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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 Us
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.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be at least once per week.
Next steps in the Recruitment process
We anticipate that there will be a two stage interview process for this role with the first stage taking place on-site at our Milton Keynes campus during the week commencing 9 February 2026. Any candidates that are successful in the first round of interviews will then be invited to a second stage interview which will take place online via Microsoft Teams later on in February.
Early closing date notification
We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.
How to apply
To apply for this role please submit the following documents:
- CV
- A personal statement of up to 1000 words. You should set out in your statement why you are interested in the role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the requirments for this role as detailed within the full job description.
You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.
