JOB DESCRIPTION. Support Registry Services Department: Contribute to the wider function of the Registry Services Department as and when necessary.

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1 JOB DESCRIPTION 1. JOB TITLE: Senior Data Analyst 2. HRMS REFERENCE NUMBER: HRMS/ ROLE CODE: SDARS 4. DEPARTMENT: Registry Services 5. ORGANISATION CHART: See attached sheet 6. JOB PURPOSE: Statutory Returns: Responsible for co-ordination of the work carried out by the Data Analysts, and the operational management of provision of returns to a number of statutory and funding bodies. Point of expertise in relation to the making of such returns and the optimisation and integrity of the information. Liaison with External Bodies: Correspondence and communication with external bodies, together with interpretation of complex regulations ie HESES/HESA Regulations. Internal Statistical Support: Provision, design and development of various ways to present statistics and reports within the University. Support the Management Information Manager in the management and development of Management Information Services, to lead projects & deputise in his/her absence. Support Registry Services Department: Contribute to the wider function of the Registry Services Department as and when necessary. 7. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Registry Services deal with the administration of student and programme information and the processes that drive a student from initial entry to the achievement of their award. Alongside this core duty, Registry Services has a wider range of functions including information management, student records system development, timetabling and room bookings.

2 Registry Services plays an increasingly important and strategic role to wider University developments and strategy. 8. WORK PERFORMED AND/OR KEY RESULT AREAS: 8.1 Communicating Effectively Considerable interaction by post, in person, by telephone and electronically with colleagues within the Department, particularly the Registrar and the MI Manager, senior colleagues from other Departments within the University, particularly the Dean of Corporate Planning and a wide range of staff from external bodies. Also some less frequent contact with representatives from other organisations, such as software suppliers, and with students. Frequent communication & presentation of complex technical information in a variety of formats ie written and oral in relation to University funding calculations, production & collation of faculty departmental business plans, University s Annual Review, trends over time, institutional & departmental benchmarking to inform planning & decision making at Senior Management level. 8.2 Leadership and Working Collaboratively Jointly deputise with the Assistant MI & Project Manager on behalf of the MI Manager in his/her absence. Supervise & co-ordinate the work carried out by the Data Analysts to ensure statutory return & funding deadlines are met. Frequently assist the MI Manager in delegating, monitoring & reviewing the work carried out generally by all members of MIS staff as appropriate for particular tasks and projects. Support and motivate staff & build good working relationships across teams. Assist MI Manager in coaching/staff mentoring, together with all aspects of staff development. Assist the Manager in planning/presenting/organising in-house training sessions for the MIS team. To actively lead project teams. 8.3 Liaison and Networking Initiate departmental meetings to provide information updates in line with changes to statutory submissions, offering technical advice in relation to business process changes, as and when required. Undertake and initiate collaborative project work with various Departments to ensure the service needs of the University are being met. Primary operational data contact with Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) and Health Education North West (NWHEE). Liaison with managers (including senior managers) within the University to ensure the integrity and optimisation of the University s presentation of data and content of data returns

3 Occasional communication with software suppliers, students and members of the public. Develop close working relationships with other departments within the University, including Corporate Planning, HRMS, Finance and Faculties. 8.4 Delivering a High Quality Standard of Service The post holder will have frequent contact with the University s main funding bodies (HEFCE, NCTL and NWHEE) to ensure we comply with our statutory requirements. They will also have frequent contact with Senior University Managers to explore and meet their data needs. They will also be responsible for: Co-ordination and development of student data in support of the Business Planning process. Anticipating future requirements, and reviewing, co-ordinating & developing reporting for internal quality procedures. Managing the information flow between SITS (Student Record System) and Scientia (the central timetabling software). Ongoing creation and maintenance of Desk Instructions. 8.5 Effective Decision Making The post-holder will work in collaboration with the MI Manager in making decisions relating to future statutory and funding data collection projects. They will also contribute to the decisions made by other team members. The post-holder will work closely with other members of Registry Services, and will be expected to work on their own initiative and make independent decisions based on the information available as appropriate. As the decisions being made have a significant impact on the statutory returns the University makes to External Agencies, this will have significant impact on the funding of the University and also the standing of the University (league tables). 8.6 Planning and Organising Self and Others The post holder will assist the MI Manager in the operational planning of the team. The post holder will plan and prioritise their own work to agreed objectives and will plan and prioritise the work of the data analysts on a weekly basis & other team members as required. Leading, reviewing & evaluating projects to develop Management Information Services. Play a prominent role in the development of web-based reporting; including the creation, planning and maintenance of a suite of reports. Advising on data requirements. Identifying future needs and priorities in data analysis and data returns. 8.7 Innovation and Improvement (Effective Problem Solving) The post holder will be frequently required to resolve problems where there are large quantities of complex and on occasion, conflicting data and will need to have a creative approach to devise varied solutions to ensure they maximise the funding streams available to the University.

4 8.8 Analysis and Research The post holder will be required to analyse, interpret and report to Senior Managers and External Agencies, complex data extracted from SITS using high level system query language. Be able to identify patterns and trends in data, always ensuring the integrity of the information. They will also have: Responsibility for co-ordinating the collation and submission of the HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) return. Responsibility for co-ordinating data for the HESES (Higher Education Students Early Statistics) survey. Responsibility for co-ordinating and submitting the various NCTL (National College Teaching and Leadership) returns. Responsibility for co-ordinating and submitting NWHEE (Health Education North West) returns. Responsibility for co-ordinating and submitting data for the National Student Survey (NSS). Statistical analysis in the provision of Student Retention Data. Production of University Performance Indicator Reports. Creation of ad-hoc reports, when necessary, to meet both internal and external requests. The post-holder will need to be proficient in data interrogation systems/software used to interrogate the SITS system such as MS Access. 8.9 Sensory and Physical Demands Normal office expectations i.e. occasional lifting of boxes. As the work carried out by the post holder will frequently be detailed and complex, as such they will be required to concentrate for long periods of time Work Environment The post-holder will use a PC for almost all their work; in order to access SITS, the student records database, word processing, spreadsheets and reporting software (Access and Business Objects). Individual workstation with PC in an open-plan office with approximately six other members of staff Pastoral Care and Welfare Ability to signpost colleagues to relevant University policies/guidance/protocols in relation to staff welfare issues Team Development The post holder will frequently be required to train and advise team members on data interpretation, analysis techniques, and provide guidance either in a coaching/mentoring capacity, verbally or written on the completion of business processes

5 8.13 Teaching and Learning Support Develop & deliver training/guidance either verbally, written or within training workshops as appropriate, to academic and support service staff in relation to data analysis available through the University web reporting tool Knowledge and Experience See person specification General To undertake any other duties commensurate with your grade, and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you. To take responsibility for upholding and complying with the University s Equality and Diversity policies and for behaving in ways that are consistent with fair and equal treatment for all. To comply with all University Health and Safety policies.

6 Job Title: Senior Data Analyst PERSON SPECIFICATION Department: Registry Services PERSON SPECIFICATION Criteria / Desirable Qualifications: Method of identification Educated to Honours degree or with equivalent professional qualifications in information technology. Postgraduate qualification. EDCL or equivalent level qualification (If no formal IT qualification is held you will be asked to obtain ECDL upon appointment). Supervisory qualification or willingness to obtain upon appointment. Proven Experience: Experience of being responsible for data reporting and analysis and data set management. Experience of staff supervision. Experience of HESA reporting. Experience of working in higher education and/or using SITS Student Records System. High level skills in data manipulation and reporting using database tools such as MS Access. Experience of use and development of web reporting tools such as MS Reporting or similar. Desirable Desirable Desirable Desirable Certificates Certificates / Certificates Certificates Form /

7 Delivering academic and service excellence: Good organisational and communication skills. Managing self and inspiring others: The ability to work under pressure, to prioritise and to meet deadlines. The ability to work to high level of accuracy. Working together: Ability to work as part of a team and across departments. Organisational and stakeholder awareness: The ability to interpret complex regulations and business processes. Requirements are those, without which, a candidate would not be able to do the job. Applicants who have not clearly demonstrated in their application that they possess the essential requirements will normally be rejected at the shortlisting stage. Desirable Requirements are those that would be useful for the post holder to possess and will be considered when more than one applicant meets the essential requirements. Method of identification is where the selection panel will match the candidate s skills and abilities to the required criteria outlined (i.e. application form, interview, test)

8 UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT REGISTRY SERVICES SENIOR DATA ANALYST SALARY SCALE University Scale OS8, points 27-30, 28,695-31,342 per annum payable monthly in arrears. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT It is a requirement of this post that within 12 months of appointment, the post-holder should live within a 30 mile radius or within a one hour travelling time by public transport from the University. HOURS OF WORK Monday to Thursday 9.00am pm Friday 9.00am pm (less one hour lunch break each day) A flexible approach to work will be required as there may be occasions when it would be necessary for you to work additional hours as dictated by the workload. HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT 22 days per annum (pro-rata during the commencement and cessation years), rising to 27 days after five years' continuous service. Two extra statutory days per annum during the Christmas period. MEDICAL EXAMINATION Successful candidates will be required to complete an Occupational Health questionnaire, and may be required to undergo a medical examination. ESSENTIAL CERTIFICATES Short-listed candidates will be asked to bring to interview, proof of qualifications as outlined on the Job Description and Person Specification provided. Upon appointment, copies of essential certificates will be required by HRM Services. PENSION SCHEME The University operates two pension schemes for support staff: The default scheme is the Higher Education Defined Contribution Scheme (HEDCS), which is administered by Friends Life. The Cheshire Local Government Pension Scheme, to which the University is an admitted body. All support staff are entitled to participate in one of these schemes. Some staff will be automatically enrolled into a scheme, depending on their age and earnings, but if they do not wish to remain a member of the scheme, they will be entitled to opt out after enrolment. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES The University has a policy of equal opportunity aimed at treating all applicants for employment fairly. SMOKING POLICY The University operates a No-Smoking policy. PROBATIONARY PERIOD

9 A nine months' probationary period applies to all University posts. CLOSING DATE Candidates should apply for this vacancy via our online recruitment website ( by 2 nd February 2015 quoting reference number HRMS/14112

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