Weekly Working Hours: 37
Fixed Term Contract: End Date – 26 January 2027
Change Your Career, Change Lives
The Open University is the UK’s largest university and a leader in flexible part-time education. With a mission to widen access to higher education, paired with research excellence, we transform lives through education. Learn more about us and our mission by watching this short video (link opens in YouTube).
About the Role
As part of the Strategy Office, the Strategic Planning Team plays a vital role in supporting the successful development and delivery of the University Strategy. Operating in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, the team leads essential functions such as unit business planning, strategic investment, risk management, and performance monitoring for the institution.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of the Strategic Planning Team’s approach, offering opportunities to work closely with colleagues across the University.
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Strategic Performance, the Manager, Strategic Performance has three core objectives:
- Enhancing Strategic Performance and Reporting: Continuously refine strategic performance and risk reporting frameworks to ensure alignment with institutional objectives.
- Streamlining Processes: Develop, implement, and review processes that underpin the University’s approach to managing strategic performance and risks.
- Promoting Good Practice: Foster an effective performance and risk-informed culture within the organisation, providing tools and training to encourage excellence.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop Reporting Dashboards: Create and maintain dashboards that monitor strategic performance and risk, collaborating across the University to ensure alignment with institutional goals and targets.
- Data Management and Decision Support: Establish processes for collecting reliable performance and risk data, enabling informed decision-making aligned with the University Strategy.
- Documentation and Scheduling: Ensure that all processes are accurately documented and integrated into a comprehensive timetable to support effective communication with stakeholders and the wider strategic planning community.
- Maintain Strategic Systems: Manage the Strategic Planning Hub and Risk Management System to ensure they are updated with relevant policies, guidance, and tools.
- Promote Good Practices: Provide accessible templates, tools, and documents to encourage risk-informed decision-making across the organisation.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with colleagues in the Strategic Planning team to build networks, plan stakeholder engagement, and foster a community of best practice across the University.
- Provide Advice and Representation: Offer guidance on strategic performance and risk issues and represent the Senior Manager, Strategic Performance, as needed in institutional groups.
- Risk Analysis: Analyse risks within the Risk Management System to identify themes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
- Governance Reporting: Support reviews of the Strategic Risk Register and contribute to governance reporting processes.
- Team Collaboration: Actively participate in the Strategic Planning Team’s goals, contributing to its culture of professionalism and collaboration while supporting broader team responsibilities where needed.
About You
Essential Criteria:
- Strong IT proficiency, including expertise in PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint, and Microsoft Power Products (Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI), with the ability to learn new systems.
- Understanding of the OU’s strategic context and the associated risks.
- Advanced research and analytical skills to synthesise information from various sources/stakeholders.
- Excellent written, verbal, and digital communication skills, with an ability to lead and contribute effectively in discussions.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, influence, and negotiate across all levels of the organisation.
- Outstanding organisational skills and attention to detail, demonstrating the ability to prioritise conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines.
- Proven ability to identify and implement opportunities for quality improvement and process enhancement.
- Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion aligned with the University’s policies.
Desirable Criteria:
- Professional expertise in risk management, including relevant qualifications or membership of a professional organisation.
Support for Your Application
For questions or assistance with your application, adjustments to the recruitment process, or inquiries about the role, please contact us at 01908 541111 or email [email protected], quoting the advert reference number.
What’s in it for You?
The Open University values its employees’ contributions and offers a compelling range of benefits designed to reward great work while supporting work-life balance. Discover more about the benefits available by visiting our Staff Benefits page.
Flexible Working
We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements, whether that’s job sharing, part-time hours, compressed schedules, or another option that supports you.
A hybrid working pattern is anticipated for this role, enabling you to split work between the office and home. The role is contractually linked to our Milton Keynes office and some in-office attendance – averaging once per week – may be required based on business needs.
Recruitment Process
Interview Schedule: Online interviews are expected to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 13 April 2026.
Early Closing Notification: The advert may close earlier if we receive a satisfactory number of applications, so we advise submitting your application promptly.
How to Apply
To apply for this role, please submit the following:
- Your CV, detailing how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the position.
- Complete the additional application questions within the online application form.
You can track your application progress and communication updates via our recruitment system (please check your spam/junk folders for email updates).
Committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
The Open University is firmly committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups, and our policies, services, and networks aim to create a supportive workplace where everyone can thrive.
We value diverse perspectives, ideas, and cultures, recognising that diversity strengthens our academic and professional community. Join us in making education accessible to all