Description
SAS Consultant x2 /Senior Principal Analyst (Strategic Projects - Process and Outcomes)
Role purpose
- Analytical lead for designing and executing major analytical studies of selected areas of the admissions process.
- Through these establish a reputation for analytical work of the highest quality in these areas, with demonstrable impact on decision making at a national level.
- Contribute as a senior professional to the standing and development of the Analysis and Research team.
Responsibilities
- Design and execute high quality, relevant analysis that directly addresses the questions and issues customers require to support decision making
- Build and maintain effective, influencing relationships with key internal teams and external stakeholders
- Establish a national reputation for authoritative insight through innovative, timely and debate-setting analysis of the highest quality that fully exploits the potential of data and systems
- Lead this area by using analytical software (SAS) to create (both directly and through others) sophisticated and effective analysis that rests on a deep understanding of the range and applicability of analytical programming and statistical methods. Ensure the analysis innovations and data that are developed are reusable and adoptable by across the whole Analysis and Research team
- Identify, acquire and integrate key new data sets needed to extend depth and reach of analysis, and structure these to support the whole team
- To provide expert advice, technical leadership and development to analysts across the wider analysis and research team in analytical programming, data structures, statistical techniques, analytical strategies and effective analytical communication
- Create an understanding of the benefits and value of the section's analysis to different audiences, including reporting analysis findings in high quality precise, concise and clear written accounts appropriate to audiences from research journals through to media quotes
- Fluid, compelling and authoritative presentation of own (and team) work that is always matched to the audience
- To provide expert advice and judgement on analytical matters to senior decision-makers, including Executive team
- To be knowledgeable about important analytical work by others, and of technical and methodological developments and to make sure work of the team is set in the context of both
- Project analysis in a wide and challenging range of analytical, policy, academic and media environments
- Be an example of the highest professional integrity and actively advance professional analytical standards and development across the team
- Support the Head of Analysis and Research in all aspects of the operation and strategic development of the wider analytical function including deputising for the Head of Analysis and Research when required
- Effective developmental and delivery management of analysts when required, including on a project basis. Specifically, combining analytical and management skills to give security and quality of delivery and creating a high quality, high performance collaborative setting
- Prepare and oversee analytical publications that fall within the scope of the section, including writing clear and precise analytical commentary. Contribute, and sometimes lead, the preparation of cross-team analysis publications
- Occasional travel to represent Analysis and Research for meetings, professional development and similar activities
- At all times play a full role in the Analysis and Research team, including contributing to a positive, respectful and collaborative working environment and being agile in responding to developing requirements on the team
Skills, knowledge and experience required
- Extensive record of executing all stages of analytical work, ideally in an outcome and customer orientated environment, with a commitment to high quality and influential outputs
- Extensive record of delivering successful and innovative analysis, drawn up in response to complex policy or operational issues, that consistently give significant insights and have supported decision making
- Record of working with policy, operational or other non-specialists - including senior decision-makers - to understand their situation, identify requirements and translate their needs into a specified analytical proposal with confidence on delivery
- Deep understanding and technical expertise in analytical programming (expected to have been gained using SAS, but - exceptionally - in similar environments with compelling evidence of ability to rapidly adapt to a new language). Able to use this knowledge to design and write solutions in SAS/BASE (including macro language, procedures and system environment), SAS/STAT and SAS/GRAPH to deliver effective data and analysis solutions, including the development of highly parameterised and adaptable analytical code. Awareness of utility of other SAS capabilities relevant to analysis, with experience of some and ability to learn and employ all as required. Proficiency of a level that would be consistent with giving technical seminars across a wide range of topics in analytical programming
- Experience of acquiring, manipulating and analysing very large data sets (administrative or similar), including identifying and realising the potential to draw out high quality analysis from imperfect data or from data collected for operational purposes
- Ability to draw upon a wide range of approaches to match the analysis required, including data acquisition, structures and manipulation; measures, tabulations and graphical reporting; statistical techniques, including regression modelling, clustering and other statistical approaches
- Evidence of depth and quality of analytical quantitative skills from educational qualifications, typically a Higher Degree obtained in subjects with strong quantitative elements (or equivalent skills from other qualifications combined with extensive professional experience)
- Ability to provide technical leadership across the team in several areas (eg advanced programming or data structures, specific regression techniques, geographical or economic methods) and proven ability to identify, learn and apply other methods (including seeking external expert help) as required by analytical objectives
- Evidence of creating the frameworks that ensure the analytical delivery and quality meets objectives, particular on complex and extended new analysis. Evidence of setting and meeting standards for quality with focus on outcomes for customers
- High quality and appropriate communications, including analytical writing for audiences from leading expert peers to non-technical users and decision makers. Compelling communicator of own and others work in person, including formal presentations and meetings
- Evidence of ability to manage delivery and development (including technical skills development) of a team of specialised analytical staff. Record of creating effective, collaborative, high quality working both within and between teams
- Ability to understand and anticipate the needs of other teams and customers, including when the skill set and objectives differ. Can build effective influencing relationships in this environment and propose solutions that benefit all
- Expert knowledge of analytical and policy context relevant to admissions to higher education, or a record of rapidly acquiring analogous knowledge on entry to a new field
- Evidence of commitment to high quality collaborative analytical teams including evidence of reputational, developmental and strategic team-level thinking
- Record of using good analytical and professional judgement in a range of settings, including acting appropriately to resolve issues at team and organisational level
- Understanding of the Data Protection Act, data confidentiality considerations and professional analytical standards
- Ability to create a culture of increasing own and others professional analytical standards in operational settings
- Consistently acts in a professional, respectful and team-orientated manner with a positive and collaborative approach to achieving shared team objectives