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
You will be part of a team that develops, manages and improves the effective organisation of our taught programmes and related student procedures. You will ensure policies and processes across the student journey are clear and straightforward, meet regulatory requirements, are consistently applied and deliver educational excellence.
As a key member of the School’s Education and Student Experience Team, you will work collaboratively with colleagues at University level to coordinate and deliver a student-centred, clash-free and accurate timetable for our staff and students. Your understanding of the curriculum will help you to lead aspects of work to improve our curriculum and prepare for effective accreditation processes.
The ideal candidate will be a proactive individual, who can work effectively and efficiently to manage a busy, varied workload, whilst maintaining a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. They will communicate clearly and concisely and will work in collaboration with academic leads and University central teams to ensure deadlines are met and to improve the student experience. This will require an ability to analyse and interpret data and to suggest creative approaches to address problems.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Lead the creation of a high-quality, optimal timetable for the school’s staff and students.
- Support the Education Manager to manage all aspects of curriculum development, including new/amended programmes, module amendments and suspended/closed programmes.
- Using expert knowledge of the curriculum, support the delivery of high quality and student-centred programmes, e.g. through effective timetabling.
- Support the Education Manager to take forward relevant education and curriculum related projects and activities as required, working collaboratively across the team to ensure a programme level approach. This may include supporting external review processes such as accreditation.
- Undertake data collection and collation required for the teaching timetable, including curriculum information and information about staff members’ agreed working patterns.
- Liaise with colleagues across the University including the Central Timetabling Team (CTT) and other schools to ensure that curriculum development and timetabling needs and priorities are understood and any issues can be resolved.
- In collaboration with the CTT, ensure rooms are allocated to all teaching events: determining student groupings; checking and resolving clashes; working with central colleagues (e.g. facilities support services staff) to address any issues relating to the use of teaching space.
- Work collaboratively across the Faculty and University to contribute to the improvement of institutional approaches and services, encouraging the adoption of improved ways of working to ensure maximum efficiency, e.g. in timetabling processes and in the utilisation of space.
- Undertake analysis, reporting and problem resolution of issues related to the timetable and other aspects of curriculum delivery.
- Inform the School of the practical feasibility of potential new curriculum delivery.
- Adhere and enforce university-wide policies and standards across the School.
- Work closely as part of a wider network, to support other Schools within the faculty, for example to deliver their timetabling needs, and be a proactive member of University communities including the timetabling community.
- Delegate to, and supervise colleagues in the wider team, as required, in order to ensure effective overall delivery of timetabling, curriculum development and education activities.
- Support colleagues in the wider Education and Student Experience Team to ensure that the School is able to deliver the full remit of its responsibilities in a timely and effective manner.
- 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.
| Criteria | Essential or desirable | Stage(s) assessed at |
|---|---|---|
| Educated to A Level standard with GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent experience) | Essential | Application |
| Effective communication skills, both written and verbal and the ability to negotiate with colleagues of all levels to deliver effective outcomes | Essential | Application / Interview |
| A high level of IT literacy, including extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and Google applications, and the ability to learn new software | Essential | Application / Interview |
| The ability to handle, manipulate and interpret large data sets, and to work to the highest degree of accuracy with attention to detail | Essential | Application / Interview |
| Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving | Essential | Application / Interview |
| Highly motivated and able to work and make decisions autonomously combined with an understanding of when to refer more complex issues to senior colleagues | Essential | Application / Interview |
| Good organisational skills and ability to ensure tasks are completed in a timely and efficient manner prioritising effectively to plan for conflicting deadlines, whilst also managing unscheduled tasks | Essential | Application / Interview |
| Willingness to assist and / or lead other team members and to work collaboratively with others to ensure deadlines are met | Essential | Application / Interview |
| Ability to understand and interpret policy to guide consistent application of working practices | Desirable | Application / Interview |
| Awareness of Higher Education and the student journey | Desirable | Application / Interview |
| Experience of using timetabling software | Desirable | Application |
Further Information
| Grade | 6 |
| Salary | £32,722 - £37,369 per annum |
| Work arrangement | Full-time |
| Duration | Fixed-term until 31st October 2028 |
| Line manager | Education Manager |
| Direct reports | TBC |
| Right to work in the UK | If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website. |
| Our website | https://sheffield.ac.uk/management |
For informal enquiries about this job contact Alex Sheldon, Education Manager: on a.m.sheldon@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in early November. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage around a week after the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact mgt.staffing@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 38 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; 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.
Closing Date : 24/11/2026
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.
