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

The Strategic Business Partner is a significant leadership role with the opportunity to positively impact on the performance of Estates & Facilities Management (EFM), the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and the University of Sheffield Innovation District (USID) acting as a business advocate and providing a key liaison function to translate business objectives into effective strategies and initiatives.

You will be an engaging leader who is able to take ownership for developing stakeholder relations and you will partner closely with business leaders to understand their strategic priorities, challenges, and workforce needs. You will develop strategies to deliver transparent service performance and improvement with an increased focus on the provision of quality services to maintain operational standards that meet business requirements. You will be comfortable managing the needs and priorities of multiple internal and external stakeholders, and confident in exercising substantial independent responsibility and discretion while working to broad parameters and policy guidance.

You will work proactively to identify risks and opportunities, providing valuable insights to business leaders and ensuring the partnership between EFM, AMP and USID remains collaborative and focused on the achievement of strategic goals.

A key focus of this role is ensuring building statutory compliance for all managed properties outside the central campus, so you will also be required to manage and lead a team of maintenance technicians. You and your team will also be responsible for managing all on site 3rd party contractors and ensure safe working practices are upheld.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Develop an understanding of EFM, AMP & USID strategic goals, priorities and challenges.
• Be accountable for the delivery of all on site EFM functions on AMP / USID and the AMRC Satellite centres (NW / Wales)
• Translate business objectives into actionable partnership strategies, initiatives and solutions, inputting into the development of relevant actions, KPIs and reporting on outcomes.
• Identify key stakeholders and develop, strengthen and maintain business partnerships through interactive liaison, collaboration and communication.
• Develop strategies to implement and deliver improved business partnering and strategic liaisons and take a lead in demonstrating success.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, proactively identifying and addressing risks and opportunities and present solutions.
• Act as the point of contact for AMP / USID business liaisons with EFM and provide strategic advice to support business decisions, inclusive of maintenance and new projects.
• Hold a reporting line function for the AMRC maintenance team and maintain oversight of all work activities and responsibilities, ensuring services are delivered in accordance with agreed KPIs and SLA’s.
• Be responsible for the management of ongoing maintenance and project budgets and delivery, including but not limited to; planned works, reactive works and emergency works. 
• Lead, Manage & motivate the AMP / USID maintenance team to ensure delivery of high quality service provision. Maintain oversight of and input into HR people management processes. Undertaking necessary development and performance management where required.
• Establish new and oversee existing processes. Produce performance reports to influence, guide and enhance business quality and delivery through effective partnerships.
• Play a key role in embedding the One Team approach under the One University pillar.
• Identify areas of concern or requiring improvement, develop and implement strategies to resolve and evaluate impact.
• Report and communicate on business development and performance with senior management and key stakeholders; work with stakeholders to identify and support commercial business opportunities.
• Participate in projects and initiatives in the wider University to continuously improve, transform and innovate business support functions.
• Sit on appropriate committees relevant to work area and actively participate in meetings and contribute to business development.
• 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 is 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.

Essential criteria

• A good honours degree or equivalent experience related to the role (Application)
• Strong and demonstrable experience of leadership and management at a senior level, incorporating a track record of leading change and strong experience of senior stakeholder management (Application/Interview)
• Outstanding demonstrable experience of managing operational teams (hard & soft facilities management services) with knowledge of associated management responsibilities (Application/Interview)
• Knowledge & experience of managing contractors and contract management including holding H&S qualifications such as NEBOSH General Certificate (Interview)
• Strong experience of designing and delivering business support including measuring impact and adopting a culture of continuous improvement (Application/Interview)
• Ability to think, plan and act strategically to develop and deliver strategies to support organisational objectives (Application/Interview)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present high quality reports and complex information (Application/Interview)
• Have excellent influencing, liaising and networking skills, including the ability to influence and persuade key decision makers (Application/Interview)
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with leaders, internal and external stakeholders (Application/Interview)
• Ability to concurrently manage multiple work strands and projects (Application/Interview)
• Have strong organisational skills with the ability to plan ahead and deliver outputs to agreed deadlines (Application/Interview)
• Have the ability to work independently and proactively to identify and address risk and opportunities (Application/Interview)
• Experience of financial management including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, financial processes and practice (Application)

Desirable criteria

• Additional professional qualification in a business-related area (Application).

Further Information

Grade: 9

Salary: £60,907 - £68,529 per annum. Potential to progress to £79,412 per annum through exceptional contribution.

Work arrangement: Full-time (Monday to Friday - 35 Hours Per Week)

Line manager: Associate Director, Engineering and Maintenance.

Direct reports: AMRC onsite Engineering and Maintenance team.

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/efm

For informal enquiries about this role please contact Bob Sweeney, Associate Director of Engineering and Maintenance: at r.a.sweeney@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that interviews will take place at the end of June 2025. This will consist of a formal panel interview (inc short presentation - details to follow) and fireside interview with the Director of EFM and/or Associate Director of Engineering and Maintenance. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within 2 weeks of the advertised closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process please contact Karen Heard on k.l.heard@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

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

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days 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
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

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

We are a Disability Confident Employer. 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.

Criminal record

An enhanced DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates.

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 students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.