Strategy and Transformation Manager

Job content

We have been a leading figure in publishing for more than 500 years. We have always been a forward-looking organization, maximizing the technology for the day, but the digital revolution is bringing enormous change, fast. That same spirit of adventure and entrepreneurialism is critical to our future success. In a fast changing publishing landscape, OUP welcomes the inquisitive, the inventive, and the ambitious; people who challenge the conventional, and pioneer the possible.

The Academic division publishes books, journals, and digital resources for the research, professional, and higher education markets across a broad range of subject areas.

About the Role

As the Strategy and Transformation Manager you will be responsible for successfully managing strategic and transformation initiatives for the Academic Division. This role manages the full strategy analysis and delivery process and is accountable for the success of their initiatives.

The principal responsibilities of the role include:

Options Analysis and Solutions Recommendation

1. Conduct diagnosis with Business Owner and stakeholders to accurately define, structure, and scope the problem/opportunity. Work with Business Owner to articulate and quantify benefits and strategic alignment.

2. Map out all potential options using defined process and tools and by facilitating workshops with key stakeholders, Business Owners, and Delivery function representatives. Work with Delivery functions to obtain cost and resource estimates for solutions. Assess all potential solutions and eliminate options using critical thinking, rationalisation, Business Owner and Delivery function input.

3. Manage the investment appraisal and business case process, completing these documents in partnership with Business Owner, Delivery team, and Finance.

Solution Delivery

1. Develop and recommend the end-to-end plan of activity required to successfully deliver solution. Oversee and drive all workstreams of activity to successfully deliver solution and budgeted benefits.

2. Identify and manage dependencies. Identify and manage/ mitigate risks. Escalate risks and issues to Senior Management for resolution.

3. Plan for and ensure successful embedding of solution.

4. Enable transparency for stakeholders by communicating on initiatives. Maintain up-to-date status of initiative delivery using appropriate tools/software. Provide live updates to stakeholders to enable accurate and timely decision-making. Monitor progress of delivery to ensure delivery is performing to agreed time, cost, scope.

5. Establish and chair or participate in relevant Steering Committees, Boards, governing bodies.

NB. This role can be based in either the UK or US. We are currently thinking through how we use our offices in the future and are open to discussing flexibility within this such as a blend of office and home working.

About You

This is an excellent opportunity to join the Academic division bringing your business transformation experience, project/programme management skills, change management skills, and the ability to communicate effectively. The successful individual will need to be highly organised, self-motivated and intuitive.

You will also have:

• Experience of planning and managing change initiatives, that ensure transformation goals are achieved.
• Strong analytical skills with demonstrable experience in analysing data and making recommendations
• Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly, to different levels of seniority
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Financial literacy and commercial awareness
• Team player who enjoys collaboration and is also capable and motivated working alone
• Ability to handle confidential information
• Previous experience of working in the publishing industry is an asset
• Pervious experience of working with Aha! is an asset

We believe that the skills you bring to OUP are just a starting point. We want you to have the opportunity to expand your abilities, and innovate and develop in areas which both interest you, and support your aspirations.

Benefits

We care about work/life balance here at OUP. With this in mind, we offer 25 days’ holiday that rises with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (3-days) and a 35-hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect of working hours and the use of technology to support regular remote working, dependent on role. We also have an on-site gym with subsidised membership fees and a great variety of active employee networks and societies.

We help make your money go further by contributing to your pension up to 11%, offering loans and savings schemes through our partnership with Salary Finance, in addition to travel to work schemes and access to a wide range of local discounts.

Please see our Rewards and Recognition page for more information.

If based in the US local benefits will apply.

We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all.