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- Tasks: Lead strategic planning and performance delivery to drive organisational transformation.
- Company: The Royal Academy of Engineering, a charity focused on sustainable engineering solutions.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, competitive salary, and a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Join a visionary team making a real impact on society's biggest challenges.
- Qualifications: Experience in planning, performance, and organisational change within complex environments.
- Other info: Dynamic office in central London with a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ per year.
The Royal Academy of Engineering is embarking on an exciting period of transformation as we advance our Strategy 2030 ambitions. To support this, we are establishing a new Planning, Performance & Delivery (PPD) function — and we are seeking an exceptional leader to shape and embed it across the organisation.
As Head of Planning, Performance & Delivery, you will provide organisation‑wide leadership to bring together strategic planning, performance insight, sustainability integration, and cross‑Academy delivery into a coherent operating rhythm. Acting as a strategic integrator, you will strengthen alignment across directorates, reduce organisational noise, and improve confidence in decision‑making and delivery. This is a highly visible role working closely with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Directors, and product leads. You’ll help modernise planning practices, improve organisational insight, and support major change initiatives across the Academy.
What you will lead:
- Delivery of integrated annual and quarterly planning cycles aligned to Strategy 2030.
- Development of a unified organisational scorecard and Executive‑ready dashboards across people, finance, sustainability, digital, and delivery performance.
- Quarterly Business Reviews with strategic suppliers to strengthen performance, value, and risk management.
- Light‑touch oversight of major cross‑Academy initiatives, ensuring clearer prioritisation, benefits tracking, and organisational sequencing.
- Support for digital, operational, and sustainability‑related transformation across directorates.
- Growth of data‑insight capability to improve forecasting, analytics, and data‑driven decision‑making.
About You:
You will bring significant experience of planning, performance, insight, or transformation within a complex organisation. You’ll be confident working with Executive‑level leaders and skilled at shaping alignment across diverse teams.
We’re Looking For Someone Who Is:
- A strategic thinker who sees the whole organisational picture.
- Insight‑driven, analytical, and comfortable working with complex information.
- An influential communicator with strong senior stakeholder engagement skills.
- Experienced in leading or supporting organisational change.
- Collaborative, resilient, and able to bring clarity in fast‑paced environments.
- Comfortable with digital and data‑enabled ways of working (Power BI experience is helpful).
- Experience working with strategic suppliers, sustainability insights, or digital transformation would be an advantage.
Application closing date: 12/04/2026
Interview date: w/c 20/04/2026
Interview location: London
Our light, spacious head office is based in a fantastic location in central London with views over St James’s Park and close to the West End. We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with a baseline for office‑based working of a mandatory weekly team day plus further days each week as required for the role and the Academy.
Who are we?
Engineering matters. It shapes our everyday lives, from our ability to turn the lights on, have a hot shower and commute into work, to the mobile phones we rely on to keep connected. It also plays a vital role in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing society today, from climate change, to global health pandemics and cyber threats. The Royal Academy of Engineering is a charity that harnesses the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation, and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.
With a diverse workforce and an inclusive and supportive culture, we look to attract candidates from wide and different backgrounds who have a passion for the role engineering plays in society. Our aim is to make the Academy the best place to work for the staff we have and those we seek to attract.
Why work for us?
We’re looking for people who are driven to make the world a better place. If you’re passionate about what you do and want to work collaboratively with talented colleagues to make change happen now and for future generations, we want you to get in touch. This is the perfect time to join us. We have a dynamic, visionary CEO, a strong leadership team and an ambitious and exciting strategy. The value we bring as experts in our field and change agents is highly recognised and makes the Academy a motivating place to be. Our work today builds on a long, proud history with a focused and ambitious future which we’d love you to be part of. We are looking for talented people who want to make a difference, to join our team – is this you?
The Academy is committed to making reasonable adjustments to remove barriers that hinder applicants from applying or staff from working effectively and comfortably.
Head of Planning, Performance & Delivery employer: Royal Academy of Engineering
Contact Detail:
Royal Academy of Engineering Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Planning, Performance & Delivery
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those connected to the Royal Academy of Engineering. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the Academy's Strategy 2030. Show us you understand their vision and how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your examples to highlight your strategic thinking and leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling! We want to hear about your past experiences in a way that captivates the interviewers. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them memorable.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your enthusiasm for the role can leave a lasting impression. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Planning, Performance & Delivery
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Strategic Thinking: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your strategic thinking skills. We want to see how you can connect the dots and see the bigger picture, especially in relation to our Strategy 2030 ambitions.
Be Insight-Driven: Use data and insights to back up your experiences. We love candidates who can analyse complex information and present it clearly, so don’t shy away from showcasing your analytical skills in your application.
Communicate Effectively: Your written application is your first chance to impress us with your communication skills. Make it engaging and clear, showing that you can influence and engage with senior stakeholders effectively.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application specifically for this role. Highlight your experience in planning, performance, and transformation, and how it aligns with what we’re looking for. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Academy of Engineering
✨Understand the Strategy 2030
Familiarise yourself with the Royal Academy of Engineering's Strategy 2030. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their ambitions and how you can contribute to shaping the Planning, Performance & Delivery function.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior stakeholders. Highlight your experience in organisational change and how you've successfully navigated complex environments.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role involves improving data insight capabilities, come ready to discuss your experience with analytics and forecasting. If you have experience with tools like Power BI, make sure to mention it and provide specific examples of how you've used data to drive decision-making.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, especially when discussing complex information. The interviewers will be looking for an influential communicator, so ensure you convey your ideas confidently and engage with the panel effectively.