Defence Business Services (DBS) Data Analyst

Data Analyst

Ministry of Defence

Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 12th March 2025

Reference number: 390533

Salary: £36,530 per annum (pro rata)

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract type: Permanent

Location:

Abbey Wood North, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8QW

Kentigern House - Glasgow G2 8EX

Tomlinson House, Norcross, Blackpool FY5 3WP

Gosport - Centurion Building PO13 9XA

Innsworth - Imjin Barracks GL3 1HW

About the job

Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?

Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence?

Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.

Our Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time.

Our Mission – Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible, timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability. 

DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society. 

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. 

DBS has recently undertaken a review of its operational locations in the North West, and have consolidated all activities in Norcross, Blackpool. A further move, to the new Government Hub at Talbot Gateway in Blackpool, is scheduled to take place in 2026.

Come and join the DBS community today!

Job description

The Armed Forces and Veterans Services (AFVS) are responsible for the delivery of payroll, pensions, welfare and compensation services to over 180,000 regular and reserve personnel and 1 million veterans and their families via numerous IT platforms. The AFVS Data Team are responsible for delivering an effective data management and governance service, in accordance with Government/MoD's Data Strategies, Policies & Practices, for all AFVS’s systems which store, manage and process MoD business data, including their associated data interfaces.

As a Data Analyst you will be expected to use your analytical skills and knowledge to become a subject matter expert in MoD business metadata for AFVS’s major data systems (inc Armed Forces HR System and Pensions/Compensation System). Responsibilities of role include:

• 
  
• Work collaboratively with DBS’s Business Partner (SSCL) and Single Services, to implement effective data governance and management practices to all data holdings and data interfaces in AFVS estate.
  
• Line management responsibility for one Support Metadata Analyst.
  
• Manage and maintain AFVS Data Systems Register (including inbound/outbound interfaces). Identify potential new systems, their business use, data contents and Data Quality (DQ)/metadata requirements.
  
• Support identification of critical data and defining what good data looks like. Undertake data lifecycle activities for critical data and ensure its purpose and use are documented.
  
• Support the identification and investigation of DQ risks and issues, including root cause, business impact and potential corrective/preventive measures.
  
• Manage, monitor, and deliver accurate Data Dictionaries, Data Models, Master Data Lists and Data Lineage Reference Artefacts service to End Users/Stakeholders of AFVS data (inc creating new bespoke metadata artefacts when required) to promote intelligent use of data to improve decision making and data insights.
  
• Maintain AFVS Military Data Team’s SharePoint sites, ensuring all sites managed in accordance with DBS ITMS rules.
  
• Scrutinise Change Requests for AFVS Data Systems to ensure any negative impacts to AFVS data including its management and governance are identified. Support AFVS/SSCL in delivering DQ by Design (DQbD) in any changes to promote improved DQ.
  
• Act as primary reviewer of Data Team’s multiuser mailbox, including triaging messages, acknowledge receipt and forwarding to correct point of contact/Team member to answer.
  
• Support monitoring of data obligations in Service Delivery Contract (SDC) to ensure DBS receive value for money and benefit of incumbent Business Partner.
  
• Attend/participate AFVS data and technical meetings, data governance forums when required.
  
• Cover for others Data Team members if required to support Data Team meeting their service obligations.
  

Person specification

Technical Requirements (Digital, Data and Technology Professional Capability Framework (DDat)), Data Analyst Role:

• 
  
• Analysis and Synthesis Skills (Working level)
  
• Communication Skills (Working level)
  
• Data Management (Working level)
  
• Data Modelling, Data Cleansing, and Data Enrichment Skills (Awareness level)
  
• Data Quality Assurance, validation, and Linkage Skills (Working level)
  
• Data Visualisation (Awareness level)
  
• IT and Mathematics Skills (Working level)
  
• Logical and Creative Thinking Skills (Working level)
  
• Project Management Skills (Working level)
  
• Statistical methods and data analysis skills (Working level)
  

Essential Skills

• 
  
• Good understanding of Data Governance and Data Management principles as applied to business data, including different data types, data lifecycles, data quality, security and GDPR requirements.
  
• Understanding of relational databases and data flows, including design models, system technical documentation and associated metadata and lineage.
  
• Understanding and ability to apply data governance and management practices across data holdings and data flows. Including identification, investigation and management of data quality issues, their impacts, and risks to the business.
  
• Possess strong numerical and data analytics capabilities with proven expertise in investigating and tackling complex technical data issues following an analytical and systematic approach applying attention to detail.
  
• Good communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively at all levels on topics of a technical & complex nature.
  
• Proficient in the use of MS Office Products such as Word, PowerPoint and in particular MS Excel (advanced level). Ability to write SQL code (or willingness to learn).
  
• Ability to thrive in a demanding environment and add value to the team by leveraging experience, knowledge and apply sound judgment to the business demands.
  

Desirable Skills

• 
  
• Knowledge and understanding of Military Service and Military HR.
  
• Experience of Oracle Systems (in particular, Oracle EBS, Oracle Analytics Server (OAS), Oracle Enterprise Data Quality (EDQ) and Oracle Enterprise Metadata Management (EOMM)).