SGSAH Head of Strategy and Operations

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) is seeking an exceptional strategic leader to join our senior leadership team as Head of Strategy and Operations. Working closely with the SGSAH Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering SGSAH's strategic vision across a national consortium of 17 Higher Education Institutions. You will lead the operational strategy, governance, financial planning and organisational development of one of the UK's leading doctoral training partnerships in Arts & Humanities, ensuring sustainable, high-quality delivery.

This is a particularly exciting time to join SGSAH. A key priority for the role will be leading the transition from the AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP2) model to SGSAH's new Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) Hub and post-DTP operating model. You will ensure continuity for current award holders while establishing the governance, systems, partnerships and operational frameworks needed for future success.

As a senior leader, you will provide expert advice to the Director, Board and Executive on strategic, operational and organisational matters. You will oversee governance, risk, compliance, policy development, performance monitoring and financial management across multiple funding streams, ensuring SGSAH meets the expectations of funders, partners and stakeholders.

We are looking for a highly accomplished leader with significant experience of strategic and operational management within a complex organisation or partnership environment. You will bring expertise in governance, risk, finance, organisational planning and service improvement, alongside outstanding relationship-building, communication and people leadership skills. Experience of higher education, research funding or national collaborative programmes would be advantageous.

Job Purpose

The Head of Strategy and Operations is a senior leadership role within the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH), with substantial independent responsibility for translating SGSAH's strategic priorities into effective, sustainable and high-quality national delivery. Reporting to the SGSAH Director, the postholder will lead SGSAH's operational strategy and organisational planning across its national consortium of 17 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including SGSAH's role as the AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) Scotland Hub, its Scottish Funding Council (SFC)-funded portfolio and the managed transition and wind-down of legacy AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP2) activity.

The postholder will lead governance, risk, policy, finance, performance, data and service development, ensuring that SGSAH meets funder requirements, partnership commitments, regulatory obligations and agreed quality standards. They will provide authoritative professional advice to the Director, SGSAH Board and Executive and resolve complex operational and strategic issues across institutional and organisational boundaries.

The role will lead and develop SGSAH's professional services function, set standards for effective service delivery and organisational practice, and ensure resources, systems and processes are aligned to current and future priorities. The postholder will work closely with senior colleagues across the University of Glasgow, member and DLA-participating HEIs, AHRC/UKRI, SFC and external partners, representing SGSAH at senior level.

A key focus of the role during the current phase will be to ensure an effective transition from the DTP2 model to the DLA Hub and SGSAH's evolving post-DTP operating model, maintaining continuity for existing award holders while establishing sustainable governance, systems, partnerships and delivery arrangements.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic and Operational Leadership
  • Work closely with the Director, Board and Executive to shape SGSAH's strategic direction and translate agreed priorities into robust multi-year operational plans, delivery frameworks and measurable outcomes.
  • Provide senior professional advice and guidance on complex operational, organisational and strategic matters, exercising a substantial degree of independent judgement within broad policy and governance parameters.
  • Lead the managed transition from the AHRC DTP2 model, including ongoing responsibilities to existing award holders, into SGSAH's DLA Hub and wider post-DTP operating model, ensuring continuity, clarity and effective change management.
  • Maintain oversight of SGSAH's portfolio of national programmes and initiatives, anticipating future requirements and ensuring structure, systems, staffing and resources support effective and sustainable delivery.
• Governance, Policy, Risk and Compliance
  • Lead the development, implementation and review of SGSAH governance arrangements, policies, procedures and quality standards, ensuring they are proportionate, transparent, compliant and fit for purpose.
  • Maintain effective organisational risk, issue escalation, business continuity and assurance arrangements, identifying emerging risks, opportunities and dependencies and ensuring timely action is taken.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant funder terms and conditions, partnership agreements, data protection and information governance requirements, equality and accessibility obligations, health and safety requirements and applicable HEI policies and procedures.
  • Lead the development and review of the Memoranda of Agreement (MoA), and other cross-institutional governance arrangements, working with partner colleagues to secure effective implementation.
  • Provide high-quality papers, advice and recommendations to the SGSAH Director, Board, Executive and other governance groups.
• Financial, Funding and Resource Management
  • Hold senior responsibility for SGSAH financial planning, budget management, forecasting and resource allocation across multiple funding streams, ensuring effective control, value for money and transparent reporting.
  • Work with the Director to develop sustainable financial and operating models for SGSAH, including scenario planning and longer-term resource requirements.
  • Oversee financial management and reporting for AHRC/UKRI, SFC and other externally funded activity, ensuring expenditure, commitments and reporting requirements are managed accurately and within agreed parameters.
  • Support the development of funding proposals, business cases and strategic investment opportunities and lead the operational implementation of successful awards and funded initiatives.
  • Ensure that procurement, contracting, commissioned services and other resource commitments are appropriately planned, authorised, monitored and aligned with University of Glasgow, as lead HEI, requirements.
• Partnership, Stakeholder and People Leadership
  • Build and sustain senior-level relationships across SGSAH's 17 member HEIs, DLA-participating institutions, AHRC/UKRI, SFC and the external partners across and beyond the arts, culture, creative, heritage, public and third sectors.
  • Represent and promote SGSAH on internal and external platforms, contributing to wider professional and sector networks relevant to doctoral education, researcher development and collaborative delivery.
  • Line Manage, lead, manage and develop SGSAH professional services staff, setting clear objectives and standards, supporting performance and professional development, and building capability to meet current and future organisational requirements.
  • Lead delivery through complex matrix and partnership structures, mobilising and influencing colleagues who may sit outside the postholder's direct line management.
  • Promote an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing organisational culture consistent with SGSAH values.
• Performance, Service Development and Organisational Effectiveness
  • Establish and oversee systems for monitoring performance, activity, finance, participation and outcomes, ensuring that accurate evidence is available for governance, evaluation, planning and funder reporting.
  • Evaluate existing service provision and operational processes, using evidence, stakeholder feedback and sector developments to identify and implement improvements in quality, efficiency, accessibility, resilience and continuity.
  • Lead organisational change and service improvement including the development and implementation of new systems, processes and infrastructure where required.
  • Maintain appropriate continuing professional development and awareness of developments in higher education, postgraduate research, funding policy and relevant professional practice.
  • Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the seniority and nature of the post as assigned by the SGSAH Director.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Essential:
  • A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Postgraduate Qualification), or equivalent, including a relevant professional qualification, together with a broad range of professional leadership experience in strategically important specialist areas; OR the ability to demonstrate the strategic competencies, professional knowledge and leadership experience required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post.
  • A2 Highly developed knowledge of strategic and operational management, including organisational planning, governance, risk, policy, financial/resource management, performance management and service development.
  • A3 Substantial knowledge and understanding of complex partnership and stakeholder environments and the governance and accountability requirements associated with externally funded programmes.
• Desirable:
  • B1 Strong understanding of the higher education and postgraduate research environment, including doctoral education, research funding and collaborative delivery, and knowledge of UKRI/AHRC and Scottish Funding Council funding environments and requirements.
  • B2 Knowledge of arts and humanities research, the cultural and creative sectors, and national or cross-institutional doctoral training structures.
  • B3 Knowledge of relevant data protection, information governance, equality, accessibility and regulatory requirements.

Skills

• Essential:
  • C1 Highly developed strategic leadership and management skills, with the ability to shape direction, translate strategy into delivery and operate effectively with substantial independence and discretion.
  • C2 Excellent analytical, judgement and problem-solving skills, including the ability to address complex, sensitive and multi-disciplinary issues and make sound decisions in uncertain or changing circumstances.
  • C3 Strong financial and resource management skills, including budget planning, forecasting, prioritisation and oversight of multiple funding streams.
  • C4 Highly effective interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the credibility to work with senior leaders, funders and partners across multiple organisations.
  • C5 Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce authoritative advice, governance papers, business cases, reports and presentations for senior audiences.
  • C6 Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, develop and build the capability of professional staff and to lead effectively through matrix and partnership structures.
• Desirable:
  • D1 Strong understanding of digital systems, data and management information and their use in supporting organisational planning, performance and service improvement.
  • D2 Project, programme and/or change-management expertise relevant to complex organisational development and transformation.

Experience

• Essential:
  • E1 Substantial senior-level experience of leading a complex function, programme or portfolio with strategic influence and significant impact on organisational resources and delivery.
  • E2 Demonstrable experience of working with and influencing senior management, governance bodies, funders and external partners across organisational boundaries.
  • E3 Significant experience of managing and controlling budgets, resources and/or external funding, with a strong understanding of financial management procedures and accountability.
  • E4 Extensive experience of strategic and operational planning, policy development and implementation, including leading significant organisational change or service improvement.
  • E5 Demonstrable experience of establishing and improving governance, risk, assurance and performance arrangements for complex programmes or organisations.
  • E6 Experience of leading and developing professional staff and managing delivery through teams, partnerships or matrix structures.
• Desirable:
  • F1 Senior professional experience within higher education, postgraduate research, research funding or a comparable national partnership environment.
  • F2 Experience of managing major externally funded programmes and associated funder reporting and assurance requirements.
  • F3 Experience of successful business case, funding proposal or organisational development work.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 9, 61,165 - 68,817 per annum. Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate. This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended with funding available until July 2034. All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK or be eligible to obtain permission to work in the UK. This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, subject to meeting the relevant Home Office requirements, including any applicable tradeable points criteria. Further information can be found on the University of Glasgow’s UKVI Website.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.
• A flexible approach to working.
• A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University. We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website for more information.

Discipline(s): Management Professional & Administrative Job type: Recruit (Replace Same Grade)