Director of Planning

School of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangor University; Bangor; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Bangor University is seeking a Director of Planning to lead the Planning Directorate, shaping the university’s integrated planning, performance, and data governance. The role provides authoritative, evidence-based advice to the Executive and Council and oversees strategic forecasting and reporting.

The post requires senior leadership in planning, analytics, and risk management within higher education, with responsibility for KPI development, scenario modelling, and external sector engagement.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level leadership experience in planning, analytics, or performance within higher education.
• Experience in forecasting, data governance, and statutory reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Planning Directorate and align functions with University strategy.
• Advise the Vice-Chancellor, Executive Board, and Council on planning and sector developments.
• Lead annual and multi-year planning cycles and integration into the financial plan.
• Direct reporting on KPIs, performance indicators, and data maturity across the university.
• Ensure compliance with Welsh and UK sector regulatory requirements.

Job description

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Director of Planning

Job Number

BU04114

School/Department

Strategic Planning and Research Support

Grade

Other

Salary Information

Competitive

Contract Duration

Permanent

Closing Date

09-10-2026

Bangor University is a globally engaged, research‑intensive institution rooted in North Wales and committed to excellence in education, research, and civic mission. Our Strategy 2030 sets out an ambitious, growth‑orientated vision that prioritises academic excellence, student experience, digital transformation, and research capacity—including landmark developments such as the North Wales Medical School.

We are seeking to appoint a full time, permanent Director of Planning, a senior strategic leader who will shape and direct the University’s integrated planning, performance and analytics. This pivotal role will ensure that Bangor University has the insights, capabilities, and strategic alignment required to thrive in a rapidly changing higher education environment in Wales, the UK, and internationally.

The Director of Planning will lead a multi‑disciplinary Planning Directorate and will serve as the University’s most senior authority on business planning, forecasting, performance management, data strategy, statutory reporting, and sector intelligence. The post‑holder will work closely with the Vice‑Chancellor, University Executive, Council, and senior leaders across academic and professional services.

Applications are invited from candidates with substantial senior leadership experience in planning, analytics, strategy, or institutional performance within higher education or a similarly complex environment.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable.

This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework , there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview. Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part‑time or job share basis.

Closing date for applications: 09/10/2026

Purpose of the Job

The Director of Planning will provide institution‑wide leadership for the University’s strategic planning and performance framework. The post‑holder will ensure Bangor University has robust, integrated, and forward‑looking systems for decision‑making, resource planning, data governance, and statutory reporting.

Key purpose elements include:

• Leading the strategic development and enhancement of the University’s planning and performance ecosystem.
• Delivering the University annual planning round
• Providing authoritative, evidence‑based advice to the Executive and Council.
• Directing institutional scenario modelling, forecasting, and student number and tuition fee strategy.
• Ensuring compliance with all statutory reporting obligations to UK and Welsh sector bodies.
• Leading the development and monitoring of corporate KPIs, performance frameworks, and strategic indicators.
• Championing data strategy, governance, and analytical capability across the University.
• Ensuring compliance with the University Strategy, providing regular reporting on progress against the objectives within.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide senior leadership of the Planning Directorate, ensuring that all functions align with and support University strategy.
• Advise the Vice‑Chancellor, Executive Board, and Council on planning, performance, and sector developments.
• Lead the development and management of the University’s annual and multi‑year planning cycle.
• Ensure effective integration of planning outputs into the University’s corporate financial plan in collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer.

Planning, Modelling and Performance

• Lead institutional modelling for student numbers, tuition fee income, and strategic scenarios.
• Direct the development, monitoring, and reporting of University‑wide KPIs and Critical Success Factors.
• Ensure a cohesive performance management framework for academic and professional service areas.
• Providing strategic oversight to ensure full alignment and compliance with the University Strategy. Leading the preparation of comprehensive reporting, detailing progress against the strategic objectives

Assurance and Governance

• Lead the development of quality assurance processes for statutory data returns.
• Ensure the University’s compliance with external regulatory requirements, including HESA Data Futures, CTER/HEFCW returns, SLC interactions, and HEIW monitoring.

Business Intelligence, Data Strategy and Market Insight

• Lead the University’s data strategy, business intelligence capability, and market insight functions.
• Oversee competitor analysis, sector scanning, league table interpretation, and external performance analysis.
• Promote data literacy, governance, and quality standards across the institution.

Sector Engagement and External Affairs

• Represent Bangor University at national and regional fora on planning, analytics, and regulatory matters.
• Provide senior analysis and interpretation of policy and regulatory developments across HE in Wales and the UK.

Team Leadership and Management

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high‑performing directorate covering planning, performance, risk assurance, BI, and statutory reporting.
• Promote collaborative working and continuous improvement.
• Act as senior sponsor for transformation projects related to planning, insight, or data maturity.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in senior leadership performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.
• Undertake additional duties as required by the Chief Financial Officer or Vice‑Chancellor.

Person Specification

Qualifications / Training

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field, or substantial equivalent senior professional experience.
• Professional accreditation relevant to planning, analytics, leadership, or risk management.

Experience / Knowledge

• Significant senior‑level leadership experience in HE strategic planning, forecasting, analytics, performance management, or similar.
• Expertise in institutional planning and forecasting, student number modelling, statutory data returns, performance management, risk management, and leading multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Experience working under pressure with competing priorities.
• Knowledge of Welsh HE regulatory frameworks (CTER/HEFCW), data governance, business intelligence tools, student record systems, and REF processes.

Skills / Abilities

• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to lead transformational change across complex organisations.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills.

Other

• The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas . If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.