Director of Planning and Portfolio Strategy

The University of Manchester - Directorate of Planning

Location:ManchesterSalary:Competitive SalaryHours:Full TimeContract Type:PermanentPlaced On:9th April 2026Closes:6th May 2026Job Ref:PSX-031207

Job reference: PSX-031207

Salary: Competitive Salary

Faculty/Organisational Unit: Professional Services

Location: Oxford Road

Employment type: Permanent

Division/Team: Planning

Hours Per Week: 35

Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 06/05/2026

Contract Duration: Permanent

School/Directorate: Directorate of Planning

The University of Manchester is seeking an exceptional strategic leader to serve as Director – Planning & Portfolio Strategy, playing a pivotal role in translating and delivering the University’s long-term strategy.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the transformation of our planning practices at scale, ensuring clear alignment between strategy, priorities, resources and delivery.

The Role

Reporting to the Executive Director of Planning, you will provide strategic leadership for the planning process and associated activities that translate the strategy into delivery across the university, embedding best practice, integrated approaches that enable effective strategy delivery as one university.

You will:

• Lead the development and embedding of best practice planning processes
• Translate University strategy into clear, deliverable priorities and work packages that best deliver our outcomes
• Advocate for, and support delivery of, the university priorities across the university community
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, including the University Executive and Board of Governors
• Drive integration across planning, finance, change and academic activity
• Lead engagement across a diverse stakeholder community to build a coherent, high-performing planning culture
• Oversee governance, performance insight, and reporting to support effective decision-making
• Deputise for the Executive Director of Planning
• This is a role for a leader who combines strategic insight with delivery focus, capable of navigating complexity and driving institutional impact.

The Person

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation
• A strong track record of translating strategy into deliverable, long-term plans
• Experience modernising planning, governance or strategic delivery practices
• Proven ability to influence and advise executive-level stakeholders
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams and organisational capability
• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Deep understanding of strategic planning, performance management and governance

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape and translate how strategy is delivered at one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities. You will play a central role in defining planning excellence, enabling better decision-making, and driving long-term institutional success.

What will you get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our university is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.