Academic Strategy Development Manager

Ref Number A01-00067 Professional Expertise Strategy, Project and Change Management Department President and Provost (A01) Location London Working Pattern Full time Salary £54,172-£63,752 Contract Type Fixed-term Working Type Hybrid Available for Secondment Yes Closing Date 01-Aug-2025

About Us

UCL is London’s Global University – home to a vibrant, diverse, and innovative academic community dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing challenges. As we prepare to define the next chapter of our institutional journey, we are developing a bold Academic Strategy that will guide UCL through the next decade and beyond. This work is being led by the Vice-Provost (Strategy) team and the Health Partnerships team, working together to harness UCL’s research strengths and academic ambition.

The Vice-Provost (Strategy) team shapes university-wide strategy and planning, ensuring insight, evidence and innovation are at the heart of decision-making. Alongside the VP Strategy team, the Health Partnerships team leads on UCL’s health-related strategic priorities, building bridges across academia, healthcare, industry and global partners. Together, we are setting the stage for an academic future that is ambitious, inclusive, and globally impactful.

Equity, diversity and inclusion is important to us. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone is encouraged to give their best in a place where their unique experiences, perspectives and skills are seen as valuable assets.

About The Role

Please note this is a fixed term contract available now until 31 July 2026 for external candidates and is open as a secondment opportunity for internal candidates.

As the Academic Strategy Development Manager, you will play a pivotal role in defining key pillars of UCL’s new Academic Strategy. You’ll lead programmes that bring together diverse academic strengths, particularly in health research and innovation, and translate strategic ambitions into clear and actionable plans.

This is a rare opportunity to shape long-term academic development at one of the world’s leading universities. You will oversee projects that support emerging academic areas which might include AI in healthcare, quantum sensing, or the creative industries.

From the early-stage scoping of new research groups to the development of strategic business cases and procurement planning, you’ll be at the heart of strategic innovation and change. A key part of your role will involve collaborating with academic and clinical leaders, building stakeholder coalitions, and ensuring projects align with UCL’s wider strategic portfolio.

To find out more about the role, please contact Alice Simon, Director of Health Partnerships by email to elspeth.latimer@ucl.ac.uk

This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of40%on site. Please note Tuesdays and Thursdays are currently in-office days.

Please use the ‘attach cover letter’ upload option to tell us how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification.

For more information about our team, please visit our website here: Working in partnership | UCL Health – UCL – University College London

This role is not available for sponsorship.

About You

You are a confident and strategic Programme Manager, ideally with a strong track record in higher education or the health sector. You bring the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects and translate ambitious ideas into well-structured, deliverable plans.

Your experience includes developing business cases for large-scale projects and working with internal and external governance frameworks.

You will be adept at managing both detail and big-picture thinking – balancing operational delivery with long-term vision. Excellent communication and analytical skills are essential, as is the ability to build trust with senior academic and clinical colleagues.

If you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and want to help shape the academic future of a global institution, this is the role for you.

We are pleased to accept applications from individuals who possess transferable skills and experience drawn from sectors outside of Higher Education.

What we offer

We know that our people are our greatest asset and in return we provide an empowering environment where personal and professional growth is invested in. We offer agile working and flexibility around working hours. Working with some of the greatest intellects in the world, UCL also offers a generous pension scheme and holiday allowance, plus closure days and bank holidays. Visit www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

• download: Academic Strategy development v3 (1) (1).docx

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