Senior Agile Project and Operations Manager (Fixed Term)

October 27, 2025

Other Jobs To Apply

This role is based in a high-performing, research-intensive department of the University, where the delivery of robust, scalable, and innovative IT services is mission-critical. This is a dual-function role responsible for both leading agile delivery practices across engineering teams and managing core business operations. This role ensures that product delivery is predictable and efficient while also maintaining the operational backbone of the organisation. The purpose of the role is to create alignment and efficiency across delivery and operations by taking the lead role in managing various project activities and ensuring the project deliverables are met. Key elements of the role include: - Lead the day-to-day running of AIA projects, and establish, develop, and maintain appropriate administration systems and procedures to help ensure the project is delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. - Implement agile practices across multiple squads, tailoring frameworks to suit project needs and organisational culture. Lead key agile ceremonies, ensuring they are purposeful and outcome-driven. Oversee programme-level planning, dependency management, and delivery governance to provide predictability and alignment across teams. Track and report on delivery KPIs, preparing weekly status reports and dashboards for leadership and stakeholders. Maintain Jira/Confluence as the authoritative source of truth for project tracking and delivery documentation. <ul><li> Monitor finances and expenditure to ensure it is properly planned, compile and present draft budgets for approval, monitor expenditure against budget, account for variances, keep management up to date and flag up any concerns. - Evaluate and understand recruitment requirements for the projects. Prepare the role/project descriptions, and coordinate staff and students with HR for recruitment purposes. Collaborate with HR team throughout the complete hiring process, from preparing role profiles to onboarding the successful individuals. - Manage and organise project and programme meetings, including developing a strategy and structure to align with the project objectives. - Identify opportunities to optimise delivery and business operations. Advise engineering and product teams on agile best practices, product management metrics, and delivery improvements. Foster a culture of continuous improvement across the project team. </li></ul>What You'll Bring - 5+ years of professional experience in Agile Project Management and Product Management in a technology/SaaS environment. - Proven track record of leading agile delivery across multiple squads or programs, with demonstrable impact on predictability, velocity, and outcomes. - 5+ years of hands-on experience managing business operations, including recruitment and HR coordination, finance processes, vendor and supplier management, and general administration. - Experienced user of Microsoft Office, Project management software such as Jira/Taiga. - A degree in Economics, Management, Engineering or IT or other relevant subject. - Agile Project Management Scrum Master certification. - Strong understanding and application of agile delivery frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, and hybrid approaches. - Proactive self-starter with a strong sense of ownership and a drive to streamline and optimise core business operations and project management processes, demonstrating attention to detail and a thoughtful approach within university frameworks. What We Offer - A leadership role with purpose in a high-impact initiative. - The opportunity to shape technical systems and innovation that directly influence global sustainability. - Access to University resources and collaboration with leading researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. - A dynamic and supportive working environment with flexible working options. Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 6 months in the first instance. Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online. If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact the HR Office at the Department of Engineering (hr-office@eng.cam.ac.uk, 01223 332615). Please quote reference NM47721 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...