The Role
To make an informal enquiry, please contact Helen Eustace at .
What you’ll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
The Senior Data Analyst will play a key role in the Data and Reporting team. The team is tasked with producing timely and accurate staff and student data to support strategic decision making and performance management for the University Executive Board and key stakeholders across the institution. A key function of this role will be to undertake the production of submissions of statutory and regulatory data returns required by organisations such as the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the Welsh Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (Medr). The team is also responsible for the coordination of information returns to league tables and the setup, organisation and oversight of centrally managed student and graduate feedback surveys.
A key driver for the team is to increase the accessibility and availability of data across the institution; this will include standardising reporting, designing and maintaining meaningful data visualisations and working on projects to enhance data governance.
Role holders will be expected to work across the full remit of the Data and Reporting team but may be expected to develop expertise in areas such as regulatory returns or data visualisation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Extract, transform and provide analysis on a range of internal and external datasets covering the entire student lifecycle as well as staff data.
- Critically evaluate and communicate the predictive analysis results to manage risks to student retention and success.
- Support the development of scenario planning related to financial and recruitment targets conveying the assumptions and recommended courses of action to senior leaders.
- Operationalise the student number planning model, continuously improving its accuracy and sophistication, iterating throughout the year as predictions come into focus.
- Work as part of the Data and Reporting team to provide accurate and timely data and reporting to aid academic and professional service departments, the Executive and Council of the University with decision-making, planning, forecasting and driving improvements in institutional performance.
- Undertake the production of statutory and regulatory returns. This will include (but is not limited to) HESA Provider profile, HESA Student return, HESA Aggregate Offshore return, HESA Staff return, Graduate Outcomes populations, DiscoverUni as well as data returns and verifications required by Medr and other statutory and regulatory organisations.
- Work with colleagues across the University to provide data in response to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
- To support the development, embedding and reporting of Performance Indicator metrics across the organisation.
- Coordination of information returns for league tables including QS world rankings, People and Planet, Complete University Guide, WhatUni, and those published by national newspapers.
- Produce reports and data visualisations in a format that can be easily and meaningfully interpreted by a range of end users.
- Support the Planning and Reporting Manager in working with colleagues across the university to enhance all aspects of data governance.
- Working alongside academic and professional service colleagues, play a key role in developing a suite of metrics that provide meaningful and timely monitoring information on taught schemes.
- Represent the Planning department, taking an active role at various meetings and events by informing and participating in discussions, securing commitment to progressing actions and keeping colleagues updated on meeting outcomes.
- Comply with Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR requirements in all working practices maintaining confidentiality, integrity, availability, accuracy, currency and security of information as appropriate. Take personal responsibility for all personal data within own working environment.
- Network internally and externally with sector bodies to draw insights for best practice.
Additional Responsibilities
Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade.
Engage in university-level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager.
Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work.
Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.
Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.
The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role.
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
Essential
- Educated to degree level in an analytical subject.
- Significant experience in the use of statistical/modelling applications (e.g. Excel) including the interpretation of outcomes.
- Experience in the production, interpretation and reporting of complex data preferably relating to the HE sector.
- Experience in producing accurate statutory and/or regulatory returns.
- Experience of using software to produce data visualisations and interactive dashboards.
- Knowledge of complex database systems at user level and the theory of back-end database administration.
- Proven experience of working with colleagues to understand and respond appropriately to data requirements.
- An understanding of the need to handle and record data sensitively and in accordance with University and statutory regulations e.g. Data Protection Bill, GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.
- Strong mathematical and statistical knowledge with experience of applying this to data analysis.
- Ability to work accurately under pressure and manage a varied and demanding workload and meet agreed deadlines.
- Exceptionally methodical, organised and analytical with problem solving capabilities.
- Ability to organise and analyse complex data and information, and present it in a clear and concise format.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.
Desirable
- Further degree or specific qualifications in Mathematics or Statistics or Data Science (or related field).
- Knowledge and experience of the Higher Education sector, especially policy and funding developments in research and education.
- Significant experience of producing statutory or regulatory returns in the HE sector, for example HESA student or staff returns.
- Evidence of providing meaningful contributions to projects where the use of data has resulted in a change to a process, policy or established action.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B2.
*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/
How to apply
To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.
Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Benefits
- Flexible working policy
- 36.5 hour week for full-time roles
- Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
- Commitment to Professional Development
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
- Staff recognition and reward schemes
- Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
- Staff relocation bursary
- Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
- Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.
Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.
Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:
Skilled Worker Route Points-Based System Points Meets (Yes / No)
- Mandatory / Non-tradeable Criteria (50 points) – A job offer from a UK licensed sponsor: 20 points (Yes)
- Job is above the minimum sponsorable skill level: 20 points (Yes)
- Appointed candidate to have appropriate knowledge of the English language*: 10 points (Yes)
- Total = 50 points
- Tradeable Criteria (dependent on candidate appointed)
- Salary meets minimum threshold: 20 points
- The candidate holds a PhD in a subject relevant to the job: 10 points
- The candidate holds a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job: 20 points
- The advertised role is on the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL): 20 points
*Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:
- A national of a majority English speaking country
- Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
- Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
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