Head of Planning

Location: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD

About the role

The postholder will play a key role in the University’s Planning and Council Secretariat (PACS) department, leading across a broad portfolio covering University-level strategy, planning, performance measurement, coordination of strategic activity, and resource allocation.

The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that a broad range of planning activities across the University (including student number planning, estates planning, digital planning, resource allocation processes, implementation of the University’s strategic plan, and strategic planning across the academic divisions) are coordinated effectively and aligned with financial planning processes and outcomes.

They will work closely with a number of senior colleagues, including Pro-Vice-Chancellors, the Chief Financial Officer, the Registrar and Heads of Services in carrying out these responsibilities. They will also act as a key link with planning leads across the academic divisions, services and GLAM – building and strengthening the University-wide planning community.

The Head of Planning will report to the Director of PACS and is a member of the senior leadership team for the department.

This is a key role in the University's administration and an ideal opportunity to develop a senior-level career in higher education administration at a time of significant externally and internally driven change.

About you 

You will be in possession of a degree or equivalent experience, and be able to demonstrate: 

• very strong intellectual and analytical skills; 
• expert understanding and demonstrable experience of strategic and organisational planning in a complex organisation;
• proven ability to work across professional disciplines (eg finance, change, estates, academic planning) to collate complex inputs and provide coherent analysis and narrative that informs organisational planning;
• experience of understanding and delivering against complex business intelligence needs, including performance management;
• the ability to work collaboratively and to gain the trust and confidence of, and to influence and persuade, people at all levels, and to manage relationships with multiple stakeholder groups;  
• excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present and explain complex information to a formal group such as a committee; 
• experience in managing and motivating a professional team to deliver complex pieces of work to a high level of accuracy within tight deadlines; and, 

This is a permanent role.  

Application Process

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Antony Willott, the Director of Planning and Council Secretariat, at antony.willott@admin.ox.ac.uk. 

The closing date for applications is 13 September 

You will be required to upload a supporting statement, setting out how you meet the selection criteria, curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application. 

Interviews will be held during w/c 28 September 2026.   

Contact Person: Ffion Fry

Pay Scale: STANDARD GRADE 10

Contact Email: uas.talentacquisition@admin.ox.ac.uk 

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