HESPA Executive Director

HESPA is the representative body for people working in strategy and planning in UK higher education. We provide an active forum for members to network, discuss, improve and influence and are dedicated to supporting their learning and development and career progression needs. We represent a compelling and unified voice for members, while recognising their contrasting needs and ideas and we strive to influence and shape the future of higher education by challenging policy and promoting awareness and understanding of strategy and planning issues.

We are looking for:

A leader who can ensure the strategic development, delivery and evaluation of services provided for members. You will develop strategic plans for HESPA and be accountable for ensuring the delivery of these plans. You will ensure that HESPA meets the needs of its members and that generation of new ideas exists to enhance the impact of strategy and planning work within Higher Education in the UK and beyond.

You will provide strategic and high level advice to the HESPA team, the HESPA Executive Committee, and to senior strategy and planning colleagues throughout the sector. You will develop the professional reputation of strategic planning within the HE sector and beyond and ensure that HESPA plays a key role in influencing and shaping the impact of strategic planning within UK Higher Education. You will represent the strategy and planning voice within UK HE in discussions and negotiations with key sector bodies including, for example, UUK, OfS, Jisc and other leading sector bodies, and you will be responsible for ensuring that things get done, often being central to the delivery of tasks.

In association with the PHES Managing Director, the HESPA Executive Director formally reports to the Chair of HESPA, works in partnership with the HESPA Executive Committee and manages the HESPA Team.

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation. You can read our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy online.

We will offer:

• A full time role, working from home.
• A competitive salary at Grade 9 £59,138 to £77,105 dependent on qualifications and experience.
• A defined contribution pension scheme with 7.5% employee and 16% employer contributionrates.
• Life assurance.
• 30 days holidayplus bank holidays and discretionary days office closure.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Support for CPD and appropriate training.

Please note: we do not accept application forms via email, nor do we accept CVs.

Closing date: 2^nd June 2025 at noon

Interviews: 13th June 2025 via Microsoft Teams

If you have any questions about the role, please contact recruitment@phes.ac.uk

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

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