Job Description

About us

Our mission is to enable professional and continuing education throughout life, and to widen access to higher education. We design, deliver and curate a portfolio of world-leading short courses in a broad range of disciplines. In addition, we have over 1,000 students studying for part-time University of Cambridge awards, across a range of subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.


Following a period of growth and expansion of our portfolio, and in a context where the regulatory environment as well as needs of lifelong learners are changing, we are embarking on a programme to analyse our current portfolio, focusing initially on our award-bearing provision. We want to ensure our course offering meets the needs of our diverse students, while staying true to our mission to support the University meet its commitment to access to higher education and promoting lifelong learning. The Portfolio Analysis Programme aims to identify areas of strength, weakness and opportunity in our existing portfolio, as well as make recommendations for where our long-term investment in course development should be directed.

The Role

We seek to appoint a Project Manager to play a leading role in supporting our Portfolio Analysis Programme. The project manager will work closely with the Director of Academic Programmes to deliver this programme, specifically supporting the programme by providing a reliable, robust, efficient and accountable management framework to ensure the successful and timely delivery of this programme.


The role holder will be responsible for the lifecycle of this project, providing robust and transparent project governance, and interacting with stakeholders across multiple levels, from PACE leadership and academic staff to external third parties, key University departments and colleges. Strong liaison, networking, communication and motivational skills are essential to this position.

Your skills

You will be qualified project manager with a proven track record of delivering successful project, with particular skills in the following areas:


Project management: able the manage the whole lifecycle of the project, engage in project governance, the day-to-day co-ordination of the project and produce and maintain key project documentation and reporting. Communication and stakeholder engagement: able to interact and maintain positive working relationships with key project stakeholders across different roles and at different levels of seniority to clearly articulate the project's benefits and outcomes. Exceptional organisational skills with an ability to prioritise work. Initiative, independence and flexibility: able to be proactive within the bounds of the project, while maintaining flexibility and resilience to respond to changing needs, to ensure the successful delivery of the project.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.


Elements of this role are suitable for hybrid working, where staff can split their time between in-person collaboration and remote working. The frequency of the remote elements of the role can be discussed with the recruiting manager.


Informal enquiries are encouraged and can be made to Dr Christopher Huggins, ch2042@cam.ac.uk


Enquires about the application process should be directed to HR@pace.cam.ac.uk


Please ensure that you upload your CV and a cover letter (the length of which must not exceed two pages)


The closing date for applications is 30 January 2026. Interviews will take place on 11 February 2026.


Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 18 months in the first instance.


Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.



Please quote reference EA48476 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.


The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.


The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.



Key information

Department/location

University of Cambridge Institute of Professional and Continuing Education

Salary

35,608-46,049

Reference

EA48476

Category

Academic-related

Date published

12 January 2026

Closing date

30 January 2026