Senior Analyst

Contract Type: Fixed Term (until 31 March 2029)
Location: Westward House, Bristol

You will assist in the processes for allocating £2.0 billion of recurrent research, knowledge exchange and formulaic research capital funding to higher education providers in England. You will need a sound understanding of the data and algorithms used for allocating funding and excellent programming and data processing skills in order to provide effective and timely analytical support in this work area.

Support the formula-driven allocation of public funds to universities by:

• developing a sound knowledge of the data used by the analyst team, including data from the Research Excellence Framework and the data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
• developing a sound knowledge of the formula-driven funding methods used by Research England
• contributing to the work of the analyst team, by working with colleagues to develop, maintain and implement funding models, and engage with quality assurance and publication processes for disseminating the funding outcomes

Assist with quality assurance checks when required:

• ensuring that the team QA process is followed at all times
• making sure that QA approvals are escalated as necessary

Incorporate data and grant adjustments for research funding into the main funding datasets:

• by performing initial calculations of grant adjustments in preparation for formal authorisation
• and then, once formally authorised, incorporating data and grant adjustments into the main funding datasets using software tools

Provide analytical support for the review of knowledge exchange activity, funding, and metrics by:

• Developing a sound knowledge of:
  • Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HEBCI) data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
  • Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) funding model, with a view to running model simulations to assist the policy team in their review of KE activity
  • Metrics used in the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) 

Operate the software system for monitoring knowledge exchange allocations to:

• produce workbooks to be completed by institutions as part of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) monitoring survey
• validate the information within the completed workbooks

Provide support to stakeholders, responding to queries and providing advice:

• By addressing internal and external queries as required
• Including liaison with the Office for Students, Jisc (HESA) and higher education providers
• In the audits of data used within formula funding

Essential:

• Degree in mathematics or another subject with significant numerical content or equivalent professional experience
• Significant experience of analysing data and presenting findings
• Challenge, negotiate and influence people
• Significant experience of coding, and manipulating large complex datasets, and identifying relevant data sources
• Able to provide significant input into technical or process development
• Able to lead established work areas, with responsibility for sizable or high-profile processes or projects
• Strong written communication skills, including clarifying policy questions and providing sound advice to policy colleagues
• Strong verbal communication skills, and able to explain technical details clearly, concisely, and tailored to the audience
• Able to plan and manage a varied and demanding workload and respond to changing priorities
• Experience of quality assurance processes, and an awareness of how these minimise errors in analytical outputs

UKRI can offer the successful candidate:

• Flexible Working
• 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays
• Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above

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