We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.
Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.
Role Purpose
This post is based within the Global Exams Business Improvement team in Global Exams Delivery (in English & Exams department).
English and Exams Strategic Business Unit (E&E) enables people across the world to access the life-changing education and work opportunities that are created by learning English and/or obtaining valuable and globally-recognised UK qualifications. The British Council’s vision for E&E is to be the world authority in high quality English language teaching, learning and assessment, as well as the partner of choice for UK professional and school exam providers, enabling international distribution of their qualifications.
The Examinations business makes a significant contribution to British Council financial sustainability, and as such, it is essential that the business continues to grow and evolve in order to maintain its position in a fast-changing operating context. Being data-driven and able to discover and realise the wisdom & insight derived from data will improve business performance and help the organisation achieve its goals and targets.
The Data & Analytics Manager role will support the Head of Global Business Improvement Data & Insight in implementing data strategy for the BI team by developing and managing the data and analytics capability & content in a range of areas contributing to business improvement and enhanced customer satisfaction.
This is a hands-on role with opportunity to work with specialists in Data and Analytics tools and technology in order to deliver business benefits and improvement through customer-focussed data-driven thinking. This role will be designing and managing initiatives covering full data lifecycle management including data architecture, data modelling, data science initiatives and customer-centric analytics applications.
Main opportunities and challenges for this role:
Service delivery
- Leads cross-team data and analytics projects using advanced data modelling and analysis techniques to discover insights that will guide strategic decisions and improve performance
- Design, build and maintain automated data pipelines, reporting systems, dashboards and KPI metrics, using the corporate tools and technology infrastructure, that support business decision making
- Works collaboratively with corporate Data & Insight and Data Evidence & Performance teams to ensure implementation of and adherence to the corporate data management, governanace and security standards for Exams data
- Uses hands-on data skills to produce routine and ad-hoc data extracts, analyses or reports to meet ongoing and specific one-off needs of senior management
- Challenges internal stakeholders to make sure data and analytics are embedded in everyday decision making in each BI strand
- Oversees and presents analytical insight with clarity and conveys complex technical information in a way your audience can clearly understand
- Manage and optimise processes for data ingestion, data cleansing & transformation, validation, data mining, data modelling and visualisation within the BI team data landscape
- Develop and implement data quality controls and standards to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness and accuracy of ETL and ELT processes
- Work with the BI team and internal stakeholders to anticipate the future demand for data initiatives; and design analytics solutions, propose & implement new tools, technology & processes to meet these needs
- Drive and manage successful implementation of data insight initiatives working with business & technical analysts, system leads, developers and other GIS teams
- Leads on problem solving issues related to data, escalating to GIS or relevant technical team when required
- Ensuring that processes and procedures are appropriately documented and maintained in accordance with corporate data management standards
- Produces customer-focussed, user-centric and creative data dashboards for Exams products and services leading to performance improvement
- Supports the Head of Data & Insight to drive the data culture across the business
Customers & Stakeholders
- Creates effective working relationships and communication with internal and/or external customers across a range of service/product/program and geographical areas to build a clear understanding of their needs/experiences, to inform and enable ongoing innovation and improvements in Global Business Improvement.
- Delivers relevant data to the Regional Operations Support Management (ROSM) team to drive improvement and add business value
- Identifies and addresses data gaps to foster operational improvement, particularly in terms of automation and scalability
- Incorporates customer experience within the design and implementation of operational data and analytics solutions
- Act as a key contact for the Global Business Improvement team, managing a range of relationships with external stakeholders (e.g., sponsors, customers, partner agencies) to achieve positive outcomes for the BC and facilitate effective results delivery
Analysis & reporting
- Reviews current management information and reporting protocols to make recommendations on improvements to team’s ways of working, processes, procedures and/or resources that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness
- Implements a range of corporately agreed BC reporting procedures and holds staff to account for maintaining them, to ensure that results are accurately recorded, thereby enabling timely and effective operational decision-making
- Uses corporate analytics and reporting tools & technology to query large and complex datasets to discover insights and knowledge which enables the team to make informed decisions on product development and enhancement
- Implements and facilitates the collection of data from internal and 3rd party systems and leverages standard tools and technology infrastructure to measure metrics and KPIs in identified areas across business
- Oversees the approach and application of data quality principles, methods and processes to improve the quality of data collected from a variety of sources
- Establishes the processes for maintaining the Power BI reports and upskilling the business to use them effectively
- Acts as a supplier for the data and reporting needs for the business but wherever appropriate challenges and critically evaluates these to ensure efficacy of the outcome
Role specific knowledge and experience:
- Able to understand the business need/ requirements and present complex information to the business in a simple and engaging way, whilst making insightful recommendations
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work to strict deadlines
- Ability to work with and interpret statistical data
- Ability to seek out new technologies and alternative methods of maximizing efficiency.
- Experience of Business Intelligence reporting design and implementation
- Experience in data visualization and analytics tools such as Business Objects, Power BI or equivalent
- Strong understanding of KPI/ Metric principles and measurement
- Effective communication skills and data storytelling
What you will receive in return
- 32 days annual leave plus statutory public holidays and half day privilege Christmas leave
- Non-contractual discretionary annual performance bonus
- Extensive and generous family friendly benefits
- Extensive range of voluntary benefit options
- Outstanding defined benefit career average Civil Service Pension Scheme which includes life cover and pensions for eligible dependants, e.g., Spouse, civil partner, partner, dependent children
Further Information
Pay Band – 8 £33,904-£41,309 plus London Weighting £3,300
Contract Type – Indefinite Contract (IDC unless local law requires differently)
Location UK - Manchester London Edinburgh Cardiff Belfast Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria
Closing date - 30th April 2023 11.59 pm UK time
Requirements –Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) right to work in location. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. If you are currently sponsored by the British Council, in a country or regional role, please check with your local/regional HR colleagues if you are able to remain in your current location for this global role.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.
We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org
Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.