Are you driven by shaping strategy, influencing senior leaders, and using insight to guide decisions in a mission‑led organisation?
Join The Open University as a Senior Strategy Manager and play a central role in shaping the University’s strategic direction. Working on high‑profile, intellectually stretching questions, you’ll combine rigorous analysis with clear strategic thinking to help senior leaders make informed, evidence‑based decisions that support our students and our mission.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Senior Strategy Manager who can blend analytical rigour, clear thinking and genuine curiosity to help shape strategic decisions across the institution. This is a role for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, working with data in all its forms, and turning insight into meaningful recommendations for senior leaders.
Working at the heart of the University, you’ll contribute to major strategic questions — from understanding market shifts and government policy, to exploring opportunities for growth and innovation. You’ll work closely with the Vice‑Chancellor’s Office, Executive Leadership and colleagues across multiple faculties and functions, giving you a wide view of how the University operates and the chance to influence decisions that directly impact our students and our mission.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead strategic research and analysis on a range of moderate‑sized projects, often shaping the analytical approach yourself.
* Apply rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods to explore market, government and competitor developments.
* Develop storylines and high‑quality presentation materials for senior audiences, ensuring insights land clearly and persuasively.
* Coordinate data and insight gathering across the University, building strong working relationships with colleagues at all levels.
* Present findings as a subject matter expert and help shape messages for internal and external audiences.
* Support the University’s external affairs activity by identifying evidence, data points and messaging that best represent the University’s position.
* Contribute flexibly to strategic opportunities and insight work across the team.
In addition to the above, the full list of key responsibilities for the role can be found in the full job description here.
About You
* Experience in strategy development, internal strategy teams, or strategy consulting.
* Strong strategic thinking: able to identify the right questions, form clear hypotheses and structure your approach using established analytical frameworks.
* Advanced analytical skills — including financial/numerical modelling, Excel proficiency and experience with qualitative research.
* Ability to communicate complex issues succinctly and confidently, both in writing and in presentations.
* Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders, fielding challenging questions and leading discussions.
* Ability to build productive networks across a large, complex organisation and work effectively under pressure.
* A strong interest in social justice, and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
In addition to the above, the full list of key skills and experience required for the role can be found in the full job description here.
Why Join The Team
This is a chance to work on a genuinely varied portfolio of projects, each with real impact on the direction of the University. You’ll be part of a supportive team that values intellectual curiosity, robust analysis and fresh thinking. If you’re motivated by using evidence to influence senior decision‑making - and you want to apply your skills in a sector with a meaningful social mission - we’d love to hear from you.
Why Join The Open University?
At The Open University, we’re proud to combine academic excellence with a powerful social mission. This role offers the chance to work on a genuinely varied and high‑impact portfolio of strategic projects — influencing decisions that shape the future of one of the UK’s most respected institutions.
Our benefits include:
* 33 days annual leave, on top of bank holidays and a three‑day Christmas closure period.
* Access to a leading pension scheme for UK higher education with generous employer contributions.
* Staff Fee Waivers for OU study, meaning you could earn a degree for free.
* Hybrid working, with limited requirement to attend the office in‑person, with agile working and family friendly policies.
* Discounts, wellbeing support, and development opportunities.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply now and use your strategic insight, analytical expertise and influencing skills to help guide the direction of The Open University.
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