student Bristol, England
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About the job
Job summary
The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. We aim to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.
Our Data, Foresight and Analysis directorate (DFA) is currently seeking a number of analysts to join our supportive, enthusiastic, and high performing teams, where you will be part of a community of around 60 analysts. The directorate provides a range of data collection, analysis and research activities that have an essential role underpinning the regulatory functions of the Office for Students (OfS).
We’re proud of our people, our culture and the benefits we offer. At the OfS we want to create a welcoming and engaging working environment which is free from discrimination. We’re looking for skilled, committed people who care about students and their experience of higher education. Join us and you’ll be part of an energetic, forward-looking organisation with high ambitions and big opportunities for our people
Job description
At the OfS, we want to be driven by evidence. Data and analysis inform our effective, efficient and intelligent regulation in the student interest and we use a range of data science and analytics techniques to illuminate trends, solve problems and provide evidence for a range of projects which contribute to these aims.
DFA work collaboratively on a range of tasks and projects which reflect the priorities of the organisation as they evolve, and as an analyst you could work on a variety of these. Whether you are writing code to implement the data specifications informing the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), collecting data from higher education providers, applying a range of analytical techniques to explore National Student Survey responses or contributing to projects that research the current state of the English higher education sector, your work will be interesting and important. And those are just a few of our current projects.
You will apply a range of analytical and statistical techniques to a set of unique data, and will support the production and quality assurance of experimental and official statistics. You will also be communicating with colleagues, providers and other users externally to share understanding of our methods and data publications, and to ensure that data and analysis findings can be used effectively.
To find out more about some of the work that analysts in DFA do to support the aims of the OfS, visit our website Data and analysis - Office for Students.
When appointed the postholder will be given an initial activity assignment and will work in one or more home teams within the directorate. This is where you will undertake most of your work in the first instance. The OfS is committed to working flexibly and over time we may move people to work on different assignments or in different teams, in order to: develop an individual’s skills and experience, improve communications across teams, and to ensure that as the OfS’s priorities change, resources are allocated appropriately. Movement to different assignments will take account of an individual’s competencies, knowledge and preferences, as well as the needs of the organisation.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who have the ability to gain insight from large and complex data, and to develop and present clear and concise conclusions. The key person attributes to fulfil these roles are:
- Logical thinking, and an ability and interest to deploy strong numerical skills in work that will support students and their experience of higher education.
- Working well within a team and communicating data and technical detail clearly with those who are not data experts.
- Attention to detail and an interest in learning how to manage data-based analysis and research projects, including identifying risk and using effective quality assurance approaches.
- Ability to engage with policy issues and propose how data could be used to support them.
- Willingness to work flexibly across a range of tasks as the needs of the OfS evolve, including collecting, analysing and organising data using a range of technology and analytical programming.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Selection process details
Your application should describe the skills and experiences that you have which are relevant to the person attributes described above. Please tell us what you have done and how you’ve done it, so that the OfS can evaluate your strengths in respect of the following requirements:
A degree in a numerate discipline, experience in an analytical role or other substantial relevant experience or qualifications – you may draw on evidence from any of these to demonstrate your strengths.- Experience of data analysis, data presentation and quality assurance of data processes.
- Experience of analytical programming – as these are entry-level roles, we don’t require knowledge of any particular language. If you’ve already got some experience of SAS, SQL and Tableau please include this in your application. We will be extending our use of new tools and technologies over the coming year, including Python, PySpark, Databricks, Azure Synapse and/or Power BI, so please also include any experience of these in your application.
- Ability to plan own workload and work flexibly across a range of areas.
- Ability to communicate research findings, data and statistical methods, or complex algorithms in a way that is accessible and understood by experts and non-experts, using verbal and written communication.
- Awareness of the principles of data collection, and some of the tools used to collect and manage data.
- Awareness of statistical techniques, and/or qualitative research methods.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Further information
About Office for Students
Revenue: Unknown / Non-Applicable
Size: 201 to 500 Employees
Type: Company - Private
Website: www.officeforstudents.org.uk
Year Founded: 2018
