Strategy & Planning Officer

At the University of Sheffield, we’re dedicated to delivering life-enhancing research, innovation and education. In this varied and impactful role, you’ll play a key role in defining and realising this ambition through the design, implementation and continuous improvement of our strategic planning framework. This work ensures the University remains clear, agile and decisive in achieving its goals.

As a business partner, you’ll demonstrate your exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to deeply understand the unique ambitions, challenges and priorities of our academic schools. Your curiosity and awareness of the wider University context and evolving external environment will position you to provide senior leaders with tailored support to develop and monitor their mid-term strategy, targets and annual action plans.

We believe we can accomplish more by working together. We build positive relationships with colleagues from across the University in order to provide a joined up service to our academic colleagues and transform complex information into actionable insights that drive strategic business decisions. If you’re a proactive problem-solver, who values curiosity and a collaborative approach to move an organisation forward, then we encourage you to apply.

Main duties and responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities

• Facilitate the implementation of the University’s strategic planning framework within faculties, schools and professional services. Contribute to the framework's design and continuous improvement, ensuring our processes, policies and guidance are easy to understand and engaging.

• Act as a strategic business partner to faculties and academic schools, providing expert advice and constructive challenge on strategic plans, targets and annual action plans. Collaborate with senior leaders to ensure alignment with the University’s strategic goals. Ensure performance data and the evolving risk landscape have been comprehensively considered as part of planning activity.
• Work with senior leaders to understand progress toward University and school goals and key performance indicators. Provide data analysis and performance reports with a focus on outcomes and actionable insights. Leverage exceptional interpersonal and influencing skills to foster a culture of collective progress towards the University's overarching strategy.

• Lead on or contribute to University-wide strategy and planning work, such scenario planning, student intake forecasting, tuition fee setting and new programme financial viability assessments. This involves collaborating with other professional services teams, analysing complex information and data modelling (where appropriate). You will effectively communicate actionable insights to inform critical business decisions.
• Support the implementation of the University's risk management approach, drawing on good practice to actively encourage a proactive risk culture across the organisation and driving continuous improvement of our risk tools, guidance. You’ll stay abreast of the evolving external environment, including domestic and global political, economic, and societal developments, to inform decision-making.

• Collaborate closely with colleagues across professional service departments (such as Finance; Marketing, Admissions, Recruitment & Communications; Research, Partnership & Innovation; Academic Programmes Office) to deliver coordinated support to faculties and schools, ensuring seamless alignment of planning activities with other University processes.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Stakeholder engagement: You build trust and credibility with senior stakeholders, using your interpersonal and influencing skills to drive positive outcomes.

Essential

Application / Interview / Test / Stakeholder Panel

Written and verbal communication: You present complex information and insights in reports, presentations and briefings in a clear and compelling way.

Essential

Application / Interview / Test / Stakeholder Panel

Data analysis and insight: You are highly numerate and can take complex data or information to find key actionable insights that inform business decisions.

Essential

Application / Interview / Test

Critical thinking: You can analyse a situation or dataset objectively to provide sound recommendations that consider the big picture.

Essential

Application / Interview / Test / Stakeholder Panel

Problem-solving: You navigate uncertainty and find creative, actionable solutions to tricky problems.

Essential

Application / Interview

Leading pieces of work: You lead specific tasks or projects by collaborating effectively, delegating tasks as needed, and managing the overall work plan to successful completion.

Essential

Application / Interview

Commitment to learning: You are curious and proactively keep up-to-date on key issues and trends in the sector to enhance your work.

Essential

Application / Interview

Strategic knowledge: You have practical experience in a few key areas like strategic planning, risk management or financial analysis.

Desirable

Application / Interview

Further Information

Grade

7

Salary

£38,784 - £47,389 per annum. Potential to progress to £51,753 per annum through sustained exceptional contribution.

Work arrangement

Full-time

Line manager

Head of Planning and Performance

For informal enquiries about this job contact Emma Hartley, Head of Planning & Performance: e.j.hartley@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 19 February 2026. This will consist of an interview, data test and stakeholder presentation. To assist with candidates’ preparation for the selection process, interview questions will be shared in advance via email to all shortlisted candidates.We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 9 February 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Leigh Gibson, leigh-ann.gibson@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.