Senior Planning Officer

The role

We are recruiting a Senior Planning Officer on a 12-month fixed term, basis to cover maternity leave for the substantive postholder.

The role sits within the Strategic Planning and Business Intelligence team, whose function is to support business and strategic planning across the University. It does this by managing the annual business planning cycle, the Integrated Planning Process; managing several institution-wide business processes; and provides a range of custom and routine insights and management information.

The Strategic Planning and Business Intelligence team are a high-profile central team who work closely with the University Executive Board, Faculties and Divisions. This vacancy is a great opportunity to both learn; to see the big picture and understand how the University works at the top level, and to make a difference; to contribute to the future direction of the University.

Ideally, we are looking for someone to start in early October 2026, this maternity cover position is expected to conclude in October 2027 or upon the earlier return of the post holder.

What will you be doing?

There are three main elements to the role:

• As the Science and Engineering planning business partner, you will support the faculty in their business planning and through the University-wide Integrated Planning Process; building faculty-specific knowledge, interpreting and explaining complex management information to support and influence the creation of well-evidenced plans and provide an informed local perspective into planning activity.
  
  
• You will coordinate and service planning meetings as part of the annual planning process through the management of agendas, coordination of papers, note-taking and follow-up of actions as appropriate, and presenting or explaining analysis and key issues to support decision-making.
• You will also be responsible for the coordination of the Key University Risk reporting process. This will involve liaising with a variety of colleagues, writing detailed reports for UEB, Audit and Risk Committee and Board of Trustees, and contributing to the development and review of the University’s risk management framework.
• As a key member of the Strategic Planning and Business Intelligence team, you will also lead or contribute to other planning tasks.

You should apply if

• You have experience in conducting and coordinating organisation-wide processes
• You have experience of understanding, analysing and interpreting data from a range of sources, to generate clear and actionable insights that influence strategic planning
• You have experience of engaging with senior leaders and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships.
• You have experience working in a high-pressure, dynamic environment where priorities and information are still evolving.
• You have experience of working independently and devising and develop solutions to significant problems.
• You are interested in gaining a broad view of University strategy, process and operations and a fascinating insight into the activities of academic faculties and professional service divisions.

Additional information

Contract type: Fixed-term Maternity Cover for 12 months or the earlier return of the postholder

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 03/09/2026

For informal queries please contact:

Zoe Fogarty, (zoe.fogarty@bristol.ac.uk) or Matt Shute, (matthew.shute@bristol.ac.uk) 

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Available documents

• Senior Planning Officer - JD.pdf

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