Head of Planning and Performance

De Montfort University (DMU) is a vibrant institution, renowned for its commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience and fostering a supportive, inclusive environment. Our university is driven by a mission to make a positive impact on society through innovative teaching, research, and community engagement. At DMU, we strive to create a space where staff and students can thrive, contributing to our rich culture of academic excellence and continuous improvement.

Faculty / Directorate

The Strategic Planning and Insight Directorate at DMU is at the heart of our institutional planning and performance. It encompasses four key areas: Planning and Performance, Portfolio & Market Insight, Data Analytics and Statutory Returns. Together, they drive integrated business planning, performance measurement, and risk management across the University. The Directorate is dedicated to ensuring that DMU’s strategic goals are met through robust planning frameworks, regulatory compliance, and the effective use of data and analytics to inform decision-making.

Role

As the Head of Planning and Performance, you will provide strategic leadership to both the Planning and Performance and Data Analytics teams. You will support the Director of Strategic Planning and Insight in delivering comprehensive business planning, performance measurement, and risk management initiatives.

Your role will involve developing and implementing a cohesive planning framework aligned with DMU’s strategy, overseeing regulatory reporting, and coordinating improvement activities. You will conduct performance analyses, support senior faculty teams in monitoring key activities, and manage risk reporting.

Additionally, you will lead the modelling and reporting for major higher education league tables and report on the University's progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). In the Data Analytics domain, you will promote a culture of data-driven decision-making, ensure timely delivery of reporting requirements, and develop interactive dashboards to enhance stakeholder understanding of performance metrics.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be educated to degree level with a relevant postgraduate or professional qualification. You will have extensive experience in delivering integrated planning approaches within a higher education setting, providing management information to inform organisational strategy, and collaborating with senior staff on strategic decision-making.

Your background will include overseeing data analysis from various sources, translating technical requirements into operational solutions, and successfully managing complex projects. Excellent communication skills are essential, along with a detailed knowledge of current UK higher education policy developments.

You should be committed to equality and diversity, have proven line management experience, and be proficient in software tools such as Excel, Power BI, and project management applications. Your ability to motivate and lead a professional team to deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines will be key to your success in this role.

For more information about the role, please view the Job Description/Person Specification. To submit an application for the role, please click ‘Apply’.

Advert information