Head of Business Intelligence and Reporting

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university. We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement, a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

This role is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of effective business intelligence and reporting that drives data-informed decision making to support the University’s vision and strategy. We are seeking an exceptional, positive and highly-motivated business intelligence professional, with experience of developing and managing the delivery of analytical reporting and the development of business intelligence in a complex organisation.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Take ownership of and drive forward the Business Intelligence Strategy for the University, working closely with senior leaders to realise an approach that supports the University vision and strategy.
• Create and oversee the delivery of the roadmap to realise the strategy.
• Lead the development and evolution of the collaborative approach to the delivery of business intelligence and reporting across the University; driving good practice: clear priorities, clarity of responsibility, consistency and transparency.
• Lead and develop the business intelligence and reporting teams, ensuring that professional development opportunities are in place.
• Oversee and ensure the effective delivery of statutory reporting delivered by the department, ensuring that work plans and resources are in place and that ways of working are adapted and enhanced as new processes/systems are implemented.
• Champion and advocate for business intelligence, developing a shared understanding and increase in knowledge across the University Executive Board and with other key stakeholders to promote and embed the effective use of data in decision-making.
• Work in partnership with IT Services to shape and deliver the roadmap for analytical technology and data platforms, aligned to the BI strategy.
• Ensure that effective assurance arrangements are in place for the delivery of statutory reporting across the University.
• Support the work of the planning and performance team in identifying measures and innovative ways of thinking about measuring and assessing performance.
• Manage all resources within this remit effectively, using an evidenced based and evaluative approach.
• Collaborate, network and use professional relationships with peers and sector bodies to establish a leading role in business intelligence and reporting across the sector.
• Represent the University position at internal and external meetings, deputising for the Director of SPC and other senior colleagues as required.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification:

• Demonstrable leadership skills and experience of developing and managing successful, high performing teams.
• Significant experience of delivering effective business intelligence, reporting and data strategies alongside leading operational delivery within a large organisation.
• Proven track record of building strong working relationships with a diverse range of leaders, stakeholders and service users.
• Strong analytical and technical capability, with the ability to work at both strategic and technical levels.
• Ability to lead change in a busy operational environment.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of current issues and policies affecting the delivery of business intelligence, management information or statutory reporting requirements within the higher education sector.
• Detailed experience of organisational performance management strategies and approaches.

Further Information:

• Grade: 9
• Salary: £62,994 - £70,878 (exceptional range to £82,134)
• Work arrangement: Full-time
• Duration: Open-ended
• Line manager: Director of Strategic Planning and Change
• Direct reports: Business Intelligence Managers

Next steps in the recruitment process:

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place during November 2026. This will consist of an in person stakeholder panel discussion and an interview.