Pro-Vice-Chancellor s Office. Permanent. 37 hours, normally worked Monday to Friday

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2 Job title: Projects Officer Vacancy reference: 2223 School/department: Job type: Hours of work: Salary details: Responsible to: Start date: School of Management Pro-Vice-Chancellor s Office Full time Permanent 37 hours, normally worked Monday to Friday Salary level 5 range 31,620 to 35,244 per annum with additional performance related pay up to 44,055 per annum Professor Maury Peiperl, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Director of School of Management As soon as possible Closing date for applications: 3 July 2016

3 Cranfield is an exclusively postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management. Our Corporate Plan, which everyone can contribute towards, will allow us to meet the challenges ahead in a rapidly developing global higher education marketplace. Our ethos is very much defined by our people, our staff, our learners, our alumni and friends. We have four strategic priorities which are our primary focus over the next five years. To provide a premier learning experience that enhances the capabilities of individuals and their organisations. To be recognised for outstanding transformational research that meets the needs of business, government and wider society. To grow an efficient, effective, and sustainable enterprise. To be renowned for our impact and influence regionally, nationally and internationally. Each priority above includes a core goal resulting in Plan 415i. 400 Towards 400 fully research active staff 10 5 Towards a UK top 10 postgraduate learning experience 5% operating surplus i Impact, influence, internationalisation

4 Underpinned by these research centres Incorporating these groups Communities of interest Cranfield School of Management (SoM) has over 40 years experience of developing business leaders. SoM is a Financial Times top 40 school and is triple accredited by EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. It is known for its excellence in leadership development and thought leadership, its deep-rooted relationships with organisations, and its focus on transforming learning and research into improved management practice. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Centre for Customised Executive Development (CCED) Open Executive Programmes (Specialist & General Management) INNOVATION & PROCESS MANAGEMENT Prof Keith Goffin STRATEGY, PEOPLE & LEADERSHIP Prof Mark Jenkins POLICY, SUSTAINABILITY & PERFORMANCE Prof Joe Nellis DEMAND CHAIN MANAGEMENT Prof Michael Bourlakis Innovation Operations Management Programme & Project Management Leadership & Organisation Behaviour People & Human Resource Management Strategic Management Economics Finance & Accounting Entrepreneurship Corporate Responsibility Marketing & Sales Logistics & Supply Chain Management Complex Systems Information Systems Business Performance General Management Development Centre for Innovative Products & Services International Centre for Women Leaders Centre for Economic Performance & Policy Centre for Strategic Marketing & Sales International Centre for Programme Management Information Systems RC Centre for Business Performance Centre for Research in Finance Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility Centre for General Management Development Supply Chain Centre for Strategic Procurement & Supply Management Complex Systems

5 The purpose of this role is to support the Director of School with key operational projects and initiatives, including acting as a point of liaison with key customers, potential partners, alumni, students and staff. You will be responsible for supporting the Director in building the business; providing project and general support, information and data as required, acting as an ambassador for the School and the brand. Main responsibilities 1 Lead and manage projects and activities on behalf of the Director of School, supporting a culture of excellence through thought leadership. These projects may include developing key communication pieces and PR material, interacting with customers and alumni, influencing internal stakeholders and developing robust plans for initiatives and projects that are pivotal to the success of the School. 2 Delivering a highly professional, proactive and anticipatory service to the Director of School. Managing direct communications with key customers and prospects, alumni, students and staff to ensure that all opportunities are seized upon and followed up. Providing a buffer to the Director of School from a communications perspective and proactively managing key tasks on their behalf. 3 Managing social media and interactions on behalf of the Director of School. This will include sourcing material and content, identifying the best media to use and managing ongoing communications as a result of any initial interactions, developing potential leads and selling opportunities as a result. Influencing target audiences with particular messages and content (Inc. the creation of new content where appropriate) will be key to this piece. 4 Building and maintaining strong and purposeful working relationships with customers and stakeholders, both internally and externally, including our global client base. % of time spent

6 Main responsibilities 5 Attend School, University and external events, acting as an ambassador for the School and the brand. This will include some events where opportunities to identify new business and client relationships will exist. % of time spent 10 6 Responsible for gathering Faculty information and data, preparing material for the Director of School as and where necessary. 5 7 Any other general tasks, depending on the workload and priorities of the Director of School. 5 You will be responsible for your own workload allocation and resource planning based on the current priorities and tasks. The workload is likely to result in several conflicting demands and priorities, which you will be responsible for managing. You will be expected to maintain excellent standards and work to specific deadlines and set timescales, particularly when customers are concerned. There will be a requirement to attend regular meetings with new and existing clients, alumni and Faculty, responding to enquiries and queries where appropriate. These are likely to lead to (or be part of ongoing) discussions about revenue generating and partnership opportunities. These meetings and interactions will need to be planned and organised approximately 4-6 months in advance, particularly when commitments may be taking place outside of the UK. Interactions with key customers and alumni must go smoothly without fault, and in some cases this will require a meticulous level of pre-planning, particularly where other key stakeholders, such as the Vice- Chancellor, will also be attending. The predominant part of the role will be supporting the Director of School with their current and longer term activities, meetings, projects and acting as the liaison point for specific individuals (mainly external customers). The planning of any targeted marketing and PR activities will need to be developed in line with MCD and SoM colleagues, usually 3-6 months in advance (12 months if published as an article or paper), to ensure that any material is sourced (developed and created if necessary) and tailored to the particular market or audience. You will be able to influence this process with input from the Director of School. The work will be varied and cover a wide scope of activities across the School of Management and wider University; providing information and advice to the Director of School where necessary.

7 This a high profile position within the School of Management. You will work closely with the Director of School and PA to Director of School on a daily basis. You will require communication with high profile senior stakeholders on regular basis, including the Vice Chancellor s Office, Deputy Director of School, other Directors of Schools, members of the University Executive and Senior Management Team (SMT). A skill for influencing and negotiating will be essential when dealing with these groups to ensure that the required aims and objectives of projects are met and delivered in a timely fashion. It will be your responsibility to take ownership for the management of this process. You must possess a sufficient temperament and disposition to oversee projects and initiatives with stakeholders both internally and externally. There will be times when tact and diplomacy are required, and others where a sense of urgency and pressure will dictate the approach. You will need to use your emotional intelligence to tailor your approach to each differing set of circumstances. You will have regular contact with business leaders, Faculty, alumni, students and staff. You will need to adapt and modify your approach to suit these audiences. This will include reacting quickly to opportunities, questions and problems. You must have the highest standard of written English and the ability to write and influence stakeholders, customers, alumni, individuals in government and business leaders. You will be expected to deal with day-to-day administrative, project, social media and PR issues independently. Typical problems include requests from customers or stakeholders regarding key projects and tasks running via the Director of School s office, or requests for further information based on a social media interaction. You will be expected to resolve a diverse range of conflicts of interest and manage the allocation of staff time or resources to projects and key tasks. These activities will be wide ranging and may include responding to business development enquiries and feedback from high profile customers with little support or guidance, keeping contacts informed about opportunities and new pieces of thought leadership in their market, using initiative to identify and select relevant material. And in some cases, you may have to build a case for the development of some new material or content, based on customer demand and feedback. You will identify and champion solutions where issues exist. The ability to act as an effective trouble-shooter is essential; this is core to the role and, in times of conflict, you would be expected to find a solution to most disputes and to be resolute in ensuring that problems and issues are satisfactorily resolved.

8 You will be expected to identify both solutions and opportunities to add value, developing a strong business case where appropriate. There will also be cross-selling and new business opportunities you would be expected to grasp and understand where potential openings must exist and be investigated further. You will have a high degree of autonomy and will be expected to resolve issues effectively through experience and with the application of intelligence and innovative solutions. However, some decisions will be taken with reference to others and collaborative working will be necessary. Management of the day-to-day workload and responsibilities; Issuing of social media messages and PR material; Routine project associated decisions and timescales; Decision making in relation to the annual cycle of meetings and events; Prioritising of work; and Managing diaries and travel arrangements for the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and others Major changes in workload that impact on the Director of School or colleagues; Matters that involve corporate risk; Contractual issues; Decisions that directly affect client relationships or that have significant HR or financial implications The role involves helping to ensure that the School of Management, through the Pro- Vice-Chancellor, runs smoothly. You are expected to ensure that UK law and University policies, rules, systems and procedures are adhered to where applicable. Internally, your role is particularly affected by procedures relating to the School of Management and in some cases, the subsidiary company - Cranfield Management Development Limited. You will also need to have an understanding of external factors that can have an influence on Cranfield s business, including changes that impact upon our major customers.

9 You will regularly deal with senior staff and key external contacts; you must have the ability to build good working relationships with external contacts in these stakeholder organisations and demonstrate tact and diplomacy when doing so. You will make a significant contribution to the smooth running of the Pro-Vice- Chancellor s Office and the School of Management overall. You will support the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and other members of Faculty with the management of their time and administrative load. The School of Management currently has 118 staff members (86 faculty members) and approximately 762 students.

10 Educated to Degree level standard (or equivalent) Significant experience in a professional role of similar standing and breadth Social Media qualifications PRINCE 2 or similar methodologies Project Management or Marketing or PR qualification Significant Office Management and People Management experience Experience of managing key projects Experience within Higher/Further education sector Experience of using social media and utilising it for competitive advantage Experience of writing key communications and PR messages Experience of working with senior stakeholders and business leaders from diverse backgrounds and audiences Knowledge of Higher/Further Education sector terms and processes Knowledge of our key markets Excellent writing, editing and copywriting skills, with the ability to influence target audiences Advanced skills in all Microsoft packages, in particular Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook Excellent organisational, planning, multitasking and administrative skills

11 Ability to find workable solutions to every day and out of the ordinary problems Project initiation and management skills Absolute discretion when dealing with sensitive issues Tact, diplomacy and professional manner when dealing with senior internal and external contacts Ability to work well as part of a team, as well as independently Confident manner Ability to demonstrate a versatile and flexible attitude towards work