Head of Business Intelligence and Reporting

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Generous pension scheme

Staff discounts

Professional development

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking an exceptional business intelligence leader to drive the BI strategy and roadmap. You will lead a team, collaborate with executive stakeholders, and shape the university's data-enabled decision making.

The role covers strategic insight, dashboards, statutory reporting, and development of data platforms, software tools like PowerBI and AWS ETL, and building a culture of data-informed improvement.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable leadership skills and experience of developing and managing successful, high performing teams
• Significant experience of delivering effective business intelligence, reporting and data strategies alongside leading operational delivery within a large organisation
• Proven track record of building strong working relationships with a diverse range of leaders, stakeholders and service users, using diplomacy, negotiation and influencing skills to deliver effective services and results against targets and objectives
• Strong analytical and technical capability, with the ability to work at both strategic and technical levels, shaping the design and delivery of business intelligence, reporting and data solutions using the full MS BI stack, PowerBI, forecasting software (eg. Alteryx), AWS ETL tools and S3.
• Ability to lead change in a busy operational environment, including analysing and solving complex interdependent problems, supporting people from across the organisation through change processes
• Ability to assess, negotiate for and organise resources in the mid to long term, managing resources accurately and prioritising effectively to ensure that targets and deadlines are achieved
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills, including the ability to simplify and translate complex information for different audiences at both operational and strategic levels
• Knowledge of current issues and policies affecting the delivery of business intelligence, management information or statutory reporting requirements within the higher education sector
• Detailed experience of organisational performance management strategies and approaches, including the development and effective deployment of KPIs and use of performance metrics

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of and drive forward the Business Intelligence Strategy for the University, working closely with senior leaders to realise an approach that supports the University vision and strategy. Create and oversee the delivery of the roadmap to realise the strategy
• Lead the development and evolution of the collaborative approach to the delivery of business intelligence and reporting across the University; driving good practice: clear priorities, clarity of responsibility, consistency and transparency
• Lead and develop the business intelligence and reporting teams, ensuring that professional development opportunities are in place. Lead change and effective approaches to performance management as required
• Oversee and ensure the effective delivery of statutory reporting delivered by the department, ensuring that work plans and resources are in place and that ways of working are adapted and enhanced as new processes/systems are implemented
• Champion and advocate for business intelligence, developing a shared understanding and increase in knowledge across the University Executive Board and with other key stakeholders to promote and embed the effective use of data in decision-making
• Work in partnership with IT Services to shape and deliver the roadmap for analytical technology and data platforms, aligned to the BI strategy, ensuring tools are effectively deployed and used across the University.
• Ensure that effective assurance arrangements are in place for the delivery of statutory reporting across the University (through the Statutory Data Assurance Group and audits)
• Support the work of the planning and performance team in identifying measures and innovative ways of thinking about measuring and assessing performance
• Manage all resources within this remit (pay and non-pay) effectively, using an evidenced based and evaluative approach, in order to maximise value for money for the University and impact in achieving the aims laid out in the BI strategy
• Collaborate, network and use professional relationships with peers and sector bodies (e.g. The Russell Group) to establish a leading role in business intelligence and reporting across the sector
• Represent the University position at internal and external meetings, deputising for the Director of SPC and other senior colleagues as required
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Skills

Leadership

BI strategy

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Change management

Resource planning

Communication

Policy knowledge

Performance management

Tools

PowerBI

Alteryx

AWS ETL tools

S3

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

This role is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of effective business intelligence and reporting that drives data-informed decision making to support the University’s vision and strategy.

We are seeking an exceptional, positive and highly-motivated business intelligence professional, with experience of developing and managing the delivery of analytical reporting and the development of business intelligence in a complex organisation.

You will lead the development and delivery of a business intelligence and reporting roadmap for the University, and work with your team, and leaders across the organisation, to implement a plan to enable its delivery. The role has a broad span which includes the delivery of strategic insight and horizon scanning, University-wide dashboarding and reporting, the delivery of statutory returns (a legislative and funding requirement for the University) and development of the technical platforms and capabilities to successfully enable delivery.

You will work closely with executive stakeholders and business leads, using your leadership skills to deliver and successfully embed effective use of data in decision-making. You will be visible across the University, seeking to develop a culture of using business intelligence to inform decisions, improve consistency, and to enhance levels of shared understanding of how to effectively drive benefit from data.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Take ownership of and drive forward the Business Intelligence Strategy for the University, working closely with senior leaders to realise an approach that supports the University vision and strategy. Create and oversee the delivery of the roadmap to realise the strategy

• Lead the development and evolution of the collaborative approach to the delivery of business intelligence and reporting across the University; driving good practice: clear priorities, clarity of responsibility, consistency and transparency

• Lead and develop the business intelligence and reporting teams, ensuring that professional development opportunities are in place. Lead change and effective approaches to performance management as required

• Oversee and ensure the effective delivery of statutory reporting delivered by the department, ensuring that work plans and resources are in place and that ways of working are adapted and enhanced as new processes/systems are implemented

• Champion and advocate for business intelligence, developing a shared understanding and increase in knowledge across the University Executive Board and with other key stakeholders to promote and embed the effective use of data in decision-making

• Work in partnership with IT Services to shape and deliver the roadmap for analytical technology and data platforms, aligned to the BI strategy, ensuring tools are effectively deployed and used across the University.

• Ensure that effective assurance arrangements are in place for the delivery of statutory reporting across the University (through the Statutory Data Assurance Group and audits)

• Support the work of the planning and performance team in identifying measures and innovative ways of thinking about measuring and assessing performance

• Manage all resources within this remit (pay and non-pay) effectively, using an evidenced based and evaluative approach, in order to maximise value for money for the University and impact in achieving the aims laid out in the BI strategy

• Collaborate, network and use professional relationships with peers and sector bodies (e.g. The Russell Group) to establish a leading role in business intelligence and reporting across the sector

• Represent the University position at internal and external meetings, deputising for the Director of SPC and other senior colleagues as required

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

• Demonstrable leadership skills and experience of developing and managing successful, high performing teams
• Significant experience of delivering effective business intelligence, reporting and data strategies alongside leading operational delivery within a large organisation
• Proven track record of building strong working relationships with a diverse range of leaders, stakeholders and service users, using diplomacy, negotiation and influencing skills to deliver effective services and results against targets and objectives
• Strong analytical and technical capability, with the ability to work at both strategic and technical levels, shaping the design and delivery of business intelligence, reporting and data solutions using the full MS BI stack, PowerBI, forecasting software (eg. Alteryx), AWS ETL tools and S3.
• Ability to lead change in a busy operational environment, including analysing and solving complex interdependent problems, supporting people from across the organisation through change processes
• Ability to assess, negotiate for and organise resources in the mid to long term, managing resources accurately and prioritising effectively to ensure that targets and deadlines are achieved
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills, including the ability to simplify and translate complex information for different audiences at both operational and strategic levels
• Knowledge of current issues and policies affecting the delivery of business intelligence, management information or statutory reporting requirements within the higher education sector
• Detailed experience of organisational performance management strategies and approaches, including the development and effective deployment of KPIs and use of performance metrics

Further Information

• Grade: 9
• Salary: £62,994 - £70,878 (exceptional range to £82,134)
• Work arrangement: Full-time
• Duration: Open-ended
• Line manager: Director of Strategic Planning and Change
• Direct reports: Business Intelligence Managers
• Our website: https://staff.sheffield.ac.uk/spc
• For informal enquiries about this job contact Al Carlile, Director of Strategic Planning and Change: on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place during November 2026. This will consist of an in person stakeholder panel discussion and an interview. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Leigh Gibson ([e-mail]) to arrange this.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in a new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes, integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and