TRS Programme Coordinator (Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30 June 2028 in the first instance. 

The University of Cambridge has established a number of change initiatives to help the institution adopt new ways of working in support of its staff and academic mission. These change initiatives are closely linked to the University's priorities and will help ensure that the University continues to thrive in the future.  

The Transforming Research Support (TRS) Programme is one of these initiatives. It aims to deliver new systems, processes and ways of working that improve the way we manage research grants, leading to a better experience for our staff and external stakeholders. 

The Programme Co-ordinator role will provide critical support across the Research Portfolio, ensuring programmes and projects are effectively planned, governed, and delivered. The role acts as the central point for co-ordination, reporting, and administration within the portfolio, enabling Portfolio and Delivery Managers to focus on delivery and stakeholder management. 

Key Responsibilities

Programme/Portfolio Support

• Support the planning, delivery, and governance of multiple systems delivery projects and programmes.
• Responsible for portfolio meetings management i.e. invitations, agendas, notes, actions and other outputs.
• Maintain integrated programme plans, RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, dependencies) logs, and action trackers.
• Monitor progress against key milestones and escalate risks or delays.
• Co-ordinate dependencies across projects, workstreams, and business units. Governance & Reporting
• Source updates from team members to support the preparation of programme status reports and updates for senior stakeholders.
• Support the preparation of Portfolio, Programme Board packs, ensuring timely and accurate information.
• Ensure compliance with portfolio governance frameworks, policies, and standards.

Financial & Resource Management

• Liaising with Finance department for budget reports for inclusion in board packs and reports.
• Assist in resource planning, supporting the recruitment process and resource allocation across projects.
• Support tracking vendor/supplier deliverables, contracts, purchase orders and invoices where applicable.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Act as a coordination point between project teams, business stakeholders, and external partners.
• Support stakeholder communications, workshops, and events.
• Maintain clear, concise communication channels across the portfolio.

Tools & Processes

• Manage portfolio and project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or equivalent).
• Champion best practice in project documentation, knowledge management, and version control.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of programme and portfolio delivery processes.

Skills & Experience 

Essential

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presentation.
• Proficiency with project management tools and MS Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Project).
• Knowledge of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid).

Desirable

• Previous experience in IT systems delivery or enterprise transformation programmes in Higher Education.
• Experience supporting programmes or portfolios, ideally in systems delivery or technology transformation.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, detail-oriented, and solution-focused.
• Comfortable working in a complex, change-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and influence at all levels.
• A team player who can work collaboratively and independently.

We particularly welcome applications from women and /or candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our department.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

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

Advert information