Queen’s Strategy Directorate provides strategic oversight and coordination across the University to enable informed, transparent, and collaborative planning, delivery, management and reporting in support of the University’s ambitious strategic aims. Successful delivery of Strategy 2030 requires considerable prioritisation of resources, alignment of stakeholders and development of granular plans, against the backdrop of growing external pressures and volatilities in international markets.
Following extensive staff engagement and consultation, a new Integrated Planning Model (IPM) is being developed. Integrated Planning is a collaborative approach that aligns academic, financial and operational considerations while embedding data-driven and informed decision making in order to facilitate and enable the University to achieve its long-term strategic goals.
The Head of Integrated Planning will play a key role within the University’s planning community, working across faculties and directorates to ensure the development and implementation of the new Integrated Planning Model and to ensure plans at the University level are coherent, aligned and demonstrably deliver progress towards the achievement of the University’s strategic ambitions.
The core purpose of this role is to develop and implement a new Integrated Planning Model and ensure the annual creation of integrated, granular institutional plans that demonstrably support the delivery of the University’s vision and Strategy 2030. Working alongside key colleagues in academic Schools, Faculties and Professional Service departments, the Head of Integrated Planning will facilitate an integrated approach to institutional planning.
About the person:
Key Responsibilities:
This role reports directly to the Director of Strategy & Planning (as a function of the Strategy Directorate) with leading responsibility for the successful delivery and continuous improvement of the Integrated Planning cycle and the review and refinement of the annual integrated planning process in the context of wider institutional developments and priorities
Essential Criteria:
1. A degree and/or post graduate or professional qualification in a relevant subject e.g. management, planning, finance (or equivalent) OR Substantial relevant experience in similar post(s) including integrated planning and/or strategic management experience.
2. Proven track record of establishing or leading or managing an Integrated Planning team/ function or IPM in a large and complex organisation. A large/complex organisation is defined as one that matches 2 of 3 criteria:
• Annual Turnover greater than £25.9 million.
• Balance Sheet Total of more than £12.9 million.
• Average number of employees of more than 250
3. Proven track record (including recent experience and significant demonstrable understanding) of Integrated Planning and the alignment of priorities and integration of business plans across business functions, institutional cycles and frameworks e.g. financial/budgetary cycle, student number planning, faculty planning.
4. Experience of working with planning budgets and demonstrable understanding of financial budgeting procedures and parameters within which a plan is operating.
5. Experience of developing and implementing innovative solutions and/or planning approaches across diverse stakeholders and cross-functional business areas.
6. Experience of monitoring progress against strategic plans and developing and reporting on key metrics and KPIs.
To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.
What we offer:
Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/.
Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.
For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.
Candidate Information
Further information for international applicants