Senior Planning Officer (Strategy) in Oxford

Grade 8: £49,119 – £58,265 with a discretionary range to £63,489 per annum

Location: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time

About the role

The postholder will play a key role in the University’s Planning and Council Secretariat (PACS), supporting strategic planning and the coordination of planning activity across the University, and the committees that oversee those planning activities. Based in the Planning and Data Team, the postholder will support the implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan, including performance reporting, and coordinate the annual planning round for academic divisions and central services. They will also play an important role in coordinating planning across University Administration and Services (UAS), working closely with senior colleagues on strategic, financial and digital planning activities. The postholder will act as Secretary to key University committees and will work with senior academic and administrative colleagues across the University, providing high-quality analysis, advice and coordination on a range of strategic and policy issues. They will have the autonomy to lead and deliver planning improvement projects and initiatives, working independently while collaborating with colleagues from across the University. The Senior Planning Officer (Strategy) reports to the Head of Planning. This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to build a career in higher education administration, offering the chance to contribute to strategic decision-making at the heart of the University, work closely with very senior University officers, and gain a broad view of the University’s activities, priorities and strategic direction.

About you

You will be in possession of a degree or equivalent experience, and be able to demonstrate:

• very strong intellectual and analytical skills;
• expert understanding and demonstrable experience of strategic and organisational planning in a complex organisation;
• proven ability to work across professional disciplines (eg finance, change, estates, academic planning) to collate complex inputs and provide coherent analysis and narrative that informs organisational planning;
• experience of understanding and delivering against complex business intelligence needs, including performance management;
• the ability to work collaboratively and to gain the trust and confidence of, and to influence and persuade, people at all levels, and to manage relationships with multiple stakeholder groups;
• excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present and explain complex information to a formal group such as a committee;
• experience in managing and motivating a professional team to deliver complex pieces of work to a high level of accuracy within tight deadlines;
• strong numerical and analytical skills, including the ability to analyse and use numerical and financial data;
• strategic thinking skills, with the ability to work through complex issues systematically and focus on achieving results;
• experience of working collaboratively and building the trust and confidence of colleagues at all levels, including senior academic and administrative stakeholders;
• the ability to work proactively and independently;
• excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with academic and administrative colleagues alike, as well as the ability to produce clear, concise and well-structured formal committee papers that support information sharing and decision-making;
• the ability to manage competing priorities, work independently and deliver complex pieces of work to a high standard within deadlines;
• a collegial and flexible approach, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 5 October. Interviews will be held during w/c 19 October 2026.