Analyst, Analytics

Who we are

The Office for Students (OfS) regulates English higher education providers on behalf of all students. Our goals include helping students get into and succeed in higher education, ensuring students receive excellent information and guidance, making sure that students get a high-quality education that prepares them for the future, and protecting students` interests. We want to be driven by evidence, so data and analysis will inform our effective, efficient and intelligent regulation in the student interest.

If you join us, you`ll be working at an organisation that values team work, innovation and creativity. Our Data, Foresight and Analysis directorate (DFA) provides a range of data collection, analysis and research activities that underpin the regulatory functions of the OfS.

Prepare to get yourself ahead and visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk/careers/.

What you`ll be doing

We are seeking analysts to join our supportive, enthusiastic, and high performing team. Our analysts use a range of data science and analytics techniques, to illuminate trends, solve problems and provide evidence to help us support our world leading higher education providers.

The roles in our DFA analytics team involve helping to maintain complex analytical processes that generate information to underpin a number of our key regulatory functions. You will use SAS, SQL and in-house software to apply a range of analytical and statistical techniques. We operate flexibly within the analytics team so you may have the opportunity to work on a range of projects, such as the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) or the National Student Survey, as well as calculating funding allocations for providers and modelling their financial sustainability.

The roles available

We currently have 2 vacancies in the analytics team, with initial assignments to our Funding and Institutional Performance work areas. Both posts are full-time roles, but we support flexible working and we`re open to considering a job share.

You should state your preference for one or both of the following posts in your application:

-Post 1: With an initial assignment to the Funding work area, you will focus on the collection, verification and analysis of student data from universities and colleges, which is used by the team to calculate and monitor the funding that the OfS allocates to higher education providers.

-Post 2: With an initial assignment to the Institutional Performance work area, you will be producing measures that allow the OfS, providers and students to all understand the outcomes that universities and colleges are delivering for their students. You`ll help to develop an evidence base that is at the centre of the OfS`s regulation of access and participation, and quality and standards, in English higher education.

Who we`re looking for

We are looking for candidates who have the ability to gain insight from large and complex data, develop and present clear and concise conclusions.

You will:

Have strong numerical skills

Work well within a team and communicate clearly with those who are not data experts

Be able to work flexibly and manage your own time across a range of tasks

Have experience of collecting, analysing and organising data

Demonstrate an aptitude to learn to manage data-based projects

Have an ability to learn how to use a variety of technology and analytical programming

While knowledge of programming is essential these are entry-level roles, so we don`t require knowledge of any particular language. If you`ve already got some experience of SAS, SQL, R or Python please include this in your application.

Make sure that you have a look at the full job description to understand our person requirements in more detail.

This role is dual banded 6/7. Pay band 6 is a developmental role, staff will typically be recruited based on their likely aptitude to be able to develop the competencies. Pay band 7 staff will fully deliver the outcomes described

Extras you can expect

Benefits include 25 days` annual leave per year, membership of the Civil Service pension scheme and a comprehensive staff development programme. The OfS values knowledge sharing and development; We offer an extensive L&D package including internal and external training in a number of specialist analytical programmes.

Applying for these roles

The OfS is an inclusive employer, working towards equal opportunities in employment.

We welcome and encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and experiences so we don`t have any preconceptions about how you`ll demonstrate that you meet our minimum requirements. If you have any particular requirements in relation to the selection process, please let us know immediately so that we can discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need. We are requesting this information to make the process as equitable as possible for each candidate.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet our minimum requirements will be invited to complete an online assessment.

If successfully shortlisted for an interview, candidates will be informed by Tuesday 30th June 2020.

During the current COVID-19 situation we anticipate interviews being held at the beginning of July. We will follow government advice relating to COVID-19 and interviews may be held via video link, depending on the most up to date government advice at the time. If you are shortlisted, we will work with you to ensure you are given the opportunity to attend interview in the most appropriate way.

If you have any queries with regard to this, or any other part of the recruitment process contact Becki Witts, Business Support Manager, Rebecca.witts@officeforstudents.org.uk.