Project manager jobs in Cambridge

The Project Delivery & Capability Manager plays a key role in enabling the successful delivery of the ARUK’s 10-year strategy through the development and embedding of an effective, scalable and proportionate Project Management Framework.

This is not a traditional project management role. We are looking for a collaborative delivery professional who can partner with colleagues across ARUK to help teams successfully deliver strategic projects, build organisational capability and embed effective ways of working. This role would suit someone who combines strong project management expertise with excellent relationship-building skills and is motivated by coaching, influencing and partnering with colleagues across an organisation. We are seeking a generalist who can work across diverse business functions, helping teams deliver strategic initiatives effectively, rather than a specialist focused on a single technical or operational discipline. 

Managing the Project Delivery team and with line management responsibility for the Senior Projects Officer, the post holder will help drive organisational project management maturity by acting as a trusted partner, advisor and expert for project and programme teams across the charity. Through coaching, consultation, training and hands-on partnering support, the role will help ensure major, cross-organisational strategic initiatives are set up for success and delivered effectively. 

Operating within an evolving hub-and-spoke model, the Project Delivery and Capability Manager will work closely with leaders of large, complex and strategically significant projects and programmes, providing expertise in areas such as planning, governance, stakeholder engagement, risk management, dependency management and benefits realisation. The role will also contribute to the continuous development of project management tools, standards, training and communities of practice that improve delivery capability across the organisation.

While the primary focus is on delivery enablement and capability building, the postholder may directly manage selected high-risk or high-complexity projects where additional project management expertise or capacity is required

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management Framework and Organisational Capability 

· In collaboration with the Head of Programme Management, lead the ongoing development, implementation and continuous improvement of the charity's Project Management Framework, ensuring it remains fit for purpose, proportionate and aligned to organisational priorities and ARUK’s impact-focused annual planning approach 

· Act as a centre of excellence for project management at ARUK, partnering with colleagues across the organisation to provide expert advice, guidance and challenge; use active listening, curiosity and adaptability to tailor support and drive successful delivery outcomes 

· Develop, maintain and promote project management standards, templates, guidance and other resources that support consistent and effective project delivery, providing colleagues with practical tools that support decision-making, reduce complexity, and improve outcomes 

· Design and deliver project management training, workshops and consultations, to increase project management capability and maturity across the organisation, empowering teams to successfully deliver projects in proportion to their scope, scale, and complexity 

· Partner with colleagues in the Organisational Development and Learning & Development team to ensure project management capability-building aligns with broader organisational development priorities 

· Monitor and evaluate the adoption of project management practices, identifying opportunities to improve project delivery effectiveness across the organisation 

· Oversee the maintenance and continuous development of project management resources, intranet content and self-service guidance materials 

Strategic Project and Programme Partnering 

· Proactively partner with leaders of large, complex and strategically important projects and programmes to strengthen delivery planning, governance and execution 

· Provide specialist support and challenge in areas including project set-up, governance, stakeholder management, risk management, dependency mapping, sequencing, phased delivery planning and project review 

· Facilitate effective coordination between interconnected projects and programmes, helping teams identify and manage cross-organisational dependencies, risks and impacts. 

· Support project and programme teams in establishing clear delivery plans, governance structures, decision-making routes and success measures 

· Build strong and collaborative relationships with project sponsors, senior stakeholders and delivery teams to foster a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement 

Line management and Team Development 

· Line manage the Senior Projects Officer, maintaining oversight of team resource and delegating work as appropriate to ensure continued opportunity to embed and further develop their skills and knowledge 

· Provide clear instruction and guidance to the Senior Projects Officer, and engage in coaching and goal-setting conversations, empowering them to succeed and develop in their role 

· Continuously seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in the Strategy & Governance Directorate, contributing to Directorate’s influence and success in partnering with the wider organisation 

Community of Practice and Continuous Improvement 

· Support the Head of Programme Management in the development and facilitation of ARUK’s Project Management Community of Practice, creating opportunities for collaboration, shared learning and peer support. 

· Encourage the adoption of common approaches, standards and tools across projects and programmes. 

· Capture, share and embed lessons learned and best practice from projects and programmes across the organisation. 

· Identify emerging trends, approaches and innovations in project and programme management and assess their relevance for adoption within the charity. 

· Promote a culture of continuous improvement and learning that strengthens organisational delivery capability. 

Selective Project Delivery 

· Lead selected high-risk, high-complexity or business-critical projects where project management support is required and capacity is available. 

· Establish and maintain effective project governance, plans, reporting, risk management and stakeholder engagement arrangements for assigned projects. 

· Ensure project outcomes, benefits and lessons learned are successfully transitioned into business-as-usual operations. 

Knowledge, skills and experience needed:

· Experience managing cross-organisational projects, including developing project plans,allocatingtasks, and managing risks, decisions, and changes. 

· Sound knowledge of project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile), alongside evidence of successfully sharing this knowledge with colleagues via training, partnering, or other knowledge-sharing activities 

· Evidence developing, implementing or evolving project management frameworks, standards or governance approaches within a complex organisation, with a focus on effective delivery over restrictive processes 

· Experience of partnering with cross-organisational projects teams, and actively collaborating with colleagues on joint initiatives 

· Experience supporting organisational change, adoption, or implementation activities as part of project delivery

· Demonstrable ability to work with, influence, andadvisea variety of internal and external stakeholders at all levels 

· Working knowledge of project management tools, such as Excel, Smartsheet, MS Projects or similar 

· Project Management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, APM), or evidence of equivalent project management learning or experience 

· Excellent communication and people management skills, with an ability to build relationships, trust, and inspire confidence and respect at all levels. 

· Strong teamplayer who can work both independently and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders 

· Excellent planning and organisational skills, and the ability to manage a varied workload and reprioritise workin accordance withthe organisation’s needs 

· Excellent listening skills,demonstratingflexibility, curiosity, and an ability to learn 

· Demonstrates good negotiation and influencing skills 

· Demonstrates a proactive and pragmatic approach to investigating and solving problems, strives for continuous improvement andidentifiesways to deliver creative and innovative solutions 

· A good blend of strategic and analytical thinking; with an ability to see the bigger picture and makeappropriate recommendations 

· Ability to absorb and processnew informationquickly 

· Strong ethical standards anda high levelof personal integrity and empathy

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.

Salary: Circa £50,000 per annum, plus benefits.

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 31st August 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, particularly from those in the global majority, those with disabilities, men and those from the LGBTQIA+ community. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website,

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trialsthat slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference. 

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK