Head of Planning and Performance

Do you want to make a difference? Are you able to provide the leadership, planning and strategic direction to support a world-leading university achieve its strategic aims during these exceptional times?

The University of Southampton's mission is to change the world for the better. As a world-leading, research-intensive university, with a strong and high-quality educational offering, it is renowned for its innovation and enterprise. It is a founding member of the Russell Group - an organisation of 24 top UK universities committed to maintaining the highest research and teaching standards.

The University of Southampton is seeking to appoint a Head of Planning and Performance to lead its Strategic Planning and Data, Analytics & Insights teams. You will play a key role in the development and delivery of the University's ambitious strategy through enabling and driving forward the strategic planning cycle. Working with senior leaders, you will support and direct faculties and professional service departments on development and implementation of new planning systems and approaches to ensure continuing success.

You will work across the University to determine the data, analytics and insight requirements for faculties and departments and in turn, interpret and present data and information to senior management groups and committees to facilitate high-level decision making. This will include engaging with key stakeholders in leading the student number planning process to ensure these plans meet the changing needs of the University.

The appointee will have significant experience of strategic planning in a commercial or education sector with a proven track record in delivering major projects and workloads, often to very tight deadlines in a large and complex environment. In this role, communication is absolutely imperative, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels and ability to take a strategic view in a fast-moving and dynamic environment.

The higher education sector in the UK is facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty at this time whilst also leading on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and we are proud of the role the University of Southampton is continuing to play at the forefront of these efforts. This opportunity is a key part in defining and implementing the University's strategy in this new and changing landscape, enabling the University to continue to make a global impact through its research and teaching.

What we can offer you

Based at our lively Highfield campus, you will have access to state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, as well as our sports complex, Hartley Library and Staff Social Centre. Having secured a £300m bond investment we are committed to investing in the University's future and long-term stability.

We offer some fantastic benefits including 30 days leave per year plus 6 Bank holidays and a further 8 days University holidays, options for flexible working, excellent family leave arrangements (including maternity, paternity, adoption, parental and carers leave), a wide variety of on and off-campus arts and culture facilities and access to a range of staff discounts and offers at local shops, restaurants and service providers.

The University of Southampton is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity to create an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who share our ambition to be a university recognised for delivering world-class research and creating a community that values independent thought.

If you need any assistance or further information please contact Mark Holleran at TalentEdu, who is assisting us in the recruitment of this post at mholleran@talentedu.co.uk or +44 203 290 2907.

Interview dates: The first interview will be held on 8 January 2021 with the second interview on 15th January 2021.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.