Programme Manager (Higher Education - Service Design)


Company:	Hays Specialist Recruitment
Salary:	£675 to £675 a day
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Manchester, M1 4BT
Working pattern:	Hybrid - 2 days remote
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	24 Sept 2026
Closing date:	1 Oct 2026

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Summary

£675 a day (Inside IR35)

Manchester (1-2 days onsite)

12 Months

We are looking for an experienced programme leader to bring strong grip, pace and clarity while leading the work in a genuinely hybrid way, combining clear plans, milestones and accountability with iterative design, early testing and adaptation. They will be an exceptional stakeholder leader, able to build credibility quickly, navigate difficult conversations, challenge constructively and bring academic and Professional Services colleagues with them through significant changes to established ways of working.

Most importantly, they will keep the programme focused on its purpose: designing a trusted and sustainable service around the needs of students, academics and Professional Services colleagues, and turning the ambition behind A&P into measurable improvements in their experience and outcomes.

They will bring:

Experience of personally leading complex, organisation-wide transformation involving service redesign, technology, data and significant changes to ways of working.

A strong track record of establishing and maintaining effective programme controls, including integrated planning, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, decisions, resources, budgets and benefits, while also combining this with iterative, user-centred delivery.

Experience of managing external delivery partners and suppliers, including commercial oversight, delivery assurance, knowledge transfer and holding partners accountable for agreed outcomes.

Exceptional stakeholder management, with the credibility and judgement to build strong relationships quickly, navigate complex academic and Professional Services environments, handle difficult conversations and bring people with them through change.

The ability to put students, academics and Professional Services colleagues at the heart of design, testing and decision-making.

A relentless focus on outcomes and benefits, rather than treating project activity, technical delivery or system implementation as success in themselves.

The ability to turn complexity into a clear, credible and adaptable delivery plan.

Strong judgement, constructive challenge and confidence working with senior sponsors, governance bodies and multidisciplinary teams.

An excellent and highly responsive communicator, providing clear, timely and audience-appropriate updates at every level.

The proactive communication discipline to keep the Programme Director, sponsors and senior leaders informed of progress, risks, decisions and emerging issues, while clearly communicating priorities and expectations across the delivery team.

The ability to anticipate information needs, follow through on commitments and escalate concerns early without needing to be prompted.

A collaborative and team-focused leadership style that strengthens the existing A&P team, creates clarity and shared ownership, and builds confidence and stability through the next phase.

The ability to bring business, service design, technology, data, change and testing together as one integrated delivery team.

Experience of building momentum and delivery confidence in a complex or previously challenging programme

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