Operations Data Analyst

This is the Internal Only Recruitment Site for UK Research and Innovation Staff for roles within Innovate UK (UKRI).

Please apply for jobs via this site only if you are employed by UK Research and Innovation (employees with access to Innovate UK's Workday system may apply via the "Careers" application within the system).

If you are not a current UKRI employee you can view vacancies at the externally advertised stage at the links given in the "About Us information on the right". If you wish to apply for the position below, please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the recruitment process by submitting both a full CV and application letter. Ideally, you should also advise your manager of your application.

Applications must be submitted by

The purpose of this role will support the development of Operations reporting requirements. Role holder will provide analytical advice to the wider Operational Teams through production of relevant, accurate insights and reports on all aspects of Operations Delivery.

*Please note this advert will close on the 30th July 2025 at 23.59pm.

Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.

Title:                  Operations Data Analyst

Band:                UKRI Band D (UKRI Ts & Cs)

Salary:              £36,650 gross per annum

Reports to:     Head of Operational Support

Location:        Swindon (Hybrid based)

Contract:        Permanent

Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.

Context:

The post holder will operate within the IUK Operational Support team which is part of the Operational Delivery (Ops Delivery) and will report to the Head of Operational Support. The role will also support various operational teams with the production of high-quality data reporting and visual outputs.

We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.

Job Purpose:

The purpose of this role will support the development of Operations reporting requirements. Role holder will provide analytical advice to the wider Operational Teams through production of relevant, accurate insights and reports on all aspects of Operations Delivery. The Data Analyst will   use the data to help IUK make decisions, solve problems, and track performance. They will manage the delivery of data reporting requirements in-line with Senior Leadership Team needs. Must plan their own work to meet milestones, flagging any issues to the Head of Operational Support.

The objectives of the role may change as the change programme progresses and as the business organisation matures.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Independent problem solving and decision making where necessary on complex or conflicting deadlines and milestone, without reference to Senior Managers with a view to the wider business impact.
• Lead on identifying, gathering, analysing data and making their insights accessible to Operations through easy-to-understand graphs, charts, tables and reports
• Build data models to turn raw data into meaningful insights and communicate findings through clear visual, written, and verbal communication.
• Create innovative solutions using data
• Accountable for the provision of ad-hoc reporting requirements requested by Senior Leadership team and the wider operations directorate including the provision of effective Management Information to drive better decision making.
• Identification the risk points in Operations systems and systems-related processes, take actions required to address these.
• Manage the creation and development of user defined dashboards, reports and visualisations that support the work and data reporting requirements of Operations using tools such as Excel and Power BI
• Lead the analysis of the existing Operations data architecture to comprehensively understand the current capabilities and processes, identifying efficiencies and make recommendations for delivering tangible benefit as part of all new initiatives.
• Follow best practice methods to help develop and implement data analysis for Operations.
• Manage data cleaning, data wrangling, and transformation to prepare data for analysis.
• Conduct data analysis to identify findings, trends, patterns, which can inform Operations business strategy.
• Manage the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data by implementing data validation` techniques.
• Provide ad-hoc reports and analysis based on Operation’s needs.
• Effective collaborate with BS&I and other departments to improve data collection processes and drive data-driven decision-making.

This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.

Shortlisting criteria

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Person Specification:

Experience & Qualifications:

Essential –

• University degree or equivalent.
• Proven experience as a Data Analyst or in a similar analytical role. (S&I)
• Strong proficiency in data analysis tools such as Excel. (S&I)
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI.
• Familiarity with database management and query languages (e.g., SQL).
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present data findings clearly and concisely. (S&I)
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.
• Demonstrable experience in designing and deploying infrastructure that supports data and reporting technologies. (I)
• Experience in producing user-engaging reports and visualizations that communicate complex data sets in a consumable and understandable format. (S&I)

Skills –

• Strong data literacy and ability to interrogate data and build reports. (S&I)
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, with experience balancing and responding to different demands.
• Ability to deliver high-quality work efficiently across multiple priorities. (I)
• Strong problem-solving skills and structured thinking.
• Numeracy skills with a focus on data analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with team members and other stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral), with the ability to create clear, concise, and accurate presentations for internal audiences. (I)
• Excellent IT skills, including the ability to create and manage data sets.

Competencies:

All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:

Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management

Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification.

Travel Requirements:

Swindon-based: There may be the occasional requirement for national travel.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.

Equal Opportunities:

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.

UK Research and Innovation:

Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/.

Employee Benefits:

We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Flexible Working:

We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.

Pre-employment Screening:

To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.

Applications must be submitted by;