College Planning Partner (Maternity Cover) - Strategic Planning - 25785Z

Strategic Planning

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £41,526 to £49,553, with potential progression once in post to £55,570.

Grade 8

Full Time 

Fixed Term Contract for up to 14th October 2022 (Open for Secondment)

Closing date: 8th August 2021

Within this role you will contribute to the development of college and institutional strategy, provide analysis and insight by utilising numerous data sources to support future planning, as well as monitoring and reporting on past and current performance. 

The role is generalist in nature. Intelligence, intellectual confidence, organizational understanding, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication skills are all important contributors to success in this post. You will be comfortable and confident with quantitative and qualitative data, including financial data, performance indicators, budgets, and business plans. You will have meticulous attention to detail, be highly organized and yet flexible, with exceptional time management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. You will have strong people skills and be able to liaise confidently and build productive relationships with senior members of the University Executive Board, Colleges, Schools, and Professional Services. You will be able to understand, manage and integrate multiple and competing points of view constructively.

• A strong understanding of the internal and external factors affecting the higher education sector, in particular a research-intensive civic institution such as the University of Birmingham.
• Sound understanding of how large complex organisations operate, formally and informally, and the implications for academic planning and strategic decision-making. 
• Strong political awareness; understanding and responding sensitively to the political temperature within the university and beyond, both generally and in specific situations.
• Excellent analytical, review and interpretation skills, of both narrative and numerical data. The post-holder must be able effectively to research and analyse quantitative and qualitative management information, and to identify issues and actions arising from their analyses.
• Understanding of the issues involved in translating strategic planning into operational planning, and sensitivity to the competing demands and viewpoints of stakeholders in this process. 
• Proven ability to work effectively with senior managers, both academic and administrative. 
• Ability to manage own workload, plan effectively, balance competing priorities and work to deadlines. 
• Ability to deal constructively with ambiguity, using experience and data to test scenarios and develop recommendations.
• Excellent IT and data analysis skills, including relevant experience of Microsoft Office packages. Aptitude for learning new packages to support analysis and presentation of information. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex messages to non-experts and to influence and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders. 
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, demonstrating significant tact and diplomacy where necessary. The post-holder must be able to display awareness of their own impact and inspire confidence and command authority with a range of colleagues, including senior academic and professional services colleagues. 
• Ability to construct a logical, clear and concise argument, and express complex ideas coherently through a variety of media to different audiences. 
• Project management skills, including the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines, determine priorities for own work and that of others, and manage conflicting demands.
• Initiative, imagination, tenacity and self-confidence. 
• A good degree or equivalent experience. 

Informal enquires to Duncan Smith, email: [email protected]  

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working