Job reference: PSX-031207 Salary: Competitive Salary Faculty/Organisational Unit: Professional Services Location: Oxford Road Employment type: Permanent Division/Team: Planning Hours Per Week: 35 Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 06/05/2026 Contract Duration: Permanent School/Directorate: Directorate of Planning
The University of Manchester is seeking an exceptional strategic leader to serve as Director – Planning & Portfolio Strategy, playing a pivotal role in translating and delivering the University’s long-term strategy.
This is a unique opportunity to lead the transformation of our planning practices at scale, ensuring clear alignment between strategy, priorities, resources and delivery.
The Role
Reporting to the Executive Director of Planning, you will provide strategic leadership for the planning process and associated activities that translate the strategy into delivery across the university, embedding best practice, integrated approaches that enable effective strategy delivery as one university.
You will:
Lead the development and embedding of best practice planning processes
Translate University strategy into clear, deliverable priorities and work packages that best deliver our outcomes
Advocate for, and support delivery of, the university priorities across the university community
Act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, including the University Executive and Board of Governors
Drive integration across planning, finance, change and academic activity
Lead engagement across a diverse stakeholder community to build a coherent, high-performing planning culture
Oversee governance, performance insight, and reporting to support effective decision-making
Deputise for the Executive Director of Planning
This is a role for a leader who combines strategic insight with delivery focus, capable of navigating complexity and driving institutional impact.
The Person
You will bring:
Significant senior leadership experience in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation
A strong track record of translating strategy into deliverable, long-term plans
Experience modernising planning, governance or strategic delivery practices
Proven ability to influence and advise executive-level stakeholders
Experience building and leading high-performing teams and organisational capability
Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills
Deep understanding of strategic planning, performance management and governance
Why Join Us
This is a rare opportunity to shape and translate how strategy is delivered at one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities. You will play a central role in defining planning excellence, enabling better decision-making, and driving long-term institutional success.
What will you get in return:
Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers
As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
Our university is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here
Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.
Please be aware that due to the number of applications we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback on your application.
Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.
Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to people.talent@manchester.ac.uk
Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.
Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:
Name: Lewis Burne
Email: lewis.burne@manchester.ac.uk
General enquiries:
Email: recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk
Technical support:
https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home
This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.