience of Agile and Waterfall delivery approaches.
- Willingness to travel as required.
Typical Background:
- Senior Project Manager, Project Manager or Change Manager with experience delivering IT, digital or business transformation projects, ideally in higher education or wider education-sector environments.
- Background in an IT consultancy, professional services or client-facing delivery environment.
- Background delivering Microsoft-centred transformation, adoption or systems implementation projects for universities, colleges or comparable complex public-sector organisations.
- Experience managing multiple client engagements, project teams, budgets, risks, stakeholders and commercial expectations.
- Strong understanding of project governance, delivery methodologies and technology implementation lifecycles.
- Relevant professional qualifications such as APM, PRINCE2 or Agile/Scrum certification.
- Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience.
Benefits:
- 9 Day Fortnight (compression of 10 working days into 9 to be able to not work every other Friday)
- PMI with Vitality Health
- Medical Cash Plan with Medicash
- Life Assurance (Death in Service) with YuLife
- Employee Assistance Programme
- 25 days holiday (plus all Public Holidays) – increasing to 26 days after 1 year, to 27 days after 2 years and to 28 days after 5 years
- Your birthday day off
- Access to Costco Membership
- Salary Sacrifice Scheme, applicable to:
- Workplace Pension
- Employer contribution is currently 5.5% of qualifying salary (above legislated minimum and will increase if we achieve certain business targets)
- Employee contribution is 4% of qualifying salary (legislated minimum but you can elect to increase)
- EV Car Schemes
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Cycle Schemes
- Home & Tech discounts for IKEA and Curry PC World
- Holiday Exchange Scheme: buy up to 10 additional days per year and sell up to 5.
In addition, these are just some of our cultural benefits:
- Quarterly and annual star performer awards – voted for by your peers and colleagues
- Spot Awards of £25 and up, to instantly recognise excellence in you and your colleagues
- Annual professional and personal training budget to support your PDP
- Career Development Frameworks
- Reward schemes that are designed to thank you for your hard work and make life a little more affordable.
- Monthly employee experience/engagement survey
- Quarterly company meetings
- At least one, usually the kick-off in March/April, will typically be in-person. The others are conducted as Town Halls.
- Duration of in-person company meetings is generally 2 or 3 days and location changes every year.
- Social/team building events, organised by our incredible Employee Forum
- Regular, meaningful 1 to 1s
- Long service recognition at 5, 10, 15, 20 years and onwards
Award winning culture: Great Place to Work™ Nov 25 to Nov 26; Best Workplaces for Development™ 2026, Best Workplaces for Wellbeing™ 2026, Best Workplaces for Women™ 2025, Best Workplaces in Tech™ 2025.
Senior PM (Education) in Reading employer: CPS
CPS is an excellent employer for a Unified Communications Architect, offering a flexible remote work environment that prioritises sustainable travel and work-life balance. With benefits like a 9-day fortnight, comprehensive health insurance, and generous holiday allowances, employees are supported in both their professional and personal lives. The company fosters a collaborative culture that encourages continuous learning and growth, making it an ideal place for those looking to advance their careers in cutting-edge technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior PM (Education) in Reading
✨Dive into Digital Learning Communities
Join online forums and communities focused on digital education, like EdTech Meetups or LinkedIn groups. Engage actively—share ideas and insights, and you'll not only learn a ton but also connect with potential employers and thought leaders in the industry.
✨Showcase Your Teaching Skills
Create content that demonstrates your understanding of digital learning—think blogs, videos, or even free online workshops. This could catch the eye of companies like CPS looking for innovative thinkers. Plus, it’s a great way to practice your presentation skills!
✨Utilise University Career Services
If you're still in education or have access to an alumni network, make the most of your university's career services. They often have exclusive job listings and workshops tailored to students wanting to break into full-time roles in education technology.
✨Apply Directly Via Company Websites
When you come across roles like Senior PM (Education) at CPS, make sure to apply directly through their website. It not only shows you're serious but sometimes you'll find positions listed there that may not be on job boards yet. Keep an eye on those!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior PM (Education) in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Passion for Learning:When applying for a role in digital learning and education at CPS, make sure to sprinkle your application with examples of your enthusiasm for teaching and learning technologies. Share specific experiences where you've used, designed, or implemented digital learning solutions, as this shows us that you truly get the field.
Highlight Relevant Education and Certification:In the digital learning space, having a strong educational background can set you apart. Don't shy away from showcasing your degrees, certifications, or relevant courses related to e-learning, instructional design, or educational technology. We love seeing candidates who have actively invested in their learning journey!
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Your CV is your first impression, so let's make it count! Focus on your skills directly related to digital learning, such as course development, learning management systems, and data analysis. Be sure to show measurable results from your past roles to demonstrate your impact and effectiveness.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, express not just your qualifications, but your vision for the future of digital education. Discuss how your experiences align with the mission of CPS and highlight any innovative ideas you might have for enhancing learning experiences. This is your chance to connect with us on a deeper level!
How to prepare for a job interview at CPS
✨Get Hands-On with Learning Technologies
Familiarise yourself with common digital learning tools and platforms, like LMS systems or authoring tools that CPS might use. Understanding these will give you an edge and show you’re ready to jump in from day one!
✨Showcase Your Creativity in Lesson Design
Prepare a portfolio of your past projects if you have them, or create sample lesson plans or digital content demos. Being able to discuss your creative approach to engaging students can really set you apart in a full-time role at CPS.
✨Brush Up on Educational Trends
Stay in the loop with the latest trends in digital education, like gamification or personalised learning experiences. This will help you engage in meaningful discussions during the interview and demonstrate your passion for the field.
✨Prepare for Collaborative Scenarios
Expect to be asked about your experience working collaboratively with educators or other stakeholders. Consider discussing how you've contributed to a team effort in creating engaging educational content or improving student outcomes.
