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About the Role
The Senior Data & Insight Analyst will bring advanced analysis, modelling and performance measurement to support institutional priorities within People Services. Sitting within the People Analytics and Insight team, the role will manage and deliver high-quality workforce data insight, embedding an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) lens across people analytics products. The post holder will be responsible for leading end-to-end analytics and insight projects, from defining scope with stakeholders through to delivering clear, actionable outputs that inform decision-making and drive positive organisational change.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of workforce data and insight products, ensuring delivery aligns with organisational priorities and statutory requirements.
- Lead the design and delivery of advanced analytics and performance measurement, embedding EDI considerations across all people data and insight work.
- Work with stakeholders across the University to define analytical requirements, translating complex questions into clear analytical frameworks.
- Provide subject matter expertise on the use, handling and interpretation of sensitive personal and EDI-related data.
- Lead and mentor analysts, providing technical guidance, quality assurance and professional development support.
- Line manage Data & Insight Analysts within the People Analytics and Insight team, including workload planning and performance development.
- Develop coherent analytical frameworks that deliver actionable insights to support workforce planning, inclusion and organisational performance.
- Carry out robust analysis using complex quantitative and qualitative datasets, interpreting findings to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
- Translate analytical outputs into clear and persuasive narratives for a range of technical and non-technical audiences.
- Develop and maintain dashboards and reports using business intelligence tools to support evidence-based decision making.
- Provide training, guidance and documentation to enable effective use of people data, reports and dashboards.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including EDI leads, governance groups and professional networks.
All staff are expected to:
- Take a proactive, flexible and adaptable approach to work.
- Maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ensure compliance with data protection, information security and data retention policies.
- Undertake other reasonable duties as required.
- Carry out their roles in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University values & policies.
About You
- Degree-level qualification in a numerate or analytical discipline or equivalent professional experience.
- Proven experience in workforce or people data analysis within a complex organisation.
- Strong understanding of EDI principles, legislation and best practice as applied to data and analytics.
- Proven ability to understand complex business questions and take a lead role in the development of a coherent analytical framework which delivers insight into performance.
- Experience of taking a lead role in analysing complex data from a wide range of sources including both qualitative and quantitative data, applying or drawing on statistical techniques where appropriate, and interpreting outputs to make recommendations which drive improved performance.
- Ability to tell simple and persuasive stories to present complex pieces of analysis to a variety of stakeholders, including both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Advanced skills in data visualization, dashboard design and development (using Power BI or equivalent).
- Excellent team working skills, with the ability to manage other analysts to deliver required outputs to given deadlines and to make and implement effective decisions in this context.
- Able to work independently, prioritise workload, work well under pressure and respond to change in a flexible and positive manner.
- Strong practical ability to manipulate, analyse and model, large and complex datasets (using SQL, M-Query, or equivalent), and to take a lead role in advising and developing other analysts in these skills.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d anticipate this to be on average twice per month.
Next steps in the Recruitment process
We anticipate that we will be conducting interviews for this role during the week commencing 20 April 2026.
Early closing date notification
While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications has been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented. If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.
How to apply
To apply for this role please submit the following documents:
- CV
- A personal statement of up to 1000 words. You should set out in your statement why you are interested in the role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the criteria for this role as detailed above within the job description.
You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.
