PPM - grade 9

Experiences

Activities and responsibilities likely to be required when working at this level

• Managing complex and multi-dimensional projects and/or programmes throughout their lifecycles.
• Employing formal planning techniques.
• Setting and leading on strategic objectives; developing briefs, business cases and governance arrangements.
• Devising and developing workshop formats and content to address strategic and complex issues.
• Facilitating and/or chairing complex workshops and meetings with diverse senior stakeholders.
• Leading robust evaluation and post-implementation review processes.
• Resolving contentious issues within ambiguous contexts.
• Managing significant resources (line and project teams, and large budgets).
• Building and leading effective teams and resources to deliver to specific elements of projects, particularly outside of your own area of specialisation.
• Providing effective leadership and development for teams.
• Liaising with and influencing senior stakeholders and partners.
• Understanding of the academic and financial principles that underpin universities and of the higher education landscape.
• Making sense of complexity to provide clear direction and support for diverse and specialist teams, with full accountability for team outcomes.
• Managing risk.
• Taking responsibility for continuous improvement and finding optimal solutions.
• Specialist knowledge/experience in the relevant area and/or ability to quickly translate complex concepts to identify key issues in areas that may be unfamiliar.

Personal and professional development

Development options to consider when working towards this level

Learning on the job

• Manage a programme of work comprising of multiple projects with a level of complexity and ambiguity.

Learning from others  

• Consider becoming a mentor to support the development of self and others.
• Work shadow a senior manager at the point a programme is being established.
• Find opportunities to network with senior UCL staff, including senior PMs with ‘in-flight’ projects.
• Consider taking a leadership role in a Special Interest Group.

Formal learning

• PRINCE2, MSP, P3O.
• Participation in a leadership development programme.

* You may wish to explore the listed formal training themes / topics on LinkedIn Learning.

Transferable skills and competencies

UCL uses the Universal Competency Framework (UCF) to discuss transferable skills. Find out more details on the framework.

Persuading and influencing

• Making an impact.
• Shaping conversations.
• Appealing to emotions.
• Promoting ideas.
• Negotiating and gaining agreement.
• Dealing with political issues.

Leading and supervising

• Providing direction and co-ordinating action.
• Supervising and monitoring behaviour.
• Coaching.
• Delegating.
• Empowering staff.
• Motivating others.
• Developing staff.
• Identifying and recruiting talent.

Entrepreneural and commerical teaching

• Monitoring markets and competitors.
• Identifying business opportunities.
• Demonstrating financial awareness.
• Controlling costs.
• Keeping aware of organisational issues.

UCL Ways of Working

These describe expected behaviours in line with UCL culture and values.  For Ways of Working indicators and steps to development please refer to the Ways of Working website.